That's a Wrap!

I have a confession to make. Almost every day I pretend I'm an animal. Can you guess which one? You might say a giraffe would be logical since I'm tall, or perhaps a bird because I really do love them, but both are incorrect. No, I dress up as a kangaroo. 

Well, not literally - but I do put my Teeny Little Super Guy in a baby wrap or carrier regularly, and since "baby wearing" is right up there with "we're pregnant" on my nay-say list, I call it kangarooing. It's more accurate anyway - I make a little pocket and pop Super Guy inside, and he rides along, cozy and comfortable.

me and my joey

Wrap up the goodness - Remember all the skin-to-skin talk in your parenting class? This is a variation on that (and hey, when it's hot, you can put Baby in a diaper and tie him on, using the wrap as a shirt). Super Guy can hear my heart, and I can feel him breathing. Even if I'm vacuuming, kangarooing is physical bonding time, and we both enjoy essential physical contact. After nearly nine months of hosting Super Guy, it's nice to approximate the closeness again. 

Choose an appropriate carrier... - I use the wrap when it's just the two of us, or I throw it in the stroller basket so Super Guy doesn't have to be lying down the whole time we're out for a walk. When it comes to hiking or longer excursions, a backpack carrier is more comfortable. 

...and a matching diaper bag - By that I don't mean colour or print! I'm talking form, because you don't want the bag to be bumping into Baby the whole time you're out. Best case scenario, someone else is carrying the diaper bag, but if you're on your own, pair wisely. When Super Guy is on my front like a little joey, I take this little back pack from 31 (in red, with a maple leaf and Super Guy's name on it!). When he's older and I take him on my back, I'll take a cross-body bag.

Try it out at home first... - I worked out how to tie the Moby wrap with a baby-sized teddy bear before Super Guy arrived. Then I tried it with him at home a few times. There's a lot of fabric to get tangled up in but it's really simple once you know what goes where. Same for backpack carriers - who wants to be fiddling with clips and straps when you're out and there's a real baby in there? If I'm planning on using the wrap when we're out and about (as a break from the stroller or if we go someplace in the car and don't take the stroller), I'll put it on at home so the ends don't drag on the ground and get dirty.

...but don't be afraid to go out! - The baby is not going to fall out. The extra weight will not make you tip over. You'll both be fine. In crowded places I tend to keep one hand on Super Guy, just so he doesn't get bumped. 

Be one with the sling - Obviously don't go riding a bike with a baby in the wrap, but you can definitely try some gentle exercise. This video and this video have some yoga moves that you can do with a baby in a wrap. 

Leave early - baby carriers are gaining popularity in Madrid but still are rare enough that people will stop to comment. Reactions range from mildly surprised to generally interested and once even horrified. I've had everything from people stopping and pointing from across the street to people coming right up and trying to pet him in there, to people thinking I was pregnant and making some weird fashion statement until his little hand popped out and surprised them.

Don't worry about your back - you've carried Baby around for nine months, and the right wrap will distribute the weight in a similar way. If you're letting someone else carry Baby, they might find a wrap is very comfortable, or they might like to try a sturdier backpack. Tall Guy prefers the Stokke carrier, and not just for fashion objections to my girly wrap/scarf. It is heavily reinforced along the wearer's spine and has lots of possibilities for making minute adjustments, not to mention the tiny little pockets, perfect for storing... who knows what? Tall Guy will probably put a tiny flashlight or something in one of them.

Change it up - One reason I love the wrap so much is that there are different ways for Super Guy to ride along in it. He's nearly too big for the "newborn hug hold", so soon I'll use a different hold - forward facing, back facing, on my back, or on my side. He can be lying down or even feeding. Certain backpacks permit different holds as well. This is important, as different positions are appropriate according to social as well as physical development. If Super Guy is feeling overwhelmed, I can hold him in such a way that he can hide his head.

Tie one on for some shuteye - Super Guy is a very good baby, but if he has a fussy moment, I can count on a walk using the wrap to calm him down and actually put him to sleep. 

