Art is...

I asked my High School students "WHAT IS ART?"

It's definitely a loaded question.  

After our discussion they each wrote their own "art is..." statement.  

I posted them out in the hall.  

Here are some of my favorites...

• Art is everything, good, bad, happy, and sad around you.  You can't always see or hear it, but you always feel it.
• Art is a masterpiece of your imagination.
• Art is anything you want it to be.
• Art is creating something that sparks others imagination.
• Art is where I take references from all the information I have gathered and put it all together.
• Art is something expressed using your imagination.  It shows who you are without speaking a word.
• Art is expressing your emotions with a media.
• Art is the one way I can express what I see and feel in and about this world and my own life without worrying what others think of it because they see what I want them to not what.  
• Art is the hot sauce on the chimichanga of the world.

I am trying to get my students to look at art deeper. 

We are talking about the process not just the product.  

In my opinion sometimes the process is more important then the final project!  

So what is my "Art is..." statement?

Art is the journey on the way to the final product.

~Suzi Campbell

Have a fabulous week!  

a few random {art teacher} thoughts

I LOVE MY JOB!!!!!  I honestly do.  Being an art teacher is exactly what I am meant to do.  I LOVE coming to work every day!!!!  That being said I look forward to every weekend, snow day, late start, break, and vacation.  {I also currently have a summer countdown going in my classroom}

Here are a few of my random {art teacher} thoughts…..

I don’t just teach art.

I also teach history, vocabulary, manors, discipline, integrity, work ethic, respect, compassion, responsibly {and the list goes on and on}.

I haven’t made art since I became a teacher.

How’s this possible with all this art being created around me daily?  Well I just never have enough time to think of an idea, and execute it.  Unless you count the 3 minute Jellyfish I made yesterday when showing water color techniques?!?!

I spend a lot of my own money. A lot.

I don’t think a week goes by when I’m not at a store picking something up for my classroom. I don’t think a week goes by when I’m not scrounging through my personal supplies for materials to use in my classroom. 

I hate the question, “What are we doing today?”

It honestly makes me cringe.  Please don’t ask it because I have yet to forget to tell you what we are doing when you to came class. 

I love the naughty kids!

Yes they cause problems, act up, distract others, and say things that shouldn't be said; but they are also the ones who bring a lot of joy to my job. I love a kid with spunk!!! 

I have a name!

Please don’t call me “Teacher”.  I don’t call you “Student”.

I like a clean classroom!!!!

Pick up after yourself.  I know you know where the glue gun goes; you just got it out 40 minutes ago. 

I don’t like teaching every medium.

I have my favorites and I focus on what I like best.  Sorry all art teachers do it….Okay, maybe it has a little to do with the mess some mediums make. 

Sometimes I wish I taught a different subject area. 

It sure would be nice to have a set lesson plan and book to follow.  Then reality hits and I remember who I am and realize I would go crazy on a set schedule like that (but it is appealing some days).

I hate to grade!

I put it off as long as I can.  So my grade book is always behind.  I get not satisfaction out of grading work.  I wish I could have a TA do it but that’s not really an option in art. 

Art is not an easy A.

Please don’t take Art for an easy A.  Take art because you want to be creative, try hard, and do something different from your other academic areas.  Try and I promise you WILL pass….but I wont promise an A.

I show up for the students.

I’m not in it for the fame and fortune (because we all know that’s never going to happen).  I show up for the elementary students who hug me. I show up for the students who tell me they love art class. I show up for the students who express excitement and pride.  I show up for the High School students who use the art room as their safe place.  And yeah, I show up for the students who can’t sit still in their seats, can’t refrain from blurting out, don’t like art, ignore me, and who would rather be anywhere else but art class. I show up for the students.  All of them.

