The Art of the Steal

As many of you know I am a Netflix instant play junkie.  They leads me to scroll through many different choices and many of them include documentaries.  One I recently watched and loved is The Art of the Steal, which follows the collection of Dr. Albert C. Barnes.

Barnes was an avid collector of post impressionist art.  He was able to do so after creating an antiseptic drug called Argyrol. He used his money to collect 181 Reniors, 69 Cezannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos and many other amazing and valuable paintings.  During the collecting he even befriended many of the artists, leading them to believe that Barnes's intention for the art was the only way it should be seen.

You may think Barnes was the kind of man that collected Art because that is what people of the time with disposable incomes would do.  However, he used the collection to create an art school.  The collection was to be used for educational purposes only, never to be sold, loaned or removed.

Barnes believed so strongly in that belief that he attempted to write an iron clad will.  The will has been challenged numerous times since his death in 1951.  The documentary shows you how politics can practically destroy a will and a man's beliefs.

I will not reveal the result of this long and stressful battle.  I will tell you that I intend to see the Barnes collection the way it was meant to be seen before May of 2012.  If you are interested check out http://www.barnesfoundation.org/index.php

Teacher Gifts

Ok, so it is that time again and I don't want to sound like an ungrateful teacher but I might lose it if I get another mug and/or tote bag.  I know that it can be hard to come up with teacher gifts so I am going to give you a few do's and don'ts for the best teacher gifts.  Well in my humble opinion, anyway.

1. Don't give mugs or tote bags.  You may think they are cute and that we can use them.  We use the numerous mugs to hold pencils, markers, paintbrushes, etc.  There are only so many you can use.  The same with the totes, unless they are like the Envirosax in my earlier posts please think again.

2. Don't give flavored coffee, regular coffee or tea unless you know what the person drinks.  I am a tea drinker only and when I get coffee I have to re-gift it.  Even coffee can be an issue, if it is ground it might not be right for the teacher's machine at home.  Whole bean could be problematic if they don't have a grinder.  Do give a gift card to Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts, you can always find something with those.

3. Don't give perfume or heavily scented body products, unless you know the teacher's signature scent.  I have two perfumes I have never used.  Do give lightly scented hand sanitizers and hand creams.

4. Don't give bank gift cards.   Believe it or not if you do not use the entire amount the first time, you may not be able to use the rest unless you contact the company.  You always have to know exactly what is on it.  You can give cash.

5. Don't give chocolates unless you know the teacher is a chocoholic.  We get so many boxes that we would go into sugar shock if we attempted to eat them all.  Not to mention if the teacher is diabetic they can't even partake.

That sounds like a lot of don'ts but, I promise there are some good do's coming up.

1. Do give stationary.  We go through so much stationary.  Thank yous and blank cards are perfect.  If you can get the stationary personalized even better.  I love the personalized stationary I have, and use it all the time

2. Do give monogrammed post-its.  We use post-its on everything.  Post-it makes letter stationary in various different sizes.

3. Do give gifts cards.

• Target is always a winner since you can get anything.
• Barnes & Noble carries books, dvds and cds
• Teacher stores (find them locally)
• Scholastic gift cards
• Staples are always useful when we run out of classroom supplies and are purchasing out of our pockets.
• Local restaurants the teachers frequent.
• Shops you know they frequent.  Two parents were very in tune with my clothes and accessories and got me gift cards to my favorite stores.  If you are very attentive you can make a teacher's day by getting that thoughtful gift card.

4. Do give cash, it is always good.

5. Do make sure to include a thoughtful card or letter explaining your appreciation and/or the growth you have seen in your child.  Those are the things we keep and cherish.

The best and most inexpensive gift you can give a teacher is a letter to their principal or district explaining what a great job they are doing.  Those letters actually get put in a file and are considered for tenure and teacher of the year awards.  Make sure you send the teacher a copy.  These mean the world to us.

Teaching is all about giving everything to the children you are teaching, so above all make sure the teacher knows you appreciate them.  

Small Business Saturday

If you are braving the shopping world today and have an Amex you should really sign up for small business Saturday.  When you spend $25 or more at a registered small business you get $25 back from Amex.  It is a win- win, the small business will make money back too.

So before you sent foot in a big box store, think again and make some money back.  You can like the this on facebook or go directly to the American Express site.

Happy Shopping!

