Rockin' Summer Solstice

Summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches its' highest point, 23 degrees, 6 feet.  For most of us it is the true calendar marker that is the kick-off to summer. In Latin solstice means "sun" + "to stand still". Summer solstice marks the longest period of daylight and the shortest night, the opposite occuring on winter solstice. I don't know if Red Frog Events, intentionally chose this date as the start to the Firefly Music Festival this year, but I can't think of a better way to celebrate, well besides dancing at Stonehenge.

This is going to be a truly magical moment, as we get to rock out and groove to over 70 bands this weekend.  Not to mention that I get to support local vendors who are rockin' it all year long here in Delaware.  "O Yeah Yeah Yeah" I will be sure to grab a juice at my sister-in-law Rachel's tent for GreenMan Juice Bar, try to keep to my paleo diet a little with a Tweason'ale from Dogfish, but I am also looking forward to grabbing a bite at "I Don't Give a Fork" (I admit even for this paleo dieter the Mac & Cheesesteak is tempting me, I may try the 'Zella, maybe both...I have 3 days to enjoy the variety).

I am also looking forward to hanging out with my father-in-law, who like us, is already mapping out his schedule of must-see bands (and who has played such a role in my husband's music taste).  We have already had so much fun comparing our lists, and telling each other to check out other bands.  I am also super stoked to catch up with high school friends who we haven't seen in years. 

I can't say enough about how excited I am for Firefly, the only comparison is to say I feel really inline with nature, Oh, great power of the sun, we are aiming high for a weekend of pure bliss!

***Special Thanks in advance to my mother-in-law, Anita aka GiGi and Poppa and our Aunt Brenda and Uncle Tom, for helping watch the grandbabies this weekend, we love you and couldn't do this without you!!!***

Nature Knows Best

Summer time is here, and that means many days and hours spent at the pool and beach. Woohoo!!! However, although for some of us this means skin irritations and dry, damaged hair, due to chlorinated pools and from the overexposure of some of nature's elements. So what I am I recommending?  Coconut oil, and not just for cooking, but for your skin and hair.

Coconut oil is natural and has been used by native cultures for thousands of years.  Actually it's hard to believe, but it was once widely used in the US food industry, mostly in baking and manufactured baked goods.  Now you may ask well why isn't it being used now?  You see, if you study any patterns within the food industry or America's food system you will see patterns often linked to some sort of movement.  Coconut oil was put into a negative light when the food fad of the moment moved away from all saturated fats.  In doing so, the food industry has now replaced coconut oil and other saturated fats with hydrogenated oils and polyunsaturated oils that contain trans fatty acids.  (Keep in mind these replacement oils are oils that previously were not prevalent in the human diet, makes many wonder if this has anything to do with surge in diabetes, obesity, and heart disease).

 

Coconut oil is known to be very beneficial to one's health.  It improves and heals many skin issues

and diseases: fungal infections, acne, eczema, keratosis polaris, psoriasis, and rosacea.  Coconut oil also strengthens and conditions hair.  Many athletes, trainers, and fitness gurus have turned to it because it is known to sustain energy levels longer, which enables one to have a longer endurance, and its' all natural, drug-free! Nutritionist and weight-loss coaches are also turning to it, because it helps boost metabolism. There has also been health studies that have shown it helps with Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and hypothyroidism.  (If you want a serious scientific explanation of why saturated fats like this work, I seriously suggest you turn to Nora Gedgaudas' Primal Body, Primal Mind).

 

Now to help with the basic summer ailments with your skin and hair, here are two simple treatment recipes.  For your skin, it is as simple as apply directly on the skin in small amounts.  For your hair, 1 Tablespoon, massaged into your hair as a leave-in treatment for one hour, or overnight.  (If you keep it on overnight, cover with a plastic cap). Rinse out with the mildest shampoo you can find.    Coconut oil helps minimize protein loss during shampooing.  You see coconut oil is comprised of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) or medium chain fatty acids (MCFA), which have antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic properties, keeping your hair and scalp from drying and hair from breaking. (Probably another reason it is also known to kill lice and improve dandruff issues).