So there you have it - now go get a wrap or a carrier and have some kangaroo time with your baby!

Mum Abroad 7: The Natural-natural Beauty

Pregnancy. Glowing skin, or nausea-induced shine? Rosy cheeks or acne's revenge? Thick, shiny hair or dry, unmanageable mane?

All of the hormonal changes that are taking place, sometimes feeling pretty "blah", plus wanting to avoid anything potentially toxic for the baby, mean a beauty routine makeover. Here I've rounded up my top ten favourite beauty rituals for pregnancy which you can try for yourself, whether or not you're waiting for Baby.

1) A soak in the tub Cleopatra would envy

i love our tub!

We recently renovated our apartment, and one thing I insisted on was a bathtub. We had a tiny one, painted over in wall paint which would stick to your feet after a hot shower, and I didn't use it as a tub (did I mention it was tiny and painted with inappropriate paint for bathing?), so why I was bent on installing a new one was baffling to Tall Guy. We put in a huge one as far as apartments go, and he gets it now, although I have first dibs on using it (a pregnancy perk). Epsom or sea salts are always great, but my current pampering combination is milk, honey and lavender. Before hopping in, I start with a nice dry brushing, great for circulation and sloughing away dry skin. Ahhhhh, I'm feeling lovely and relaxed just thinking about it. Soft skin, a relaxed mind, a relaxed body, and a relaxed baby.

You can use any kind of milk - I've got a jar of milk powder in the bathroom, but dairy-free alternatives also work well. Almond milk smells great, and coconut milk will give you an extra moisture boost. 

2) I say soap, you say...soup?


I can't overstate how great Jaydancin soaps are. Lavender for relaxing, lemongrass for a zesty morning shower, and oatmeal to sooth a sensitive face. Tons of other kinds, but those are my favourites. Good news - they're also safe for Baby. Bad news - I have to stalk up when I'm in Canada, thanks to a bad experience with Spanish customs - an official mistranslated "soap" as "sopa", which means "soup". Now, who would mail a box full of soup across the ocean, or anywhere, really, is beyond me, but the false friend translation meant my package got held up at customs and I got called in to do some explaining and pay a hefty fine (which was waved once everyone was satisfied there was indeed no soup in there...).

3) Butter is better, and not just on toast!

A combo of shea butter, coconut oil, and a few drops of essential oil has been keeping my skin hydrated during this dry, dry winter. According to research, genetics is the deciding factor in the stretch mark department, but so far I'm free of those, and this all-natural mix can only be helping.

4) Buff Stuff

my favourite, from the body shop

My nail buffer is my best friend. I can keep my nails looking nice without running the risk of picking up an infection in a nail salon or absorbing damaging chemicals. This was more important during the first trimester - lots of things happening in the baby's brain then! - and a better safe than sorry decision, but it also saved me a lot of time, and let's face it, pregnancy can be tiring and there's a lot of stuff that needs doing. Buffed nails look polished and there's no need for touch ups.

5) Best foot forward

No foot massages, doctor's orders, unless it's someone who can avoid reflexology points that could trigger an early arrival. Yikes! I take care of my feet at home - a soak in Epsom salts and warm water not only keeps swelling at bay, but is a way for the body to absorb magnesium, which helps prevent leg cramps. A nice scrub, a gentle massage with sesame seed oil, pop on some socks and zzzzz.....

In Spain, it seems Epsom Salts are more popular for digestive issues than muscle soaks, often found in very small packages. However, you can get Epsom Salts (Sales de Epsom) for about 5 euro for a kilogram bucket at Drogueria Manuel Riesgo (online or in Madrid, calle Desengano 2). 

6) A farmaceutical intervention



My face went crazy in the first trimester. Acne (thanks, hormones) and dry, dirty air (thanks, Madrid) meant a lot of redness that nothing would clear up except Fresh Farmacy soap from Lush. Good stuff, that, and not a lot of junk on the ingredients list.

7) Stand Tall

This one's easy, free, and it's good for you even if you're not pregnant. Good posture means looking more confident, clothes falling properly, space for Baby and being proud of your height, whatever it may be.