Holiday Cookies

As the holiday season approaches many of us will be looking for cookie recipes.  This recipe is simple and you can make it however you wish.  You can even freeze them for later use.  The cookies come out delicious, just ask anyone who works with me. They were snatched up in an instant and requests for the recipe came flying in.  

Icebox Shortbread

Prep – 25 minutes (1 – 1 1/2 hour refrigerated time)

Cooking Time – 15-20 minutes

Servings – 36 cookies

•       1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
•       1 cup confectioners’ sugar
•       1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•       1/2 teaspoon salt
•       2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for rolling
•       mix-ins and coatings (see below)

1.    With an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth.

2.   With mixer on low speed, add flour, mixing until a dough forms.

3.   Stir in desired mix-ins

4.   Divide dough in half; place half on a piece of floured waxed or parchment paper.

5.   With floured hands gently roll each half into 1 1/2 inch diameter log

6.   If using a coating, roll the coating on the outside here

7.   Wrap logs tightly in paper and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 1 1/2 hours

8.   Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

9.   Unwrap log; slice dough 1/2 thick. Arrange slices 1 inch apart on baking sheet.

10.  Bake until lightly golden around edges, 15-20 minutes.

11.  Cool on baking sheet 1-2 minutes, transfer to wire rack to cool completely

Mix Ins

• Grated zest of 2 oranges & 1/2 cup of dried cranberries
• Grated zest of 2 lemons & coat with 1/4 cup poppy seeds
• Grated zest of 2 lemons & 1/2 cup of dried blueberries
• Grated zest of 2 limes & coat with  1/4 cup of cornmeal
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots & coat with 1/2 cup finely chopped pistachios
• 1/4 cup finely chopped candied ginger & coat with 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots & 1/2 cup of rough chopped cashews
• 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.  For combination add a 1/4 of each.

Play with the mix-ins and enjoy!  I would have a picture to post but they don't even last long enough for me to grab the camera.

Sherlock

I am clamoring for the next season, of Masterpiece Mystery's Sherlock.  I was flipping channels one night and trying to avoid more reality dreck, when I came upon this modern Sherlock Holmes.  I went so far as to donate to PBS so I can have the episodes to watch at my will.  I LOVE IT!

This modern version features Benedict Cumberbatch, as Sherlock.  It does not shy away from technology, but embraces it, making Sherlock an avid texter and blogger.  He is an absolutely perfect Sherlock, arrogant yet lovable.

 Watson also blogs which gets the team in a little bit of trouble.  Watson is played by Martin Freeman who you might recognize from the remake of The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy.    Watson is not the bumbling idiot which many versions make him out to be. He is the straight man to Sherlock's dry humor.

Unfortunately, there are only 3 episodes in season 1.  There are an hour and a half long, so they are really like mini movies.  Each episode makes you want to know each character more and more.  I can't wait for the next season.  Please give it a try and I swear you will be waiting with baited breath too.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/sherlock/index.html

Netflix

I don't know why I haven't reviewed this before, since I have been addicted since I gave it to my brother as a gift last christmas.  Netflix is amazing!!!

I purchased the two disc at a time program and cannot be happier.  By having the two disc option you can always have a disc if you time your returns right.  When I am done the new disc usually arrives in two days. If you ever encounter a scratched or skipping disc you report it online and a new disc will be mailed instantly, without the original needing to arrive first.

I will admit the discs are not what makes me love netflix.

Instant play is the best decision ever made.  I bought a Roku which streams the video into  my HD tv.  Instant play has allowed me to catch up on tv that I have missed and see movies on a whim.  It is perfect for people with ADD.  You know the "Did you see ...., lets see if its on instant play?"

The price seems high but if you use the system the way we do it is totally worth it.  Everyday my netflix account is used.

If you are a movie lover you need to try this. http://www.netflix.com/FreeTrialInfo

Rosemary's Baby

After watching this horror/thriller classic I am left wanting.

The plot features a married couple who move into a new apartment with a shared wall.  On the other side of the wall is a meddling elderly couple.  The husband embraces the next door neighbors while Rosemary is not so sure.

Early on Rosemary gets pregnant, after experiencing an odd dream.  For the majority of the pregnancy she is sick.  The film takes a while to get moving and when it does you know what is coming.   I wasn't even sure I wanted to help Rosemary since she was not thinking for herself.

It is not scary and not thrilling.  I am glad I watched the well known film but will probably not watch it again.

The best part, "He has his father's eyes."