 

So give it a try, whether in your cooking for better health (just replace any recipe that uses butter, with coconut oil) or use it to help promote better skin and hair.  Keep in mind a little oil goes a long way!

 

 

Oh Bloody Hell! It's Shark Week...seriously!?!

So many of you can imagine the jokes that get told in my house and amongst my family, with my husband working as a tampon machine mechanic. Tampons can be referred to as many things: feminine care products, Class #2 Medical devices, plugs, rolls, sticks, one of the most recent ones I have heard is manhole covers.  Regardless of what you call them or their cousin, the pad (napkins, rags, and cotton bricks), when a girl blossoms into womanhood, she quickly learns that she better be well-stocked in either because when Aunt Flo comes to town, she can shed havoc on your favorite panties.

Every girl out there has been through it, ruined a pair during that time of the month.  And unfortunately, because society has taught us to be shameful when it comes to our periods, we often will either throw away that pair or hide the stained pair in the back of our panty drawer until Aunt Flo's next visit. 

In high school, many girls even found my response to Aunt Flo's visit to be too crass.  Sorry sisters, but when Aunt Flo came, I did not appreciate the cramps, and so excuse me for being openly obnoxious and saying, "I wanted to spoon out my ovaries".  I am just thankful that I was encouraged by my mother to express my feelings on the subject instead of hide them, and put on the fake show that all was okay.  I am also thankful for the friends that appreciated my ridiculous sense of humor, because truthfully none of us "enjoy" our period.

However, I recently discovered something that embraces my crass sense of humor and adds a little bling to Aunt Flo's visit.  This past Christmas, while looking for a present for someone on Etsy, I came across Ginger Gregory's shop "Cool Aunt Flo".  (I must admit, I feel like Stefon right now, from SNL, "if you are looking for..., then look no further").  Seriously though, for just a minute, if you are tired of throwing away panties or staining them, check this shop out and order a pair of period panties.  Yes, you read correctly, period panties you can be proud to wear.  Ginger Gregory has wittingly created a novel product, period panties with hilarious "flogans" to cheer you up when you're feeling weepy, bloated and crampy. So put an end to ruining your panties and hiding them in the back of your drawer.  Read my Q & A with the creator of Cool Aunt Flo, Ginger Gregory and go on Etsy and order your pair today!

Q- I have to ask, is Ginger Gregory your real name? And if so, do you have red hair? Where did you grow up? and where are you living now?

Ginger- Yes, Ginger Gregory is my real name. Ginger Sue, with a name like that you know I'm from North Carolina. I grew up in Fayetteville, and now live in Fuquay Varina, NC. I have had red hair for a few years now, with the help of Clairol or Loreal (usually medium auburn, sometimes light depending on the season)

Q-In your profile on Etsy, you say that you wanted to provide women with comic relief and underwear you can't mess up...where did the idea for period panties come from? I mean I know as women we have all ruined our favorite pair of panties, or we have found ourselves stashing the ruined pair in the bottom of our drawer only to be resurrected at the always untimely visit of our dear friend, Aunt Flo, but what made you decide to make period panties with witty "Flogans"?

Ginger- Messed up one too many pairs of underwear and I have a wicked sense of humor.

Q-Do  you have plans to expand the line?

Ginger-I do have plans to expand. I would like to add more "flogans". I mainly wanted to do red and black panties, but couldn't find any wholesale I could afford. I mean, the whole point was not to show the stains. I had to redefine the point: to be fun first.  I would like to expand to tampon holders, heating pads, my own brand of pain medication and maybe a Ben & Jerry's flavor ice cream.

Q-When did you decide to make your vision a reality and create a shop on Etsy?

Ginger-A friend told me about Etsy. It was the perfect way to get Cool Aunt Flo going. I could do it piece meal and not get overwhelmed with expense. I kept thinking this is such a good idea and someone else is going to do it if I don't and I will kick myself later so I went for it. I got a business credit card and said what the heck. It's only money.

Q-On Cool Aunt Flo's Facebook page you are always posting interesting facts, myths and beliefs about menstruation, what has been your most shocking?

Ginger-Period "Art" that I've seen on Tumbler.  I decided not to post those. Oh, and the menstrual blood fetish. More disturbing is the way men/religion have used menstruation to keep women subservient and made to feel dirty throughout history.