8) Face Time

I stick to a pretty simple makeup routine - for work, a really good moisturizer. For a fancier look, I've been working on keeping it simple and fast, practice for when Baby's here. A mineral powder foundation, blush, mascara, and some colour on the eyes. I have a "look book" for easy reference and inspiration, a collection of looks I like that I've collected from magazines,

9) Taming the Mane

My skin doesn't like the dry climate, and neither does my hair. I also haven't experienced the pregnancy luscious locks, either. Enter, argan oil. I first learned about this "liquid gold" a few years ago in Morocco, and now I am a fan. Wash, spritz on a little oil, and dry and style as usual.

10) Come on, dude, I'm exhausted, and Tyra Banks says the most important item in your makeup bag is a good night's sleep!

I love that quote from Raj in The Big Bang Theory. It cracks me up, and it's never been truer. When I sleep well I wake up fresh-faced and ready to go. My smile comes more easily, I feel more positive, and there's a bounce in my step.  

If you've got a home beauty ritual that you love, please share!

April Roundup

Linking up with Leigh, this time with a top-ten roundup of the month:

Top Book: Benediction by Kent Haruf

It's my first Kent Haruf read, and I hope to get my hands on some more of his books soon. Benediction is stark and delicate. Centred around one man's dying days, Haruf brings in neighbours, family, and even apparitions to explore loss and relationships in small-town Colorado. A beautiful, gentle read.

Top Outbound Visit: London, Baby!


coleslaw and chickpea burgers

It had been a year and four months since I'd seen my gal-pals, bar Kanga, who came to see me in November. Too long, and like I'd never left. Kanga organized two long, lovely brunches to ensure lots of gab time - it was so great to see everyone and catch each other up on our news. Kanga and I had heaps of time for chatting in the evenings - thank you to the Chef from Down Under who did all the cooking.

crustless quiche!

Top Inbound Visit: Madrid, Mom

My mom sometimes has to travel for work. As I type, she's at a conference on a canal cruiser going through Holland, Belgium and Germany. Anyway, when she has to come to Europe, she tries to book a layover in Madrid. It was only for a few days, but it was so nice to see her! She brought a suitcase full of things from home - steel cut oats, a vat of coconut oil, birthday presents, and the bird wall clock I loved from home, which Tall Guy agrees will go perfectly in our new kitchen.

I arrived home from work on Monday as she arrived from the airport, and we had a quiet evening. On Tuesday she did her favourite Madrid things and we met at the Prado Museum after work. We made sure to check out Las Meninas (her favourite), and what our family calls Cheesburger from Paradise, my Bro's favourite (when he first saw it, he said, "hey, the dove is bringing down a cheeseburger to Saint Peter!").

On Wednesday, my mom came with me to the doctor - not that exciting, but a long wait made for good talking time, and in the evening we had the "merienda" (Spanish tea/snack time) with my exchange partner and her mother. "We hope it's ok", they said, "we're not that experienced with tea..." It is amazing to think we've been friends for over twelve years now.

Top Day: My birthday!

taking a break at the summit with the dog

I turned 30 this year, and it was a really great day. Tall Guy and I were at the beach for Easter Vacation (11 days off from school, how great is that?), and we woke up early to go on a mountain hike with the dog. It was a beautiful morning and the views were stunning. We worked up a huge appetite and came down to a family lunch of paella, followed by a very tasty Spanish orange cake, presents and a nap, after which the two of us went out for dinner during which I tried octopus once again, and once again did not enjoy it. Despite the octopus, an amazing day.

click here for details!

Top Meal: Naked Burrito at Tierra

Tierra is a burrito buffet located dangerously close to our house. The burritos are the size of my face. For real. They call out to me. Fortunately, they have a naked option - burrito on a platter with no tortilla. Still huge, but less messy and also gluten-free. (I went with my mom.)




