Month: April 2018

You Said a Mouthful There, Kiddo!

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I have always enjoyed conversing with kids. I imagine that why I lasted 30 years in the education business. Children have such unique ways of expressing themselves and they seem to get words confused at times….and don’t forget this gem…they will give you their opinion in a heartbeat. Today’s list is a series of quotes by and conversations with my students over my 30 year tenure as a teacher.

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Mrs. Raisley, I’m not STEALING all of your paper clips, I’m holding them in my pockets so they don’t fall on the ground. See….my hands are very shaky. (boy forces hands to shake.)

(That was a very well thought out lie…..)

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Student: Mrs. Raisley, what are you going to be when you grow up.

Me: I am grown up. I am a music teacher.

Student: No, I mean after that…………….I think you should be a PRINCESS!!!!

(Children are so wise, right?!)

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Kindergarten boy: Mrs. Raisley, I won’t be coming to school here anymore. My daddy is getting sent back to Mexico so we are all going.

Me: I’m so sad. I will miss you.

Kindergarten boy happily: Don’t worry!  We will be back REAL SOON!!!!!

(Apparently he doesn’t worry about Border Patrol!)

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Mrs. Raisley, my mom taught me an Easter song. It’s called “Here Comes Peter Cocktail.”

(Freudian slip, mom?!)

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Child looking at my knee after a knee replacement:

Mrs. Raisley, when they cut your knee open could you see your own guts??????

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First Grader: Mrs. Raisley, Aspen is not here today because she has license.

Me: License? What does that mean?

First Grader: You know….license….the little bugs that make your head itchy.

(Oh, that!)

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Second Graders: Mrs. Raisley!!!! A boy just threw up in the hall and it was purple!!!!!

(A case of TMI)

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Me (to boy who just fell on the floor): Sweetie, if you feel your pants falling down just stop what you are doing and pull them back up again.

Boy (somewhat perplexed): Oh!!!!! That’s a great idea.

(Does anyone have common sense anymore????)

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I could really go on for hours with fun little stories, but I realize that I’m getting to the end of the average attention span. The next time you are in the car or the waiting room, don’t hand your kid your telephone. Talk to them instead! You are missing some amazing gems of wisdom and pearls of advice! Help them build a great vocabulary and some confidence in self expression! Find our what is going on in their little worlds and enjoy their fresh perspectives on things! You will be glad that you did!

Listfully yours,

Vicki

 

My Latest Obsessions

/ theraisleyrundown / 2 Comments

Over the past week I have been chatting with some of my friends about various things that we love to do, to read, to eat, to see, to collect, and so forth. It was very enlightening to learn what kinds of things make my friends happy and I got a lot of fun ideas from hearing what their latest obsessions are.  Today I will share my top 10 obsessions! I hope you enjoy!

 

  1. Lipsense Lipstick.  I have never been a good lipstick wearer. I could never be bothered with putting it on and then remembering to touch it up all day long. Enter Lipsense by Senegence. True to its claims, Lipsense really does last all day and is non-transferrable. The first day I wore it, I was teaching about the instruments of the orchestra. In all six of my classes I played the flute, clarinet, trumpet, French horn, and trombone. My lip color never came off on the instruments! I also ate and drank at lunch and dinner with no loss of color. Now, I am obsessed.

 

  1. Avery or Post-It Filing Tabs. I have been using regular Post-its as bookmarks and tabs forever! However, one day I received a free sample of the filing tabs which apply like Post-its but are shaped like filing tabs and are very sturdy. Now I have them in all of my journals, my Bible, my lesson plans, the books I’m reading and more! I need more of these tabs in my life!

 

 

  • Pens. I am obsessed with pens. I love to collect pens that have seasonal characters on them and light up. I love pens that come in all sorts of unusual colors. I love pens with unique grips or shapes. I love heavy pens that feel luxurious in my hand and light pens that don’t aggravate my carpal tunnel. I love inexpensive Bic pens as well more expensive designer pens. Just writing this makes me want to find a new pen.

 

 

 

  • Karen White’s Tradd Street Series Books. I am an avid reader. I love mysteries and suspense best. Author, Karen White, has written this series of mysteries that I have gone crazy over. All of the stories take place in historic downtown Charleston, SC. The main character is a successful real estate agent with a knack for seeing and communicating with the ghosts who are hanging around in the historic properties that she is trying to sell. The stories are absolutely fascinating and I enjoy them even more because I live in the area. You need to read these books.