"Native Americans separated women during their periods, not for seclusion/shame, but out of respect. Quiet, calm, restful places because women have the power of life.

I always liked Tonto..."

"Are You There God? It's Me Margaret" was a must read for girls in the 80's. Blume was the first author to incorporate the issue of first menstruation into a fictional storyline.

Like if you remember reading this adventure into puberty.

Q-Are you selling any of Cool Aunt Flo's period panties in stores, besides Etsy?

Ginger-I wish. I'm having trouble figuring out how to sell them in stores and keep the packaging. I think the packaging is half the fun!

 Q-How far do you envision Cool Aunt Flo's period panties going?

Ginger-I would love to see them on Ellen DeGeneres (not literally on Ellen...well, maybe). There's not enough inventory for a big marketing explosion right now. I'm working with a very supportive investor. He suggests starting with extensive marketing plans leading to multiple distribution channels. I would love to do this full time, be the CEO of my own company and Queen of Period Panties!

Q-Can you share a memorable story about when you first started your period or a period "accident"?

Ginger-Oh boy. I have a disgusting story involving sex in the dark, unaware that I started my period.  The next morning was interesting.

My sister had an period "accident"  going through the buffet line, not realizing she had blood running down the back of my skirt.

I am always happy to accidentally bleed on my Cool Aunt Flo panties. Makes them official period panties!

Q-How long is the $10 sale on Etsy?

Ginger-They are on sale until I sell some damn underwear!

Q-Has anyone been offended by the period panties?

Ginger-Cool Aunt Flo's Vampire's Dream made it on Regretsy. It's a website that makes fun of items sold on Etsy. (No such thing as bad publicity). Some people take themselves too seriously.  God knows I've offended people in every other aspect of my life, why not on my panties too?

Q-Who is your favorite comedian?

Ginger-Paula Poundstone, David Sedaris, and Kathleen Madigan

Q-Did actual Shark Week (@Discovery) give you inspiration to create the Shark Week panties? and did True Blood inspire Vampire Dream? Do you have any plans for Game of Thrones inspired panties?

Ginger-Shark Week is just kind of obvious not to use and "Chumming" seemed a little too much (like Watch for Falling Clots, isn't!)  We came up with the vampire panty before True Blood. This idea has been years in the making, but I've been an Anne Rice fan for a long time. I hadn't thought of Game of Thrones.  Are there any bloody good reasons why I should do a pair?

So if I haven't convinced you to order yourself a pair already, maybe if I share all the "flogans" you will go on and order yours today. 

Crampin' and Flowin', NOT pregnant, Strings Attached, Flood Zone, Hot Sauce, Vampire's Dream, Shark Week, It's Blow Job Week, Tampooned, Watch for Falling Clots, Aunt Flow's in Town, Clean Up Center Aisle.

As I said before, I think these period panties are wittingly creative and a great way to add a little comic relief to a not so comfortable time!  I jokingly tell my husband all the time, that the marketing designers for packaging the tampons need to stop trying to package 'em in floral designs and just keep it simple: Here's your friend to help with Aunt Flo! or Stop Aunt Flo!

Leaves of Three VS. Me

No, I am not talking about reading your "tea" leaves. I am talking about the nasty little "leaves of three, let them be", poison ivy leaves.  Many of you have probably already encountered these little devilish leaves at some point in your life. But for those of you who have not, I want to share with you some pictures of the plant so you can learn to avoid it, some advice on what to do if you know you have come in contact and some products that could aid in your relief if you do come into contact with it.

For those of us who have encountered it, we are fully aware of the full effects of its' power.  You see, poison ivy, contains this oil, called Urushiol.  Urushiol is what causes the nonstop itching, blistery rash.  The trick to not coming in contact with it, is to learn to keep on the look out for it.  Poison Ivy is easily spread by birds, because they eat the berries off the plant and conveniently "poop" them out, throughout your yard.  Another important thing to remember is this plant can reseed itself through the berries dropping, being blown by the wind, or one of the fastest ways is by mowing over the plant while its producing berries.