Top Laugh: The Hot Dog

After Easter, I asked 4B what they'd done over the holidays, if they'd been anywhere or tried any new food. One girl said she'd been to an American-style diner and had a really big hot dog, and she loved it. Another student put up her hand:

"Yes?"
"I do not eat hot dogs", she said.
"Oh... ok... don't you like them?" I asked.
"No, I like them, but... I HAVE A DOG!" she answered. Some students were nodding in agreement.
"Ok..." I wasn't sure I was getting it...
"You know, hot DOG? When I eat them, my dog looks at me with a bad face and I feel bad", she explained.

they have a euro site!

Top Purchase: The Anthro Dress

I can't not buy things from Anthropologie. It just doesn't happen. I am resigned to walking out with a creamy carrier bag filled with something lovely. Fortunately, everything I've ever purchased from there has been on mega-sale. This trip was no different.

We have four weddings this year, two day time and two evening, two work and two friends, so basically I needed two dresses. This is the day-wedding dress, 65% off, plus another 30% on top of that. Hooray! Also fun to wear a faux-mini. The lace makes this a much better length for me.





Top Blog Read: Taboo Topics

This post by Emily really spoke to me, since I truly believe it all comes down to love. No, we can't just hold hands and sing songs, and we shouldn't ignore injustice, but if we framed our discussions and decisions in the context of true agape love, perhaps our problems would have more satisfactory outcomes.

Top Youtube video: Baby Talk

A friend shared this series on Facebook, and I watched all of them one day when I was sick. When it comes from a kid, it doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary. Pop an adult in there, and ridiculous hilarity ensues... Here's episode one, but my favourite is the one about the cookie.



Top Feeling: Excitement!

So far, our renovation has been all about destruction. The other day when I went upstairs, we had some walls! They aren't bathrooms yet, but they will be!

My Top Ten Spanish Ingredients

It's the last Tuesday in 31 Days of Spaintastic, so I thought I'd share with you a pantry list rather than a specific treat. This way you can throw a little bit of Spain into your own recipes.

1. Obviously, number one is olive oil. Liquid gold. Seriously people, the flavour of that 100% pure olive oil you buy at home? It's got nothing on this. Fresh, earthy, lemony, heavy, light, there are as many options as varieties of olives. We buy ours from a cooperative in cases - three five-litre jugs, to be exact.

Use it: salad dressings, frying eggs (frying anything really - as long as it is actually really real olive oil, and you have enough of it in the pan, it will not smoke or go rancid), on toast, for baking, and on your hands before you wash the dishes.

2. Pimenton. Introduced to Spain by Christopher Columbus, Spanish paprika is packed with flavour. If you like sweet, go for "dulce", made from sweet round red peppers. If you can take a bit of heat, go for "picante", made from a blend of longer, hotter chili varieties. The peppers are dried and smoked for about two weeks to layer and intensify the flavours.

Use it: salads, instead or along with salt and pepper, on deviled eggs with tuna, pork chops or chicken, or, to be really Spanish, in homemade sausage...

3. Saffron. Because yellow food colouring is just gross, and it's cool to say "azafran". It's worth the price for the real deal - think of all the work that goes into getting the stigmas out of the crocuses! To get a kilogram you'll have to pick through 170,000 flowers, which would take around 50 hours... It's also more interesting: did you know people who used to sell fake saffron were executed under the Safranschou code? True story. It will turn your food yellowy-orange and give it a hint of honey flavour.

Use it: in rice (you'll see it well), on chicken or seafood, and on cauliflower.

4. Garlic. There are no vampires in Spain. I know this because there is a whole lotta garlic going on! The best is from Chinchon, a town near Madrid.

Use it: You know. Try it raw as a rub(rub it around your salad bowl, then toss it - garlic flavour without garlic breath) or roast it for something sweeter. Yummm!

5. Rosemary. It's a good thing we grow this on the farm - we use it a lot! It's got a kind of rural, fresh, outdoorsy taste.

Use it: in stews, especially with lamb.

6. Pimientos de piquillo. These red "little beak peppers" are roasted, skinned and packed in olive oil. If you open a jar, you may just eat them all as a snack...