~Suzi

Egg, Sausage, Mushroom, and Cheese Muffins

Breakfast has to be quick or else I won't eat it.  There is NEVER enough time in the morning!  So tonight I tried out making some of the egg muffins that you see all over Pinterest and Instagram. I made my own version with things I had in the house.  They turned out delicious and the best part is they are only 130 calories per muffin!

12 eggs

6 oz Sausage

2/3 cup Mozzarella Cheese

Mushrooms

Seasonings of your choice

Crack the eggs into a bowl add your seasonings of choice (I used Salt, Pepper, and Chili powder). Set aside.  Brown sausage. Spray muffin tin heavily with non stick spray. Divide sausage evenly into 12 muffins tins.  Top with mushrooms and cheese. Pour eggs on top.  Cover in tin foil and let set for at least 6 hours (this make them taste better, I promise!!!!).  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  

If we don't teach our children to...

Something to think about today...

Have a great week! 

~Suzi 

Christmas in the Country

I am just finally getting around to post about a really for gift exchange I did over the holidays.

It was a Christmas in the Country exchange.

Elizabeth from Circle The Wagons had me and she sent me some really fun gifts!!!

I got a Coffee mug which I LOVE!!!  

{and it is perfect with my new Keurig that I got for Christmas from the Hubs}

Some turquoise earrings, an ornament, and a variety of hot chocolate mixes were also added into my gift! 

She also sent me some really fun Milkinis chocolates that I had never heard of but BOY WERE THEY GOOD!

They come individually wrapped so they were the perfect little snack  

I even snuck some into my Kindergarten Cowgirls lunch box.  SHE LOVED THEM!!!

I really lucked out being paired up with such a giving young lady!  THANK YOU!!!!

You can also see what I see what I gave HERE.

You can also check out all the other gifts given HERE.

The best Christmas gift I ever received was a sore throat

The honest truth is…I am a yeller.  I am not proud of it but it is the truth.  I easily raise my voice.  I have a sharp tongue and I use it too often on my loved ones.  I am easily triggered.  I come unglued and I YELL.  I know this about myself and I try to not be this way and I fail daily. 

I have been dealing with a cold for over a week.  The morning of Christmas Eve I woke up with a horrible sore throat.  I was miserable!!!!  I could hardly speak at all.  Within minutes of waking my youngest came up to me with blue marker on her face.  I did not yet know if it was washable or permanent but I did know that we had to go to church that evening and I would be scrubbing her face to get it off one way or another. I QUIETLY whispered, “Don’t write on your face hun”.  Then minutes later I walked by and say her coloring on her stuffed puppies face with the same blue marker.  I gently took the marker from her hand and put it up out of her reach.  That is when it hit him…My point was made and no voice was raised.  I did not have to belittle my children for making a poor choice.  I did not have to yell and then feel like a failure for flipping out on my children that I love so much. I simple asked them to stop.  I stopped in my tracks and prayed, “Thank you Lord, I hear you”.  The Lord speaks to me but I don’t always listen.  To get his point across to me he has to be LOUD, in my face, and sometimes even painful (as in my horrible sore throat) for me to hear him.  As the day went on I had time and again where I would typically raise my voice.  And I every time I resisted the urge and every time I did this it was as if my throat got better and better.  By the time we went to church {Christmas Eve service} my pain was pretty much gone.  We got ready for church with no yelling or barking orders.  It was amazing!!!! 

My family and I received the best blessing ever today. My sore throat!!!

As I sit here waiting for my family to wake up to see to what gifts Santa has brought them as they slept I know the true Christmas gift came yesterday.  A great lesson was taught to me, a lesson that will be carried on into the days to come.  I will fail some days but I will rejoice in the good days and learn for the bad ones. 

Thank you Lord for my sore throat!  

It was the best Christmas gift you could have given me!

Christmas Eggs

Do you give gifts to neighbors and friends?  

Cookies? Candies? Fruit basket? Bottle of wine?

We give eggs!  :)  
It sounds silly I know but we spray painted eggs cartons, 
filled them with our farm fresh eggs and tied a pretty bow.  