To keep it from growing and spreading in your yard, is learning to detect it early.  Carefully removing it from its' roots (locating the places where it is growing, wearing old clothes that you can throw away afterwards, and keeping your skin covered). If you detect a large growth of poison ivy, i.e., growing up a tree, you should seriously consider calling in the experts (poison ivy horticulturalist, brush removal specialist).  Keep in mind calling such experts and specialists can get costly, most will charge you a consultation fee (usually $100) and then depending on how you decide to treat, it goes up from there.  There are some over the counter herbicide sprays you can use, but if you are like me, you want to keep away from such chemicals that can be harmful to your health and to the environment.  I did find this recipe to make your own "poison ivy killer spray", that is not made of herbicides:



Poison Ivy Vegetation Killer

• 1 cup salt
• 8 drops liquid detergent
• 1 gallon vinegar

Combine the salt and vinegar in a pan and heat to dissolve the salt. Cool the vinegar, add the detergent, and pour some of the liquid into a large spray bottle. Spray the vegetation. (You can also just pour the mixture onto the weeds.) Refill the spray bottle as necessary. Note that this formula will kill all the vegetation, so make sure that you are only spraying the plants you want to kill. If you need to use a lot of this spray, avoid spraying it near wells, as the salt can leach into your water supply. [Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/vinegar-for-poison-ivy.html#ixzz2VXkYonMI]

I personally have not tried this more natural spray, but I plan on it.  Keep in mind, whatever method of spray you choose to use, all can be harmful to surrounding plants and vegetation.

Now as for what to do once you have come into contact with poison ivy.  First, if you are aware you have been exposed to it, rinse the affected area with cool water.  I recommend doing this after doing any gardening work, like I said, you never know, the baby sprouts of poison ivy can hide themselves easily under other plants.  Do not use warm water, as this can open the pores of your skin and allow the Urushiol oil to penetrate more.  After you have rinsed the area, follow with a soap wash, and rinse (Burt's Bees Poison Ivy Soap works best).  Any clothing that came into contact with the poison ivy, either throw away, or put straight into the washing machine (and wash and least two times). 

The products that I strongly urge you to purchase and keep stocked in your medicine closet are: Burt's Bees Poison Ivy Soap, All Terrain Poison Ivy/Oak Bar, and Herbs, Etc.'s Ivy Itch Releaf.  As someone who has had my fair share of poison ivy contact, I can attest that these products truly work and provide fast relief (this includes the time that I was even put on a steroid cream...these work better!).  The reason I think two of these products work so well, is because they contain: Jewelweed, a well-known natural remedy to poison ivy/oak and other skin irritations. Herbs, Etc. Ivy Itch Releaf has always been my saving grace, when I have come in contact with poison ivy. (You can find these products direct from their websites, or at most health food stores).

You can also try to find a plant of Jewelweed and keep it in your garden.  After contact with poison ivy, you can take a part of Jewelweed, slice the stem and rub its' oil over the affected area.

Lastly, keep in mind, if you are one of the people who think you are immune to poison ivy, think again.  People's immunities to such things, can change as they age, so do not ever assume you are immune.  Stay safe, and remember the wise old rule, "leaves of three, let them be".

***(All of the photos of poison ivy were taken by me.  The smaller samples were baby sprouts that I discovered recently in my garden boxes.  The larger sample growing up the tree is where the main source lives, near our property.)***

Adventure Safely

Have you ever been concerned about a loved one with a medical issue or worried about the safety of a friend while they are out running?  Well I can't say enough about this product.  RoadID is a wonderful gift for any occasion. 

What I love about this product is that it was created out of a father's love and concern for his son's safety, as he trained for a marathon. The son took his father's concern seriously after he had a "close call with an automobile".  Mike Wimmer (father) and Edward Wimmer (son) teamed up and launched this product from their basement.

I first heard about this product a few years ago, from my friend, Amanda Bundek, who is a runner and volunteer firefighter. Amanda is someone who is all about living life to the fullest, but also keeping in mind one's safety first.  So earlier this year, when my mother shared with me her concern to own a medical alert bracelet after discovering she had some serious allergies that resulted in her being prescribed an EpiPen, I turned to RoadID.  I did look at other medical alert bracelets, but was quickly turned off by them, because many of the styles only allow for a small bit of information.  Whereas, the RoadID I was able to list her name, her birthyear, two emergency contacts, not to mention being able to list her allergies and that she has an EpiPen.  So for Mother's Day, I ordered my mom her RoadID bracelet with extra replacement straps (not because I thought the straps would break, but because I wanted her to have the option to change out the color of the bracelet). 