Use it: in salads, stuff with tuna salad, heat them up with béchamel, serve with cream cheese on baguette rounds, puree for fish sauce.

7. Sherry vinegar. It's vinegar made from...sherry! From Jerez, this stuff is light and crisp without being overly acidic. Even Tall Guy, who doesn't like vinegar, will eat this.  

Use it: on salads, to pickle your own vegetables, to pickle small anchovies (boquerones). You'll need the olive oil and garlic for that one.

8. Lemons. Lemons in Spain consistently smell and taste like lemons. You know how sometimes you get those waxy, pale ones that hardly have any juice in them and you can't even smell if you rub your nose with them? Not me!

Use it: to accompany cold drinks, fish and rice dishes, and to make coffee cake (lemon-olive oil cake is a favourite of mine).

9. Garbanzos - chick peas. I used to only like this Spanish staple in hummus, but they're growing on me thanks to Elise and her lemon cake... Madrilenos use garbanzos in cocido, their famous soup.

Use them: in all kinds of soup, as a side, roasted with pimenton to replace croutons in salad or for a snack, or in lemon cake.

10. Jamon Serrano. Spanish cured ham. I am not a fan, but if you want to cook Spanish, you'll need a giant smoked pig leg on your counter to keep the natives happy. It is the most popular, important thing in my kitchen and it makes me crazy! It drips lard and has a distinct smell. Apparently by eating a slice a day I will grow to love it, and apparently I am crazy because I am the only person on Earth who doesn't love it. If I do grow to love jamon one day, it will be our jamon - it comes from organic, acorn-fattened pigs on the family farm.

Use it: eat it on its own, thinly sliced, or on toast with olive oil, chopped up in hot and cold soups, as a garnish for just about anything.

Tuesday Treat in Toledo

It's no secret that I love marzipan. In fact, it made the cut on my top-ten list of Spanish foods. All of that soft almond flavour packed into a chewy little bite, mmmm, so good! But definitely a treat - we're talking uber-sweet, so while I could eat it every day, I really, really don't. Honest.
 
When I do eat it, I eat the best. In Spain, that means a trip to Toledo, the birthplace (according to Spaniards, anyway), of marzipan. This delicacy has been made in Toledo since around since 850, so who knows, it might be true. Thanks to the Marzipan Regulatory Council of Toledo - not kidding - almonds must make up at least 50% of the total weight, and almond oil, 14%. Yummy! It's not as sweet as American-made marzipan, which is fine with me - I like the almonds to dominate. If you don't like marzipan, it's because you haven't tried the Spanish kind yet!
 
Spanish, mazapan: Nuns in Toledo, so the story goes historically accurate facts tell us (ok, Tall Guy, I'll give you marzipan) were miraculously given the recipe to feed the malnourished citizens during a  siege. They were out of wheat, you see, but had plenty of sugar, honey and almonds.

Once you taste some marzipan, you'll see why dozens of countries lay claim to the invention - it's that good. Go into a marzipan shop - I prefer Santo Tome - and just breath it in. It's been around since 1856, and uses a mix of almonds, pine nuts and thousand-flower honey to get that exquisite marzipan flavour.
 

the cellophane packages hold a marzipan fish (yeah, I've eaten a whole one)

You can buy marzipan by weight. Do you want  just one to try? They'll wrap it up in a tiny and beautiful paper bag. A kilo or two? They'll be carefully boxed and wrapped in gold and purple paper. Now that's a gift I love to receive, and also one I give a lot. It's a great "typical Spanish" thing to give, and if the receiver decides to open it up and share while I'm there... mmmm - let's put the coffee on.

The Tall Girl Teaches: Ten Reasons I Love Teaching

1. Everyone is thinking it, so I might as well say it right off the bat - the holidays really are a great part of teaching. I love having two months off in the summer. I love family time at Christmas. I love weekends.

two months of this? yes please!

2. Collaboration - Sometimes desk and cubicle jobs can feel like working in a bubble. Not school! I love working with other teachers, sharing ideas and techniques and working together on cross-classroom projects. (This is, of course, school and colleague-dependent!)

