Author Archives: Michelle

Vintage Indiana Ticket Giveaway: We are Entering Summer!

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In the past few days, Summer 2012 has moved from an idea to an actual real thing that’s going to be happening sooner rather than later. I have it on good authority it’s going to be filled with Awesome, from time at the pool to amazing events around town.

To celebrate the beginning of summer, I am teaming up with Indiana’s Family of Farmers to give away 2 tickets to the first nod to summer- The Vintage Indiana Wine and Food Fest.

INDIANA. It may not be the first place you think of when you think of wine, but actually, there are 63 wineries in Indiana. I’ve been to four of them, I think (I was, you know, drinking while I was there). I’m not the best judge of wine, I’ll admit it- the night that we decided which kit to make at Harmony Winery, I had a star next to every wine I tried. I was good with any of our choices. I’m easy like that. These 63 wineries produce 1.25 million gallons of wine each year. I’m proud to say that my friends and I produced a few gallons of that last fall, and so far this year, I’ve probably consumed a few gallons. I like to support Indiana ventures, what can I say?

This is Vintage Indiana’s 13th year of bringing together the best local food and wine Indiana has to offer. 26 Indiana wineries will be offering samples of over 200 award-winning wines. I can’t wait to draw a star next to every one that I try.

Here’s the thing though- even if wine isn’t your thing (are there really people like that?), there is still plenty to do on June 2nd. In addition to wine samples, there’s also food available from 14 Indiana restaurants, food and cooking demonstrations, a KidsZone for the younger set and live music. There is really nothing I love more than live music outside, in Indiana, on a summer’s day.

Here’s the current line up:

12-2pm: Mike Milligan & Steam Shovel

2:30-4:30: Jennie DeVoe

5:15-6:45: Casey James, former American Idol! Current hit is “Let’s Don’t Call it a Night”

Ticket information (in case you don’t win) is as follows:

Adults tickets are $22 in advance at Marsh Supermarkets or online at www.vintageindiana.com; $25 at gate

Designated Driver tickets are $10 and include unlimited soft drinks and water. No wine glass or wine samples allowed on this ticket.

Kids ages 6-20 are $5. Under 5 years old are free.

Here’s the Ticket Giveaway to Vintage Indiana Wine and Food Festival:

So you want to go to this,right? I mean, there’s great entertainment, there’s great food, and there are 200 varieties of wine being poured. What’s not to like?

To enter to win 2 adult passes (with drinking privileges) please do the following:

1) (required) Leave a comment here telling me something about either wine, an Indiana winery you’ve been to or want to visit.

2) For up to 2 additional entries (one for Twitter, one for Facebook): Tweet or post the following on Facebook:

“I entered to win tix to @vintageindiana from @gotchababy & @FamilyofFarmers & you can too: http://wp.me/pVbJS-HY #VintageIN”

(feel free to take out the @ if you’re posting it on FB) and then leave a comment (one for each action) here telling me that you did.

This giveaway will be open until Thursday, May 24th at 9pm. I will email the winner, and the winner will have a day to get back to me- if I don’t hear anything by 9pm May 25th, I’ll pick another winner.

Good Luck!

Want some more chances to win? My friends Katie, Sarah, Angie and Crystal have ticket giveaways going on RIGHT NOW. Check back here often, and as more giveaways go up, I’ll link them here:

 

Disclosure: As an IFOF Ambassador,  I received compensation for running this giveaway and 2 tickets to the event for my own personal use. My experiences with Indiana wine are all my own.

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Easy DIY Teacher Appreciation Gift

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Here's a Montessori themed Word Cloud

Did you know that the first full week in May is Teacher Appreciation week? I’m not sure when it became an official “thing”, but it’s been fun brainstorming and getting things together for both MaM and the Fox’s classroom teachers.

While I was mulling over what to do, I had a burst of inspiration. And since it doesn’t happen often, I thought I’d share.

One thing I think most teachers enjoy (I know I did) is receiving sentiments from their students. One of my most favorite momentos ever is from a little girl who drew a picture of the two of us, and her dad wrote the story about it on the back. I wanted to coordinate sentiments from the Fox’s entire class- and all of a sudden it came to me. WORDLE.

The school administrator took the time to have each child say what they liked best about each teacher.

1) I created a word doc that included all of the quotes from all of the children, including their names.

2) I pasted that document into the text box on the wordle.net website.

3) I played around with the Wordle text by pressing “randomize” and tweaking the color and the font until I hit upon what I wanted.

4) I saved the file by selecting print, and then instead of printing, I saved it as a PDF.

5)I I printed the PDF on photo paper, and popped it in a 8 x 10 frame.

Viola!

What was really amazing about this project was that the words that “popped” on each teacher’s Wordle were dead-on. The teacher who spends time outside and teaches art had outside, monkey-bars, art, and paint in large type. The teacher who practices sight words with the children, sings songs and prepares snack had words like read, sings, and snack were the largest words on her word cloud. I can’t wait to give them to the teachers next week!

Wondering what you can do if you can’t get the whole class to contribute quotes?

a) Include the teacher’s name, and the class roster

b) Include the subject, along with special projects or unit themes that have been covered

c) Include reading lists, people studied, or lists of other topics covered

The possibilities are endless- have fun thinking of groups of words that might work for the special teacher in your life. He or she will appreciate it.

 

 

 

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Springing Forward

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Would you believe me if I told you I gave up blogging her for Lent? Not really, eh? How about that I was busy filling my 2012 Forty Bags for Forty days? (While  I could have been busy with this, I actually was not.)

No- we’re just busy with spring around here.

We’ve been checking out the fun at Conner Prairie.

MaM participated in her first Math Pentathlon & sang in her first chorus concert. She’s planted a tree with her Daisy Scout troop, and will be bridging to Brownies next week, which kind of blows my mind.

This weekend it’s grandparent’s day at the Fox’s school, AND we have tickets to the Music Man at Beef and Boards.

The boy is growing up so fast- he’s figured out the “big kid” swings, and has fun on the playground like he never has before.

The girl? She got a two-wheeled scooter for Easter and hasn’t looked back.

I’m still writing at Persephone, and at Savvy Source, but mostly I’m trying to keep up with my two dynamos!

What’s new with you? I know, it’s been awhile!

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