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2012 Live History Fair – Part 1 of 3

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

In planning to direct our school play, I stopped to adjust when this live history fair replaced the spring drama. Yikes!

In coordinating this event, I started with this six-step plan:

STEP ONE: Learning

STEP TWO: Gathering

STEP THREE: Organizing

STEP FOUR: Delegating

STEP FIVE: Presenting

STEP SIX: Executing

To explain the process, I will cover steps one and two in Part 1, then steps three and four in Part 2, and finish with steps five and six in Part 3.

This journey was a learning experience with setbacks along the way. Not every event is smooth sailing. This event definitely stretched my abilities and tapped into my creative thinking which I will begin sharing with step one.

STEP ONE: Learning

When presented with the idea of a live history fair, I’m sure I raised my eyebrows. I was thinking, “What is a live history fair?” The students already present, so how much more “live” can the program become?

Though I was leery of the idea, I listened. After a few meetings, since I did not grasp the concept the first few times, I came to understand that this event showcased “history in action.” Instead of using narrative stories or first-person accounts, the students would show through skits, plays, songs, and poems the different historical events.

With this understanding, I presented the new format to the teachers. Each class would choose a theme, material, costumes, and props for their performance. In calming the teachers and reassuring them that help was near, I offered my assistance to help formulate a plan.

STEP TWO: Gathering

After the meeting with the teachers, I followed up with an e-mail asking for details of their presentations and gave them about a week to respond.

During this time, I learned that two upper school classes, the geography students and the American History pupils, would present individually. With suggestions, I agreed to add music presentations and an art display incorporating the students’ work from the school year.

As I fielded questions and suggestions, I chose not to turn anyone away. The goal in this step was to gather all the possible pieces together. As the deadline approached, I contacted those missing elements and helped by finding a poem, making suggestions, and discovering a teacher that I missed originally. Oops!

With the information gathered, I moved on to Step Three – organizing the pieces which I will continue in next week’s event planning post.

In coordinating our live history fair, I started with learning and gathering. Getting a grasp on the concept of a live history fair helped me focus the content on reaching the goal. Working with teachers, parents, and volunteers throughout this process made my job easier. Keeping a calm atmosphere, a can-do spirit, and an open mind, I learned from others and gathered information while using time wisely on my journey to a successful live history fair.

Though you may not coordinate a live history fair, you may lead another unique-to-you event. During these times, stay calm, listen, and learn. Getting a handle on your event before adding selections, acts, booths, speakers, or other items will focus your attention before gathering the parts to your event. Take it one step at a time, and happy planning!

Question: When you plan an event, how does your sequence of planning differ from mine?

2012: Spring Yard Work – Part 3 of 3

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Hoping to show you our completed project today, I can only show a half-finished yard. Though we only have about half an hour of work left to complete the two smaller beds, we did not finish in time for this post.

In using time wisely, we spent the weekend with friends celebrating birthdays and enjoying each other’s company. If all goes as planned, our last two beds will get finished this week.

Thankfully, the two larger areas are complete and look so much better than when we started. Our yard is improving which is progress. The weed killer applied to our grass has reduced the weeds and improved our grass. Love it when one application solves the immediate problem. Now, we will progress to fertilizing.

In earlier posts, I humbly shared our yard’s overgrown weeds and how we removed the edgers and cleaned out the beds in part 1. Then in part 2, I showed how my husband Paul prepared the beds and then treated the beds. In part 3, I will present the finished product after adding new mulch and spreading it in our long bed and under our tree.

Add New Mulch

Wow, mulch bags are heavy! Having loaded the mulch on a cart at Lowe’s, then from the cart to our van, next from the van to our garage, and finally from the garage to the beds tired out Paul. Moving those bags so many times brought shoulder and back pain for a few days to Paul. Yet, he continued to work to beautify our yard. 🙂

For our long bed, Paul added four bags of mulch. The bed under the tree took 2 bags, and the 2 smaller beds together should take 3 bags.

Spread the Mulch

Adding four bags of new mulch to the long bed, Paul spread it evenly and adjusted any edgers to keep the bed’s appearance uniform.

In repeating this process under the tree, the edgers needed more adjusting to keep the mulch from cascading into the grass.

Add More Mulch

Once we spread the other 2 bags of mulch in the last 2 beds, we will begin filling in bare spots. We will use the last 3 bags of mulch to create a uniform appearance in all four beds.

In using time wisely this spring to improve our property, we completed our spring yard work for 2 of our 4 beds by adding new mulch and spreading the mulch. Once the other two beds are complete, we will add more mulch to unify all 4 beds.