3. Kids are interesting. They're creative and funny. I love hearing their interpretations and takes on life. It's fun to explore stories and ideas with them. Did you know you can kill zombies with a hair dryer?   

4. I love routine, and how much more routine-y can you get than a school day?

pennies for peace - everyone is listening!

5. No homework, thank you very much! I like my work day to end at the end of the work day. I don't take work home. There are no emergency work phone calls on the weekend or late at night, or email demands after hours.

6. It's active - I walk around 18,000 steps a day!

hiking off the job

i will not tolerate that kind of behaviour!

7. It suits my style - there's no uniform or even a dress code at my school (other than the code of common sense), and while I do miss dressing up for special events, I can show up in anything from jeans and a t-shirt to a smart suit and heels and I'm good to go.

8. Um, I sort of like to be the boss. (Surprise!) At school, I'm in charge of a whole room full of people. They are listening to me. Mostly. It's kind of scary, but also pretty great. And being watched and listened to makes me extra aware of my own behaviour.

9.I get paid to read. PAID. To READ. And to share my love of reading with others. Reading is such an important part of educating, and my heart smiles when a "non-reader" discovers books.

10. I also get paid to sing, play games, do yard duty, lesson plan, go to meetings, discipline, dry tears, clean up messes, and teach difficult concepts. I love the variety.

Are you a teacher? What do you love about your job?

And 10 Things I Love About Spain

And just to keep it even, 10 things I love about Spain!

denia

1. Taxes are included - the price is what it is, thank you very much. No sense in reminding everyone we're paying 21% to the government to fund cabinet minister fiestas.

 

2. Fresh produce is practically free (3kg of strawberries for about 6 dollars. What????)

 

2.b. Good wine is also almost free.

2.c. And they're just giving away the dairy.

3. This is a country steeped in mega-history. I love it! 

 

4. We still have 1 cent coins. And we have two cent coins. So there. 

wish you were here!

5. A two-hour lunch, even during the week, is the norm. So is a post-lunch siesta. What's not to love about that?

 

6. There are beaches within a morning's drive from Madrid in all directions, in four different bodies of water. Last weekend we were at Santander. This weekend, heading for the Med.

 

7. Public transportation is so good and cheap that you don't really need a car.

 

8. You can go out for a nice coffee every day without taking out a loan, and even non-coffee drinkers will like it.

in pedraza

9. If it's sunny, restaurant patios will be set up for use. Even in January. 

 

10. Clothes are more festive - festive colours, lace, polka-dots, ribbons, dangly earrings are all accepted work wear.
 

10 Things I Love About Canada...

I'm back in Madrid after three great weeks in Canada. Here's a list of 10 things I'll miss:

sunrise over a field in my hometown

1. Water that tastes like water

2. How it's quiet, even when it's loud

3. Parking spaces so big you can practically park horizontally and still be in the lines

4. Police women are nice 

4. b. Waiters are nice

4. c. Oh wait, almost everyone is nice!

missed the tomatoes this year

5. Access to English books and great libraries

6. Having two cups of coffee without a subsequent myocardial infarction. 

7. One stop grocery shopping (although the price of tomatoes here mooted point 6...) 

8. Clothes and shoes that fit me

9. Cream for coffee

10. Listening to good radio (good news, good talk shows, good music!)

a dam in algonquin park

 

The Tall Girl Teaches: All Eyes On Us

52 eyes are on you. You've got 10 minutes to go before the end of class. And you've got nothing. You are the star of this show, but now it's time to bring on the extra.

The extra. The small, but crucial role. A movie with no extras would be noticeably empty.


what would this scene be without extras? just two guys hanging off a fence.
source

And a class without extras would be noticeably silent. Or noticeably crazy. The extra is a time-filling activity. All teachers need them. Most have them. And the best have extras that are meaningful and engaging. Here are ten goodies my colleagues and I use:

Simon Says. You can swap "Simon" for whatever character or person you're learning about. I just did "Jack" says after our unit on Jack and the Beanstalk. You can incorporate new verbs and silly actions. Students can take over. This is an oldie but a goodie. A real, real goodie. Are they wild? Just start the game. Tada! All eyes on you.

