HPSC: Week 3, Transfiguration

Week Three:  June 12-16

This week is Transfiguration.  When figuring out what we were going to do this week I immediately thought about art and how artists transfigure an lump of clay or a canvas into works of art.  I knew that this week would be about art.

Day1

We started the day by filling out our Transfiguration worksheet.  We circled two words to make something silly.  Bug-A-Boo did rainbow foot and I did apple box.  we each drew a picture of it and then we transfigured clay into sculptures of our objects.  Bug-A-Boo decided to go off worksheet and created a tie-died Mickey instead.

Because we were running late at the Daily Prophet press.  Our reporter turned in her review of the Ohio Caverns late.  We had an afternoon edition of the Daily Prophet.

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Day 2

Today we will be transfiguring everyday objects into jewelry.  This also satisfying the Step 3 of the Girl Scouts Junior Jewelry badge.  Once But-a-Boo has completed this she will have earned her Jewelry badge.

I found this really pretty bracelet made out of safety pins at this website.

The instructions said to use the stunning Midnight Garden range from Cousin to make this funky bracelet but I could not find what they were talking about so we went to Michaels and just looked at the beads and found some that were similar to the picture.

1. Take 10 safety pins and thread onto each a small mirror bead, a shell bead and another mirror bead. Close each safety pin to secure the beads.
2. Take 5 more safety pins and thread onto each a small black faceted bead, a purple crystal and another black bead. Secure together in a chain using jump rings.
3. Take the round section of the large toggle clasp and use jump rings to attach each strand to one of the holes. (Alternate the strands.)
4. Repeat at the other end of the bracelet with the other part of the clasp.
5. Add the t-bar to the end of the clasp using a jump ring.

Day 3

Today we have a special event we are going to at Peace and Good Things in Hilliard.  Peace and Good Things is a WellNest that is bringing relaxation and healing to Old Hilliard with massage therapy and movement.  But it is also so much more than that!!! 

This summer is the third annual "camp" Peace and Good Things. During June, July and August Eliza will be having events geared towards kids (and still fun for adults!). Kids of all ages are welcome. They must, however, be accompanied by an adult. That adult can determine whether the activity at hand is appropriate for the age of the child. This way younger siblings can come with older siblings even if they might not be interested in the event going on. The 'Nest is full of many pretty things. Lots of things for kiddos to get into...you will want to have a good ratio of adult to child for those who need extra monitoring due to age or personality!   Today's event is:

Flower Pressings and Canvases

Come learn how to press flowers the quick way! (We will also talk about the traditional method). Then make "flower power" art canvases out of your preserved blooms! Flowers and canvases provided, but feel free to bring your own blooms!

We had a great time and Bug-a-Boo transfigured dried flowers into a beautiful canvas.

We love the events at Peace and Good Things, aka The 'Nest and we love the owner, Eliza Hechmer and I highly recommend you check out her website and the events she has going on this summer.

Day 4

Today we are working on a Father's Day worksheet since this Sunday is Father's Day.  We are also going to continue working on our latch hook rugs and watch Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Our writing assignment this week is a lead in to next weeks class, Potions.  It is "How would you use Liquid Luck?"

Day 5
Today is our field trip day.  Originally we were going to go to the Columbus Museum of Arts but we may not be able to fit it into our schedule this week.  Instead we went to Flourish & Blotts (aka the main branch of The Columbus Metropolitan Library) and the Forbidden Forest (aka The Topiary Park).  We brought along our painting boxes and transfigured canvas and tiles into art.

We also brought along our digital camera and Bug-a-Boo took photos of the landscapes at the park which satisfies Step 2 of the Girl Scout Junior Digital Photography badge.  In order to complete Step 3 of the badge she has to edit (or transfigure) three of these photos using a computer editing program.

She used BeFunky:  Free Online Photo Editor for the above three photos.

Next week...Potions!

Day Four-Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

Today is the real reason I put myself through that Half-Marathon.  Today I get to spend 3-1/2 hours at the spa getting a facial and massage.

Before the afternoon at the spa though we are going to breakfast at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort.

This is one of the most popular Character Dining experiences and I can't wait to see how Bug-a-Boo reacts to Mickey and Friends.

She did great but she was still really shy with the characters.  It was funny because just like with the Cinderella meal she would get really excited as they were coming to the table and then really excited when they left the table.

When we got back to the hotel I went to the spa and it was amazing.  I met Prince Charming and Bug-a-Boo at the pool and we went up to the room to get cleaned up.  Waiting in the room was a package.

My wonderful husband had bought me the Dooney & Bourke letter bag that I had wanted as a Congratulations gift.  I love him so much!!

Tonight we'll head over to Downtown Disney one last time and then tomorrow morning we are off for home.

What a weekend!!

Day Three-Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, pt. 4

We were back to the hotel by 10am and I promptly showered and went to bed.  Prince Charming and Bug-a-Boo rested in the living room area of our room and watched a movie and checked out animals from our balcony.

The rest of the day was pretty laid back.  Once I woke up we decided to head down to the pool to relax.  We had lunch first and poor little Bug-a-Boo was so tired she couldn't even stay awake to eat.

Once we got to the pool though she had a great time and was a little Sun-bathing Beauty.

We went back to the room to start getting ready for dinner.  We were going to be eating at The Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge.  I was pretty excited because I remembered it being a fun restaurant and having really good BBQ and I was hungry and thirsty.

We saw a lot more animals outside our room before leaving and Bug-a-Boo was pretty jazzed about it.