As you plan your spring yard work projects, take it step by step. With a little planning and lots of hard work, your yard will improve little by little. Enjoy the process and happy improving!

Question: How’s your yard work coming along?

Special Health Policies Overview

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In setting up our insurance document file, I worked with the policies we held and provided space for additions. The ninth file opening in our insurance document file holds special insurance policies we have chosen to carry.

If you do not have any special health policies, you may choose to skip this category or leave it empty for future policies.

Remember the key is organizing your paperwork. I just share how I organize our documents to give you a starting point. Your file will look different because you hold different types of policies than I.

Within my filing system, this seventh category of special health policies holds two types of insurance in three separate policies.

Special Health Policies

  • Critical Illness and Cancer Protection Policy
  • Stem Cell Preservation – Policy 1
  • Stem Cell Preservation – Policy 2

Other items you might file within a special health policies’ category include:

  • Alternative Therapy
  • Catastrophic
  • Chiropractic Care
  • Durable Medical Equipment

As you file your insurance documents, start with the policies you have. If you plan to add more policies, then just leave an empty labeled slot for the future.

In creating designated space for your insurance documents, you are working through your piles of paperwork while using time wisely. Keep organizing!

Question: What types of special health policies do you carry?

Swag Bucks Reward: Free Cascade ActionPacs Dishwasher Detergent

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Photograph Credit: Swag Bucks

As my favorite search engine, Swag Bucks not only completes my search, but also helps in stretching our dollars.

How does a search engine put money in my pockets? Instead of reposting all the benefits and ways to earn Swag Bucks, I will refer you to my earlier Swag Bucks’ posts:

Redeeming Swag Bucks

With the tools to earn Swag Bucks, I will share today an example of how Swag Bucks helps in stretching our dollars. Upon earning 450 Swag Bucks from searching, taking surveys (periodically), printing coupons, and participating in polls, I redeem my 450 Swag Bucks for a $5 Amazon e-gift card.

When the confirmation e-mail arrives, I confirm my redemption request. Within a week, I will receive notification that the gift card is active and in my account.

At this step, I can use the gift card at Amazon.com or just keep the e-card in my Swag Bucks account until I make a purchase. Presently, I choose to keep my unused e-cards in my Swag Bucks account until the time of purchase.

After redeeming my Swag Bucks, I continue to search and build back up to 450 Swag Bucks. When I reach that goal, I repeat this process and redeem for another $5 Amazon gift card.

Redeeming $5 Amazon Gift Cards

As I follow my favorite blogs through my Google Reader, I watch for deals on items that my family needs or wants. Having these gift cards made Christmas possible for our family last year. Since I treat these gift cards as treasure, I do not use the balances for splurging.

During April, I read Sheri Miller’s post at Swaggrabber.com highlighting an Amazon deal on Cascade ActionPacs. The 60-count container was on sale with an e-coupon and free shipping for $10.17.

Our family runs our dishwasher at least once every 2 days, so I keep a watch on dishwashing detergent. Knowing that I wanted this deal, I added the items to my cart, verified the sale and free shipping, and proceeded to checkout.

Opening a new tab in my browser, I went to MY GIFT CARDS under MY ACCOUNT at Swagbucks.com. After verifying my password, I chose a gift card. I copied the GIFT CARD CODE and went back to my Amazon checkout screen.

I pasted the code into the Amazon gift card payment option. I continued this back-and-forth process until my total reached $0.

In using time wisely, I kill two birds with one stone when choosing Swag Bucks for my search engine. I find the information while earning Swag Bucks. As I combine sales, coupons, free shipping, and Swag Bucks-earned gift cards, I continue stretching our dollars.

Though Swag Bucks takes time, the investment can result in free items like dishwashing detergent. In stretching your dollars, Swag Bucks is another savings strategy. Moving from Google to Swag Bucks can save you money while using time wisely. Happy savings while searching!

Question: How many Swag Bucks did you earn today?

Dunkin’ Donuts: National Doughnut Day – June 1, 2012

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Photograph Credit: Dunkin' Donuts

In addition to the free doughnuts offered by Krispy Kreme and LaMar’s, Dunkin’ Donuts is also celebrating National Donut Day.

Dunkin’ Donuts will give guests a free donut with a purchase of a Dunkin’ beverage.

If you get a craving for Dunkin’ Donuts’ coffee, then pair it with a free donut for a sweet celebration in honor of National Donut Day.

Enjoy your weekend. I think I’m going to have to get in an extra exercise session since I am starting the weekend on a sugar high. 🙂 Happy Doughnut Day!

Question: Which spelling do you prefer: donut or doughnut? (The spell checker does not like donut. I agree, but I’m partial to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Love the sweetness. Yum!)