Q & A. You'll need a soft ball or something you can throw. You throw the whatever (I have a beanie baby moose) to a student, and ask them a question. They can ask you the same one back, or think up one of their own. Make the questions more fun than "what's your favourite colour?" Try things like: what's the best band, the best place to go for pizza, what animal would you like to be and why, what superpower would you like to have, etc.

Guess who, classroom edition. The students have to guess which classmate (or famous person) you're thinking of by asking questions. Focus on word order, adjectives and listening (no repeated questions allowed). If you have a "mean" group, beware. Set guidelines so no one gets their feelings hurt!



you want this... (source)

The Circle of Life. This one can be incorporated into your weekly routine, but it's also a good filler. You sit in a circle. The kids get to say one thing that's important to them. It could be something they're doing on the weekend, a good mark, a difficult test, a hard time with a friend. Establish some  ground rules first - no telling other peoples' news! This is a good way to get to know your students and to develop a sense of community in the classroom.

Class novels. Bring in some age-appropriate stories. The class picks one, and you read it aloud to them, bit by bit, over time. This is a good way to engage kids with books. Because books are cool. You can use the story as a starting point for other activities or just let it stand alone.

Collective writing. Write the first sentence to a story on a paper (Once upon a time, it was a dark and stormy night...) and give it to a student. They must write the second line, and fold the paper so that your line is covered. They pass it on, the next student writes a line and covers up the previous one. After everyone has written a line, read the story together. Make corrections as a class. You can set a goal - everyone has to use two adjectives, the sentences must be in the past simple, etc., to guide the writing.

Pen pals. Pick a topic. Students use the theme and have a set amount of time to write a letter, to you or to a pen pal in their class. This is a good "beginning of the year" activity you can use to connect with your students and find out what interests them. Write about your favourite hobby, your dream day, the best pet, your future self. Pick the topic according to what you're working on in class.


not this... (source)

Video clips. If you have a tech-friendly classroom, a video clip every once in a while is fine. Make a list of age- and school- appropriate videos and questions to go with them. If you finish a lesson early, you've got an engaging activity ready to go. This one is my all-time favourite, the kids are a little scared, in a good way, by this one,  and this one has a really good message.

Lyrics training. Again, you'll need a computer and a projector, and you'll have to listen to the songs and watch the videos before-hand, but this is a class-pleaser for sure.

A repeating song. I like the Moose song, the Princess Pat and Walking in the Jungle. They're great, because you can teach them bit by bit, depending on how much time you have, and you don't need any materials. They come in handy for those five minutes before recess or lunch, when the kids are getting restless, or for at the end of the day when no one wants to practise the difference between there is/ there are anymore.

Did I miss any really great extras? Let me know!

All Things Coffee

I like coffee. Maybe I even love coffee. I love reading the paper or a magazine with steaming mug in my hand. I love catching up with friends over frothy cappuccinos. I love waking up early and drinking a cup outside on the balcony.

My top ten coffee loves:

1. My coffee maker. Perfect for one North American mug or three teeny-tiny European mugs (can you even call that a mug??).

my tiny mugs

2. My travel mug. It took a lot of time to find a good one here, as this is not a "travel mug" kind of country. I get stared at on a regular basis (um, did I mention I'm really tall?), and a travel mug just adds fodder to the fire, but it is SO WORTH IT to have a hot coffee for the commute. I think my students appreciate it, too. It's nice when your teacher is awake.

3. Coffee grounds. I'm serious, they're useful! They help the compost move along, and more recently, they have become the star ingredient in my homemade wakey-wakey foot scrub. Puts some pep in your step, har har.