So it made perfect sense to order this as a Father's Day present for my husband.  We had been meaning to order one for him, since our friend, Amanda had told us about them.  My husband, Kyle is an adventurer to say the very least, he is a runner, bicyclist, motorcycle enthusiast, paddleboarder, and is training for his first triathlon (on Father's Day).  So, needless to say, it was high time I ordered his RoadID.  He definitely needs the RoadID for all of his venturing activities, but most recently we have both become most concerned about his safety while paddleboarding.  To the point that during one of our discussions about it, I said to him, not only do we need to get you a RoadID, but we also need an ID for your paddleboard, because if something tragic happened, your board would probably come to shore before your body.  I know this is a horrible thing to consider, but when looking at safety one must be fully prepared.  So he created an identity tag for his board,  which reads, "This board belongs to Kyle Bullock. If found please be on the lookout for my bloated crab eaten corpse. In either case please contact Sarah Bullock # ---=----". 

Now some of you may read this and think we are such weirdos, but we refer to it as the "truth about being lost at sea".  And I will admit it also stems from my fear of dying.  You see in high school, I was prompted by a journal topic to write about the worst possible death I could imagine, or something along those lines.  Well growing up in Delaware, one gets used to smelling the marsh, no matter what proximity you are from it.  You also grow up, knowing about crabs and them being the bottom feeders, (well maybe not every Delawarean girl grows up knowing about this, but I did, and it is probably due to the fact that family friends were crabbers, so I had a hands-on blue crab education).  It may also have had a little to do with how much I had watched the movie Stand By Me, and how much it discussed a dead body's exposure to the elements of nature. Regardless of all that, my fear of dying is this, driving off a road in Delaware, and getting stuck in the marsh (not the vehicle, because there is a special hammer you can get from Duluth Trading to help in that situation), and then becoming a bloated crab eaten corpse, that is completely unrecognizable to my family. Oh, and also smelling marsh that intensely as my last smell on earth.

So now we have all our bases covered.  An identity tag for the paddleboard, and RoadID ankle ID for Kyle.  And like I did for my mom's ID, I ordered Kyle additional interchangeable colored bands.  There are so many options to choose from with RoadID: wrist, ankle, FIXX, shoe, shoe pouch, and scout (for your pets). There is also two types of options original (the standard laser engraved id with vital emergency information) and an interactive option provides you with 24/7/365 Emergency Response Support. This is a wonderful gift to for anyone and everyone. RoadID is like your personal first aid kit, it enables first responders to identify you and any possible medical issues you may have.  So, keep this one in mind as Father's Day approaches...I know that Mike and Edward Wimmer would be happy to assist you! Just go to www.roadid.com and give yourself and loved ones "peace of mind".

" 'Who Needs Donuts?' , when you have love"

In honor of National Donut Day, I urge you to reconsider picking up that free calorie filled donut and instead take a moment and share a little love with those who serve our nation.  You see not all food holidays are about celebrating a particular food.  National Donut Day was started in 1938, by the Chicago Salvation Army to honor women who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. So before you rush off to Dunkin' to pick up your free donut, and add calories to your day, that you do not need, I urge you to do this instead.

Why not show our children what this day is really about?  Be an example to our future generations, by taking the time to read to them and explain how this food holiday originated, and the importance of our service people and military.  You can share with them a delightful story created and gloriously illustrated by Mark Alan Stamaty and explain to them the importance of what all our service people in this country do to make our lives better: nurses, teachers, doctors, EMTs, and all our military. And, seriously, "who needs donuts, when you have love?"

