It's Monday...but when on vacation

It's funny but during the school year, Sunday nights mean tossing and turning and hardly any sleep in anticipation of a new week, but when on vacation..sleep, sleeping in...Monday...just another day...so nice to cherish this time. Of course Monday means back to salads for eating, exercising every day, and writing the blog, which is a great mental exercise.

Today's message from the universe:

Before this odyssey ever began, Stacy, there was you, your best friends, and wide-eyed curiosity among you about who would be the first to leap, the first to forget, the first to kiss, the first to tell, the first to fall, the first to get back up, and the first to remember that it all began with a dare: to love in spite of it all.

Is that you, Mergatroid?
The Universe

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Dining Out

Last night we went to Iron Hill Brewery for dinner. It was pretty good. I had the crab cake and others had the mussels (great new way to do mussels...beer, blue cheese, bacon in the broth...sprinkle with blue cheese), and a cheeseburger that was pretty ordinary. We tasted two beers. I'm not a beer drinker and still don't like it. I tried the raspberry wheat...nope...and the ale which wasn't too bad, but you can sample beerss for like .50 and then, if you don't like it, no big deal. The Trillist (trillist.com) had a review of the restaurant this morning: http://www.thrillist.com/philadelphia/2009/07/20/iron-hill-brewery Would we go back? Sure, it was fun and a very nice place. You can make reservations (if you're going after 6, be sure to do that) as it was really really busy...a wait of more than half an hour...probably because of the fabulous 20.00 prime rib special.

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Mandalas

When I was at a spa in California, I met a wonderful lady who encouraged the use of Mandalas in the classroom. That year I had my students go out to the parking lot and draw the wheel covers on different cars and then color them. Kids loved doing that and I hadn't thought of it for a bit until I saw this web site:
http://www.aimhieducational.com/Inclusion.aspx
Drawing and coloring mandalas has a calming effect on students. Just the thing to do after coming in from gym or recess.

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Peter Reynolds posters

Both plurkers, Robin and Meg were nice enough to share this web site: http://www.fablevision.com/posters/
Great posters for your classroom or office by Peter Reynolds

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Time to hit the treadmill.....did some running on the treadmill today during intervals. I'm happy no one outside sees me doing this. I know it helps with tennis, but it's still not my favorite thing to do.
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From Shopping, the Musical

http://shoppingthemusical.blogspot.com/

Bluefly.com 20% - 75% off brand name fashions Posted: 26 Jul 2009 09:03 PM PDT Thanks to our great FREEtastic member Stacy in Haddonfield, NJ for tipping us to this great money saving deal! Bluelfy.com is now offering an additional 20% off on their brand name women's & men's clothing. I took a quick look and there are some good deals Click here to take a look!

The Body Shop 20% coupon thru 7/27 Posted: 26 Jul 2009 09:04 PM PDT Here's a deal that's going quick at The Body Shop. Through Monday 7/27, you can receive 20% off any purchase. That's right...no minimum amount required! And if you're a Body Shop "Love Your Body" member, you can receive 30% off! Plus, you can use this discount to shop on line. Click here for the coupon and get beautiful!

Free Clarins Skin Care Center Facial Treatment Posted: 26 Jul 2009 09:01 PM PDT Clarins Paris Skin Care Centers are found in department stores all over the world and they want to give you a wonderful one-to-one facial treatment. And best of all, there is no expiration date on the coupon! Click here for the coupon and locations.

Office Max back To school bargins Posted: 26 Jul 2009 09:06 PM PDT It looks like everyone is getting in the back to school swing of things! In posts below, you'll find deals at Kmart & Walgreens. Our great FREEtastic member Brandy in Bloomington, IN sent me some current deals at Office Max good thru 8/1. One cent items: Schoolo Von Hoolo 24 pack Crayons Elmer's School Glue (4 oz) 20 cent items: Scholastic Glue Stick Westcot Junior Scissors 99 cent items: Office Max Index Cards SRX Mechanical Pencil Kit And Brandy tells me that you can receive a free Office Max pencil box for purchases of $10 or more.

Sears $5 off coupon and free wall portrait Posted: 26 Jul 2009 09:07 PM PDT Here's a few great deals you can find at Sears thanks to our FREEtastic member Jan in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Click here for a $5 off coupon good on a purchase of $50 or more (expires 8/1 and has purchase limitations). If you use Sears Optical services, click here for a few money saving discounts. And here's one we posted a few months ago but it's still happening. If you're a Sears Super Saver member, you can receive a 10 x 13 free wall portrait by clicking here.

Free Lacoste Parfume sample Posted: 26 Jul 2009 09:01 PM PDT Get the great scent of Lacoset Parfume with a free sample by clicking here. **************************************************** Wordle Idea Here's a great idea from plurker, Jen Wagner. I can see doing this using students . Also. if the kids made it up, parents could try to find their child's desk by the wordle they make. Ohhhh....now I really like it.http://guessthewordle.pbworks.com/ ************** Ice-Cream Jello???? Part science experiment, part fun...and there's always room...... http://justjennrecipes.com/ice-cream-jello/2009/04/28