4. Flavoured coffees. I can't help it, they're so good! Flavoured syrup shots? I'll have none of them; but give me a flavoured roast, or at least a dash of cinnamon before brewing!

my tiny coffee maker

5. This latte recipe. Elise, thank you, THANK YOU for this! (and for this!)

6. Diurno. My favourite place to enjoy a cappuccino in Madrid. You'll get a ski-jump sized peak of steamed milk on the top of a reasonably-sized mug here. It's a coffee shop with a video rental place in it. I like the long picture windows, although the views aren't great, the concrete floors and white furniture, and while I've never rented a video there, I like that I could.

7. Cafe bonbon. This is a Spanish thing, and the point of those tiny cups - a tiny but strong coffee served with a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk. The coffee floats on top until you mix it. A (very) sweet treat, although now I've got a recipe to make sugar-free sweetened condensed milk at home, so yummmm...

8. 12-cup percolators. I got one for Christmas, woot woot! Sometimes I have company. And sometimes I want to have various cups of coffee, like when I'm working through a German lesson or planning on going out past ten at night.

9. Iced coffee spoons. I even like them for cereal or parfaits, or for reaching the last strawberry in Tall Guy's bowl. They're just cool.

10. The smell of coffee that I didn't make coming from the kitchen. There's just something so Saturday about that, don't you think?

10 Tips for a Successful Long Weekend in the Country

Tall Guy and I had four days off. Two extra days tacked on to the weekend. We went to the country house, and it was lovely. I'm even getting the hang of what to pack, and I'm catching on to the ways of local life.

You see, you can't just go to the country and expect to fit in with the locals, immediately finding a simple life of relaxation. There's no point in just trying to wing it, especially in Spain. Here's what you do:

First, you need to pack a down-filled vest. Preferably hunter green or navy blue, and it helps if you've got a matching rain hat. It doesn't matter what season it is; this is part of the country uniform. You will wear your hat rain or no rain, and if you've got knee-high rubber boots (also matching, obviously), so much the better. In fact, the more you can dress like a Tyrolean mountaineer, the better.

Then, you'll need to make sure you've got your pearl earrings in. This is the country but we're not animals!

Now that your wardrobe is taken care of, it's on to leisure time:

Take a stack of books and some knitting or crochet, but don't plan on touching them. You need them to decorate the coffee table while you spend hours lounging in front of a roaring fire. Seeing your pile of undone projects will remind you that you are savouring your time doing absolutely nothing other than being mesmerised by the flames. This is not wasting time: you are being in the moment.

Sleep in. When the church bells wake you, go back to sleep, or at least languish in bed, listening to them count off time until at least 11. Then you can get up, since you'll have taken advantage of the dark and relatively quiet night to get caught up on your rest.

Dress in your mountain gear and go to the back garden for a log or two to throw on the fire. Do you have a special basket for collecting wood? Maybe you could borrow one...

Now it's time to check on the livestock, which you mustn't, under any circumstance, name! Without fail, this morning's Snowy will be this afternoon's stew.

Take advantage of the Spanish tradition of "sobremesa". This means "over the table" and implies spending hours over meals that start and end with wine and cheese. Somewhere in the middle will be a great stew, thanks to Snowy, crusty bread, coffee, and chocolates. (I secretly think it's called sobremesa because you eat until you are so full you just tip over right on to the table...)

You may also get the chance to entertain, so be prepared:

Have on hand your own sausage, made from your own organic, grass-fed livestock, some local cheese, olives, wine and of course a leg of ham. If company comes before their morning hunting excursion, don't worry, it's never too early for ham in Spain, but instead of wine, provide your guests with coffee and anise.

If you're not into hunting, learn! Or at least learn to forage. Finding your own food is an invaluable life skill. Anyway, you could take your guests for a walk on your land to forage for wild mushrooms and asparagus. The fresh air and sunshine will do you all good, and your shepherd can show you which varieties are poisonous. If he doesn't, you can always spice things up by turning the luncheon into a kind of Russian roulette.

Finally, remember that this is quality time: you are getting to know your new compatriots and in some cases, your new family. Talk and make connections through the littlest things; a gifted plant cutting, a city you both know. Go for a night walk through the fields with your husband and remember just how many stars there are. Take a deep breath of fresh country air and thank God for long weekends.