 

 

 

  • Cadbury Mini Eggs. This is my all time favorite candy of choice. For more on this subject, please read my Easter blog!

 

 

 

  • Micellar Water. Three months ago I had no idea what micellar water was. A friend of mine told me about it and once I tried it I became addicted! This water is NOT for drinking! I originally got it as an alternative to expensive makeup removers. I wear waterproof mascara and eyeliner and it is difficult to get off with traditional removers. However, an inexpensive bottle of micellar water does the trick. Simply soak a cotton ball with micellar water and place it over your closed eye for 15-25 seconds. Then you will gently wipe across your eyelid and your makeup will be removed completely.  Not only will micellar water remove stubborn makeup, I have used it to clean jewelry! My son got guacamole stuck in the crevices of his class ring and it dried by the time he got home. The next morning, I dipped the ring into a cap full of micellar water and gently brushed with an old, soft toothbrush. The guacamole disappeared in an instant with not scraping or digging. I also dipped a silver necklace into a dish containing micellar water and then dried with a soft cloth and it easily removed the tarnished look and restored the shine.

 

 

 

  • Jamberry Nail Wraps. As a serious musician, I have always had short and boring fingernails. If I ever painted my nails the polish would chip and peel in a matter of 2 days. After my knee replacement, I learned that I could no longer get pedicures because the chance of infection is too great. That’s when I discovered Jamberry nail wraps. They come in all kinds of gorgeous colors and patterns. I apply them with heat and pressure for a super cute, long lasting fun look. Their gel nail colors compliment my wraps and are tough enough to last over a week on my clumsy hands. I love the products so much that I signed on as a distributor, so if you want to try this product, let me know in the comments.

 

 

 

  • Yeti Tumblers. I cannot drink room temperature water without gagging. For some reason I can only drink extremely cold water and enjoy it. I tried other cups and bottles over the years, but nothing compares to the fabulous, thermal insulated Yeti tumblers and bottles. Each morning, I fill a Yeti tumbler or bottle full of ice and add water. The water cools down quickly and stays that way until I’ve consumed it. I add water to the tumbler or bottle all day long and continue drinking freezing cold water. The next morning my tumbler or bottle STILL HAS the ice in it and is ready for another day of freezing cold drinks.These tumblers are a must for anyone who loves to drink super cold water!. They come in cute designs and colors, so they are even more fun to collect!

 

 

 

  • Watches. In all honesty, I LOVE any kind of jewelry, but watches are a real weakness for me. I love the colors, the styles, the patterns, the ones that reflect my hobbies and talents, and also the very unique. I live by the clock as a school teacher and when I have appointments for photos, so I figure that I need a great selection of fun watches to keep me going and on time!

 

 

 

  • Smelling Books.  Yes. You read that correctly. I am obsessed with smelling books. I honestly cannot pick up a book without sniffing it. I love the smell of all kinds of books, their pages, their inks and even the glues. You need to find the closest book to you and smell it right now! If you don’t have a book near you, head to the nearest bookstore or library and begin browsing with your nose. You will thank me!!!!

 

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about a few of my unique obsessions! I hope you are inspired to try some of the products, activities or books that I love! Feel free to share yours with me in the comments!  Happy Obsessions!

 

Listfully yours,

Vicki

 

People Watching: The Greatest Show On Earth!

/ theraisleyrundown / 2 Comments

People watching. I sure don’t know how to describe this to you, but people watching brings me so much joy and entertainment (and writing material) that I could spend time doing it every day! It ranks right up there with crafting, biking, photography, and shopping!  It can be funny, sad, scary, motivating, reassuring, and can even teach me lessons about how to be a better and more thoughtful person. Let’s discuss people watching.

Places:

Any place is great for people watching, but here are some of my favorites.

 

  • Restaurants
  • Parks and Beaches
  • Shopping centers
  • Church

 

People You Will Meet:

  • The Angry One. This person is walking along alone and they look like someone just stomped on their last Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup! They have the full scowl and the angry walk. They may be on the phone talking loudly and angrily about what makes them mad. Often, while storming along, they are unaware of their children or spouse who are following along at a safe, quiet distance. What is really sad, yet fascinating, is that you see these people EVERYWHERE…even in the most fun places on earth…like Disney. It is truly sad watching these people. These people do remind me of how ridiculous angry people can look and make me more aware of spreading joy, not anger.

