...cause it's worth it...

ex{kite}d

There is something so magical about kites.  The gasping work of getting them off the ground and then the soaring victory of catching just the right gust that sends your colorful masterpiece gliding up, up and away. Beautiful, breezy, fleeting days of Spring are just begging for a bright kite.  Gather your supplies and run barefoot, face-to-the-sun for some wind whipping fun!  Be sure to check back to see pictures of our glorious creations and kite flying festivities*

A How-to for You

Take the two sticks, and make a cross.

Tie the two sticks together, making an X with the string. Use a dab of hot glue to reinforce the joint.

Use your X-acto knife to cut a notch in the bottom of each stick (there will be four notches). Be sure the cuts are deep enough for the string to fit within. Thread the string around the notch and wrap once around the stick for security.  Keep the string taut.  This string is the diamond frame for your kite. 

Pull the end of the string back to the middle of the kite.  Tightly wrap the string around both sticks, making an X.  Tie it off in a knot.

Cut the paper larger then the frame. Stretch across and tuck the extra around the edges and glue or tape down.

Using your pencil or pen, poke small holes in the top and bottom points. Cut a 2-foot piece of string, and knot through the holes you just made at the top and bottom to help restrain your kite.

Take the rest of the string, and tie it about halfway down the tail.  This is your flying string.

Tie a two foot piece of string to the bottom tip of your kite to make your tail, which will help stabilize your kite.  Use ribbon to make bows along the rope. 

Decorate!

take me out to the ballgame!

Plaaaaaaaaaay Ball!

So it's that time of year again, my friends. The months were the boys of summer flock to the fields with their caps and gloves to grab grounders and fetch flies. There are peanuts, hot dogs, and foam fingers for days in the stadiums where the flicker of outfield lights usher in waves of enthusiasm for all in attendance.

Baseball season.

My family and I have been die hard Atlanta Braves fans for as long as I can remember. Annual road trips to the Peach State always included at least one trip to Turner Field (RIP Fulton Stadium), and occasionally included trips to the zoo or being victims of grand theft auto (but that is a different post for a different blog because that experience was not exceedingly good). So as my sister and I decided to uphold our tradition and take our love for baseball on the road... to St. Louis!

We were really excited to see the Braves play last year's World Series Champions, the St. Louis Cardinals, and to experience our favorite sport in a new (to us) venue. Busch Stadium is beautiful and getting there from where we stayed was no problem thanks to the MetroLink (shameless plug)! The Braves won against the Cardinals the night before, they won the game that we went to, and then they won the next afternoon! Get out your broom, folks, that's what I call a sweep!

While we were in the city they call "The Gateway to the West," we couldn't help but stop by one of St. Louis' most identifiable landmarks, The Arch! 

In the National League, the Braves, with a record of  23W - 15L, are half  of a game behind the Washington Nationals in the Eastern Division. Fingers crossed for a division winning season and a trip to the World Series!

marmee-lade

I didn’t actually read Little Women until I was in my 20s.  My late 20s.  But, I become familiar with the story much earlier thanks to the 1994 movie remake.  It’s funny that whether it's Winona Ryder or June Allyson, we all love Jo.  She is written so well.  She’s quick-witted and clever.  She’s bumbling and brash.  She’s real.  And she is just one individual of a greater family unit.  You can’t fully fall in love with one piece without falling in love with all those other pieces and their resulting connected wholeness.  Mrs. March, or Marmee as the girls call her, is impetuous Jo's counterpart.  She is insightful, encouraging, correcting, steadfast. 

When considering this weekend’s upcoming celebration of moms everywhere, I can’t help but think about the beautiful mother-daughter relationship modeled through this classic story.  I also think about the beautiful truths modeled through this relationship.  One of my favorites being that we can always share even the little with have with one another to great effect.  At one point in the book, Jo is off on her own and it’s the holidays.  She is a bit down as she is far away from her loved ones and disappointed to think they had forgotten her.  But then she receives a bundle of goodies from them and the best kind of goodies, at that:  “I hugged it and pranced.  It was so homey and refreshing that I sat down on the floor and read and looked and ate and laughed and cried, in my usual absurd way.  The things were just what I wanted and all the better for being made instead of bought.”

Whether you will be delivering your gift in person or sending it with love, let this inspires you to spend some time creating a wonderful gift for your Marmee.  Homemade jam...a handmade card...a homespun gift: these used to be and still are the best kind of gifts!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

As a lover of words, I have often dreamt of a platform on which I could share original stories and ideas. Sarah and I are excited to begin a special project that we hope will serve as that platform. Installments, written by Allison Gibson and edited by Sarah Warren, will be posted on a monthly basis through the home page. Full body text is available through the new Tales of Grace tab found just below the blog title.  

First installment of an ongoing fictional narrative, Tales of Grace:

Tales of Grace: Don't Judge a Book by It's Cover {Letter}

Grace McGraw
111 One Way Street
Nashville, TN 20022
555-555-0110
exceedinglygoodinfo@gmail.com

February 24, 2012

Mrs. Karen Peoples
Director of Human Resources
Non-Profit
P.O. Box 33333
Nashville, TN 20024

Dear Mrs. Peoples:

I am writing you in regards to the Public Image Specialist position posted on your website. I am a recent graduate of City University’s M.A. program and am seeking employment in the Public Image field.

My attention was immediately sparked when reading about the various services Non-Profit offers to its clients. Fulfilling the role of Public Image Specialist would allow me to assist Non-Profit in sharing the stories of each individual served, creating new advances in the visibility of Non-Profit’s mission. During my Master’s program I served as Public Relations Intern for the San Francisco- based PR firm, Allison + Partners.  For a full year I devoted my time working with high profile clients to develop promotional print media and social marketing campaigns, scheduling public appearances to increase product awareness, and establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships within the community.  I learned valuable communication and marketing skills during my time with A + P.  Enclosed is my resume, and there you will find an outline of other education and employment related experiences I believe make me a highly qualified candidate for your organization.

I am very interested in meeting with you to learn more about this position and Non-Profit’s hiring plans. I live in The Gulch and am available to schedule that meeting at your convenience. I will be glad to provide you with any additional information that is needed. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Grace McGraw




*Written by Allison Gibson
Edited by Sarah Warren