Secrets of a Wise Momma

So every momma (and poppa) out there knows what it is like to have one of "those" days, where your child gets so fixated on wanting or doing something that you are ready to lose your mind.  I was having one of those days this past weekend, when my son decided he wanted to be outside.  And since he can now reach the deadbolt lock and knows how to operate it we are challenged throughout the day, with trying to keep him inside. He is too young to understand that going outside on his own, is just not safe.  However, he has adapted the official "shoe police" badge.  This is in part because one of our methods to prevent him from , slow him down in his attempts to go outside, was to remind him he must have his shoes on. Beware: he will say to you if he catches you without them, "Shoes, go?", with his hands up in the air.

This past weekend he was challenging not only me, but also his dad.  He had already attempted to make a mad dash outside at least seven times.  I know that my husband, Kyle had to bring him back in 3x in less than 10 minutes.  So, when Kyle had something he needed to work on, and I was left alone to manage the escape artist, I was beginning to wonder if I was going lose this battle, when I recalled something completely ingenious.

You see, just prior to Christmas, my dear friend, Emma (who lives in Australia) and I were talking about children being on Christmas overload.  Basically, what we were discussing was the fact that children can only handle so much, but both of us were concerned with all the presents our kids would be receiving, not just from us, but from extended family and friends.  As a mom, I have always tried to encourage anyone when they ask me about presents for my son, that they keep them very minimal.  Especially because of his age, he really does not fully comprehend holidays and gift giving times.  I try to emphasize that whatever you start from day one, remember that as the child grows, they are going to expect this to continue.  Hence, keeping things minimal, and why we encourage clothes and educational items: games, coloring books and puzzles, and less focus on toys.  However, even keeping things minimal it is still hard not to cause overload.  Kyle and I noticed this with our son, on Christmas morning.  We had given him a few presents, one big present and a few small ones.  We both realized that as he got to about the seventh package (mind you these were puzzles, books and a few toy cars), he began to get cranky.  And not the full on cranky, the irritable, I am overstimulated cranky.  And it was then, that I decided I was going to heed my friend, Emma's advice.  Mind you, Emma is a momma of four beautiful children.  Her advice through our discussion about Christmas overload, was to carefully stash away a few of the presents that he receives on Christmas and save them for a rainy day a few months down the road. 

So I did.  A few months after Christmas, I went through my son's things and decided to put a few of the presents I had stashed away out in exchange for some that he had outgrown.  I figured this would help him through those rougher months of winter, when he couldn't always go outside to play. I still had kept some away, because I knew the summer months were going to be more challenging.  And boy, am I glad I did!  So this past weekend, when I was wrangling in my son, a light bulb went off in my head, and I said to him, "Come upstairs with mommy, I have some presents for you."  I quickly pulled out this awesome Lego set and Curious George lunchbox that his Aunt Rachel and family had given him at Christmas.  And his mind, was diverted from wanting to go outside, to intently playing with the fire truck and dog.  And I made sure to remind him, that this was a special gift from Aunt Rachel (and family).

Some of you may be wondering how I decided what toys to store away.  It was simple really, I just looked at what had actually been opened (meaning opened beyond wrapping paper and actually touched).  I made a box and just piled a bunch of presents in it that had not been "opened".  The Lego set was one I debated about, because I knew he would love it, but thought, he will appreciate it just as much even if he gets to play with it a few months from now.  I was so thankful for listening to my friend's advice, it truly was a saving grace this past weekend!

Math as a Language

Recently I decided that I was ready to take the next step in my educational journey, obtaining my Masters in Education (MAT).  This step has been one that I have avoided for a few years now, basically because I have allowed myself to create my own barriers, ones that I am ready to knock down and dismantle.

The largest barrier for me, has been avoiding taking the Praxis I (PPST) test.  For those of you unaware of what this test includes it is a three part test: Reading, Writing and Mathematics (the infamous Three R's- stems from a basic educational program in the late 18th and 19th centuries, when the role of schools was geared more to prepare children to work in the manufacturing industry).  If you haven't already realized I love reading and writing, but mathematics has never been a favorite subject or a strong asset of mine.  And to clarify, I understand mathematics like most people understand a second language that they studied in high school, we remember bits and pieces, because we aren't using it everyday.  Meaning I understand the basic concepts and prinicples, but when it gets into the algebraic formulas and more of a formal discipline of knowledge, I get confused over some of these mathematical ideas. 