We got ready and I added my new charm that I bought myself to my Tiffany & Co. charm bracelet and we headed to the resort.

When we got to the restaurant I asked the waiter to bring me a really big water.  He did not disappoint.

I ordered the all you could eat Skillet-O-Meat and enjoyed every bite.  It was so good!

Bug-a-Boo started getting a little fussy, from being so tired, so we got our dessert to go and headed back to the room to go to bed.

It felt as if we had been up forever and I couldn't believe that I had run 13.1 miles that morning.  But I did and all the pain and sleeplessness were totally worth it.

Now I get to look forward to 3 hours at the spa tomorrow.

Day Three-Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, pt. 3

At the half-way point I was feeling awesome!!  At mile 7 I was still going strong and started to take a few pictures along the way.  The Orlando Fire Dept. was there and I just had to take a picture for my fireman loving BFF.

I took a few pictures for Bug-a-Boo too.  She is really into Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty right now so I had to snap some photos to show her.

At mile 9, I hit a wall.  The last 8 miles were the best 8 mile of my life.  I felt great and I had little pain but at mile 9 everything came to a shrieking halt.  My knees were killing me and I was getting hot and was extremely tired.  I looked around and noticed that almost everyone was now walking.  There were only a handful of people that were still running.

The medical tent could not have come at a better time.  At the stop they had water, gels and BioFreeze, which is like industrial strength BenGay.  I got a couple handfuls and slathered my knees, thighs and calves.  Without it I don't think I would have made it.  My knees were in bad shape.  Fortunately, I had my phone and Prince Charming was texting me and sending me pictures of Bug-a-Boo to keep me going.

I also had my mileage dedication list and was referring to it often.

The night before the race I decided to make a list and dedicate each mile of my race to a special person in my life.  I carried it with me for inspiration and at each mile marker I would say (out loud), "this is for you, _______."

The list was an amazing tool and really helped me out when I was feeling like I couldn't go any more.

1=Jude and Tracey Clover - without whom I never would have had the idea.

2=Dad - my hero.  he can't run, so I'll do it for him.

3=Mom - my other hero.  for always being there and teaching me to never give up.

4=Tara - "if you can run 4 miles, you can run 13 miles".  Thank you!!!

5=Mamaw - for being a tough old broad and a wonderful friend and Mamaw.

6=Michelle - for being such a wonderful and supportive friend.

7=Heather - for always being there with encouraging, supporting words.

8=Tom - for being my angel, my prince and the best husband and for supporting my insanity.

9=Scott - for being the type of little brother who will never let me forget it if I don't finish. 

10=Jan- B.F.F. - 'nuff said.  I love you!

11=Aunt Dorothy - for being the best role model a girl could ask for.

12=Sydney - my joy, my love, my reason!  Always remember that mommies can do anything and so can you!

13=Me - for finishing!!

I thought that is was rather appropriate (and coincidental by the way) that mile 9 was dedicated to my brother.  He is the reason I kept running that mile.  It was also fortunate that my BFF was mile 10 to carry me through the the enormous hills that awaited me (unknowingly) at miles 11 and 12.

From mile 10 to 11 I was doing pretty good.  I was able to get a cool picture of all of the Prince's.  They were standing on a stage while the song "I Need A Hero" blasted from the speakers.  It was pretty cool!

Tarzan, John Smith, Prince Eric, Flynn Rider and Aladdin

As I approached the mile 11 marker I heard a voice over a loud speaker yelling at us.  It was Sarge from Toy Story.  He was yelling words of encouragement and support and as I looked ahead I knew why.  There was a huge overpass hill approaching.  I was able to run up and down it (very slowly) but I was hurting at the bottom.  I was able to get some more BioFreeze and continued to the mile 12 marker.  Only 2.1 miles to go.

I was so excited to see the Mile 12 marker until I saw another huge overpass hill.  COME ON!!!!  REALLY???  I decided to just walk this one.  I was almost done and I knew that if I ran over this hill there would be no way I could run across the finish line.  At the bottom of the hill I took a few deep breaths and started running again.  More determined than ever.

As we entered EPCOT the excitement and relief was overwhelming.  The finish line was just a little ways away.  Running through EPCOT was so beautiful.  All the flowers were in bloom and the energy was fantastic!

Just  before the Mile 13 marker a full-on Gospel Choir was waiting for us.  I was so happy and overcome that I started to cry a little.  Only Disney would think to put a Gospel Choir at such a pivitol point.  As I rounded a corner I knew the finish line was only .1 mile away and my "Power Song" came on.

Eminem's "Lose Yourself" from the movie 8 Mile is the one song that no matter how bad I feel it gets me going and keeps me going.

I heard the intro and couldn't believe it.  What are the chances it would come up on my iPod at that moment...

"Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted in one moment.  Would you capture it?  Or just let it slip?"

I kept running visualizing that finish line...

"You better lose yourself in the music, the moment, you own it, you better never let it go.  You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow.  This opportunity comes once in a lifetime."

Just ahead I saw the finish line and I saw the Goofy hat my Prince Charming was wearing and I heard the yells of my beautiful Bug-a-Boo...

"Feet fail me not 'cause this may be the only opportunity that I got.  You can do anything you set your mind to, man." 

OMG!  There is Goofy holding up his hands to give me a high TEN.  The finish line is just ahead.  I stop and wave so Prince Charming can get a picture.

I have been working for this and training for this for almost a year and now I'm about to cross that finish line.  Here I go!!!!

Disney's Princess Half Marathon Finisher!!!  OH YEAH!!!