The cowgirls dressed up in their Christmas dresses and we delivered them 
to some neighbors, teachers, and a few friends (who were home).  

We also gave a photo,

and our Christmas letter.

it has been a while....

Well it has been a while...what have I been up to????

Mostly just being a mom, wife, and teacher.

Things are all going amazingly!

It is currently on Christmas break from school.  

We get 2 weeks off!!!! {YAY}

I am super excited to be out on break but I am LOVING my job!  

I feel as if this is 100% where I am suppose to be!

Now that it is Christmas break I am hoping to get back on track with blogging 

and then fitting it back into my weekly schedule.

Here is a quick picture update of what I've been up too since August.

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen most of these
{and if you don't follow me you should @chores_chandeliers}

I worked in my classroom to get my room all set up and ready for the year.

The oldest cowgirl started kindergarten this year.

Start back up a High School Art Club.

We painted business windows for homecoming.

S did great in Football.  He lettered as a freshman.

I had the opportunity to help out with one acts at school (sets and some makeup).  

We have an amazing group of kids and they went to state....and got 2nd!!!!!!  So proud of them!!!!

I cut my hair,

The littlest Cowgirl turned 3.
We celebrated during a husker game.

The next month the oldest cowgirl turned 6.
Her party consisted of a few friends and pumpkin pinata.

Halloween

I lost my diamond :(

S is now wrestling.  It makes long days but we love going!!!

I won the ugly sweater contest at work.
YES THEY HAVE A LEGIT TROPHY!

Here are a few projects we have done so far this year a school.

The girls got their Santa letters.  Both made the "nice list".

They wanted their picture taken in the nativity...SO WE DID!!!

We are going to have a white Christmas this year!!!!

Well that was a quick update.  Check back soon for more posts from me.

balance beam

Ever since we went to the circus this spring the cowgirls have wanted a tight rope {yes one way up in the air}...ha ha yeah right, that's not happening {at least one of the cowgirls has received my coordination}.  We compromised with a balance beam.  They were on board {yay, much safer}.  The hubs is such a softy and can't tell the girls no {I on the other hand do it all the time} so he whipped it out in no time {less than a half hour from start to finish}

here is a quick photo tutorial of what he did.

THE COWGIRLS LOVE IT!!! !! {Who could blame them!}

breakfast burritos on the grill

Last week I posted {on facebook and Instagram} this picture.  I have received a lot of requests for my recipe so I decided to make a blog post to share........

Last week my family went camping and we each had to provide a meal.  I had breakfast. One of our favorite breakfasts is breakfast burritos.  I like to relax when camping so I don't want to spend all my time preparing meals. So I decided to assemble the burritos at home, wrap them in tin foil, and freeze them.  Then I just threw them on the grill that morning {they were partially dethawed when i put them on the grill}

My recipe is all approximate, because I never measure!!!!!!

1/2 lb sausage
1 cup hashbrowns (I prefer the chunk hashbrowns but I've used both and both work fine)
6 eggs
1 package taco seasoning
Tortilla shells
Shredded cheese
Salsa

Brown the sausage in a skillet, season with 1/3 of the packet of taco seasoning, set aside.
In the same skilled cook the hashbrowns and season them with 1/3 of the taco seasoning, set aside.
(I like add in peppers with the hashbrowns when I have them on hand)
In the same skillet scramble up 6 eggs with the remaining 1/3 of the taco seasoning.
Mix the Sausage, hashbrowns, and eggs together in the skillet.
Assemble the burritos in tortilla shells, with the mixture and shredded cheese.
You can either eat them now, OR wrap in tin foil and freeze for later!
Serve with salsa.

This should make about 6-8 burrittos 
{depending on how how big of shells you use and how full you stuff them}

EASY AND DELISH!!!!!
Definitely a Suzi HomeFakeer worthy recipe!