You see, I understand fractions, percentages, subtraction, multiplication, decimals, etc...and I have used these concepts in every job I have had during and since high school (slicing deli meat, doing markups/markdowns in retail, filing invoices with retail cost/actual cost, keeping to a budget when ordering products, mixing chemicals, etc).  My largest problem with mathematics is that we do not seem to teach it as a language first.  And what is really amazing and unique about mathematics is that it is the only language shared by all human beings regardless of your native language.  Nerdy, I know, but how cool is it to think that math is universal, no matter how we are paying for our basket of groceries, dollars, euros, or yen, we are using the same concepts to weigh our groceries (lbs./kilos) and pay for them.

So I have started refreshing my mathematical language, taking practice tests and re-reading concepts I learned my sophomore year of high school, and again in my sophomore year of college.  And in doing so, I have come to a realization as to why I have always had such a hard time with certain areas of math. First of all, we do not teach math as a language first, we make children memorize addition and multiplication and give them equations and formulas to memorize before we make it available in a practical form.  What brought me to this realization was several problems in my first practice review,  but the problem that stood out to me was this one: "Use a proportion and solve this problem.   Bob uses jelly and peanut butter in a ratio of 5:2.  He uses 10 teaspoons of jelly. How much peanut butter will he use?" Now as all of you know, I love to cook, (and I no longer make PB & J sandwiches as I don't eat bread anymore), however, who makes a PB & J sandwich out of teaspoon measurements?  I know, it is meant to just be a problem, but my brain says this is completely illogical when it comes to making a sandwich.  And hence, further addresses my point about my problem with mathematics...we need to teach this language using practical and real problems.  Use cooking equations and ratios, but make the problems actual real cooking problems. For instance, how many of you have ever doubled a batch of something you were making or had to cut it in half, because you didn't have all the ingredients? 

The key to all language is foundation.  If you have a basic foundation, then you can add on, and build and grow with the language.  I remember vividly trying to explain color chemical formulas when I worked in the hair industry to high school age apprentices, and trying to break it down into terms they could understand.  I remember thinking what can I use that they will understand this, so I thought money (the basic thing everyone should know is money, 4 quarters = 1, right?)  But, I quickly realized they didn't understand quarters (not sure if its our technological culture, where children don't grow up going to the store and getting penny, dime and quarter candies anymore, because so many swipe a debit card to pay for things, or what).  So I had to teach them, by using the quarters (because I thought someone along the way failed to realize they didn't get this and moved them along).  So when mixing the formula we would lay out 4 quarters, and I would explain that two was a half (half ounce), and slowly, but surely, and after countless times of walking them through it step by step, and requestioning them when I felt they "got it", to make sure they understood.  All I can say looking back on this time, was thank God we were not mixing European formulas at the time, which mostly are measure in mLs.

Similar things have happened in my other jobs too, in regard to "quarters".  Various jobs that I have had over the years involve retail, so we often have sales in which particular products are 25% off.  Now don't get me wrong, we all have brain farts, or have had something be an odd price, that isn't an easy problem with a quick solution.  But, when so many times I have had a customer ask "how much is 25% off a $40 item or a $100 item?", it really makes me wonder about our society and our world. What I realize is that often, they know, but have been so afraid of math, that they second guess themselves.

So I am looking at mathematics in a new light, I am embracing it as what it is a language.  My hope is to not just pass this test, that I need to pass to get accepted into the Master's program, but help encourage math teachers and educators in general to have their students journal their math learning experiences and their math use experiences.  This may seem tedious, but what it allows is for a student, to see how math applies to their daily life, and to see how far they have grown (it also provides them with a reference tool for their future, which I think is very critical in one's education).  My point is I look at my son, who is a toddler and think he is learning his native language now, but I am not harping on him now, to learn that "bike" is a noun or "run" is a verb, and diagramming sentences, because right now it is more important for him to understand how to say the word and identify it- building a foundation. And currently, I am journaling for him, every few weeks or month, as most mothers do, I jot down the words in his vocabulary, what words he has formed into sentences, and what he has learned to identify. So I hope that you will join me on this adventure and help encourage math as a language, and to start journaling (it's like keeping a checkbook, but discovering that math is not just about money)!