 

 

  • The Cell Phone Gang.  This group of people are the strangest to watch. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve gone out to eat and seen families at the tables around us busy on their phones and not even looking at each other. Can they not go into a public restaurant and leave their phones in their cars? Better yet, if you are going to ignore your family at dinner time, just stay home, give them a bowl of cereal and ignore each other all you want. I’ve always wanted to sit down at a table with folks who are on their cell phones just to see how long it takes them to notice that I’m there!  Oh, and don’t get me started on the people in waiting rooms with small children who play on their phones and ignore their kids. Not only is it dangerous (since someone could lure away the kids without the parent noticing), but think of all the wasted quality time you could have talking quietly to your child, naming objects, looking at the Highlights Magazine, playing I Spy, doing homework, or even just talking. Sometimes it is the parents who shove the phone in a toddler’s hand and use the phone as a babysitter. That is so very sad and such bad parenting. The Cell Phone Gang is no fun to watch…unless of course, they fall into a fountain or trip while walking and texting…then they are hilarious! These people remind me to live in the moment and enjoy the people that surround me!

 

 

 

  • The Fun Ones. These people are awesome! They walk by laughing, chatting, holding hands with their spouse or kids, smiling at other people around them and just enjoying the moment. They slow down when following someone walking slower and don’t get angry. They talk  to each other at the table. They smile and make eye contact with the servers, cashiers, or even the speaker at churches or other meetings. They are seemingly happy and pleasant people who are fun to watch. They make me smile and remind me that my love, joy and peace should be visible to others in this crazy, mad-house or a world!

 

 

 

  • The Good Mom/Dad. Nothing is more heartwarming to me than to see parents being great parents in public! Little ones on a date with their mom or dad usually bring tears to my eyes. The mom or dad who plays on the swings with his/her child instead of surfing the web is my hero. The parent who has the children in the grocery store, crossing items off of the shopping list or retrieving items from the shelf is teaching important life-long skills! I love to see parents intentionally making memories with their children. No matter how small a gesture seems, it will mean a thousand times more when that child it grown and thinks back on their childhood. I just love watching all the different ways that people find to connect with their children.

 

 

 

  • The Terrible Teens. Okay, these people are sad and hilarious all at the same time. I can’t tell you how many temper tantrums I seen thrown in public by 13-19 year olds. When I see this, I wonder if the parents were the ones who were too busy on their phones and ignoring their kids when they were young. I mean, by the time a child is 5 you should have taught them to have complete respect for what you tell them. So, if they are having a hissy fit at age 15….ask yourself if it’s your fault for not teaching them respect. Now, I know that kids can be rotten on their own, even if you have taught them better, so don’t get all upset if you think I’m saying your a bad parent. Every person is born with that rebellious sin nature and it can show up not matter how great your parents were/are. So, I love watching some of the ridiculous things teens do in public and think it’s acceptable. I feel embarrassed for them and their parents, but have to admit that I find tons of humor at the same time.

 

 

 

  • The Unique. I just love watching these people!!! The crazy clothes, the wonky hair, the large tattoos, the funky beards, the skimpy clothes, the odd piercings, the interesting gait, and so on.  These individuals intrigue me! I love how they are not afraid to be themselves! I love how sometimes they are also the Good Mom or Dad or the Fun Ones. It’s great when they surprise me by doing acts of kindness for others!  I just adore how you cannot judge these books by their covers! Watching these folks reminds me to be non-judgemental and to look for the good in everyone! They remind me that when God looks at me, he doesn’t see my quirkiness or judge my outside…He sees my heart! What a great reminder of Christ’s Love.

 

 

As usual, I could go on all day describing all the different types of people I’ve seen. The Aging Lovers, The Fun-Loving Teens, The Friend Packs, The Church Sleepers, The Grumpy Church Folks, and on and on it goes!  Just look around and enjoy some free entertainment and some introspection about which group you may belong to when out and about! Be sure to smile at anyone that makes contact with you and say a cheerful “hello!” You just might make their day!

 

Listfully yours,

Vicki