2014 Year of the Horse Free Printable

2014 is the Chinese "Year of the Horse" and I found a cute (free) printable for you!

This printable started as another one of my Pinterest "dead ends".  My son's girlfriend is spending a semester abroad in China and I wanted to give her a little going away present.  I found a cute treasure-type envelope on Pinterest; however after much clickety-clicking, I was led down one incorrect path after another.

I finally gave up on the envelope thing and widened my search until I found a link to this horse - but the website was in a different language!  Yikes!  I held my breath and clicked where I thought the link was (hoping it was free).  It worked!

Simply print the image onto card stock and cut out the pieces.  Score along the dotted lines, fold and glue everything together (I used Tombow Mono Aqua Liquid Glue).

Year of the Horse Free Printable

I rolled up some money and used one of those tiny, clear hair bands to hold it together. Then I used a small "sticky dot" to secure it inside the horse's neck.

I thought this was a fun and thoughtful gift (and I think she liked it).



Happy Chinese New Year!

"Jolly Good" Show Choir Treats!

Have I mentioned that I love Show Choir?!?  Well, we are a newbie program (in our third year) and we have had some success; however it is a bit hard to compete with the 30 year programs and their incredible budgets/sets/costumes (and costume changes)/feeder programs, etc.

So...we were very excited that they were able to start a Middle School group this year.  Since they have their first "exhibition" at an upcoming event, I wanted to give them a little treat from the older kids for the bus ride home.

I had extra Jolly Rancher suckers from the Lip/Mustache Treats, so I put together a little gift bag with a sign that said,

"JOLLY good show!

Congratulations on your first exhibition...

we are proud of you!"

If you prefer to give the gift beforehand, simply say, "Have a JOLLY good show!"

Easy, but cute (and it could work for any "show", not just Show Choir!)

  

Here is a shot of the Varsity group that we are so proud of!

#getafterit

Show Choir Mustache/Lip Treats for Teens

If you "MUSTACHE", we are very excited about our Show Choir!  Their first competition of the season is fast approaching, so I wanted to make the teenagers some treats for after practice.

(I'm hoping they think these suckers are as funny as I do!)

I made a couple of extras...here is a photo of my cute nephew with the sucker in his mouth!

The free mustache/lip printable  is from I Heart Naptime.  These can be used as Valentine's, but for the "plain" version, you only want to print page one.

(I used Jolly Rancher suckers, but Tootsie Pops or Blow Pops would also work.)

Simply print the images from the first page onto card stock, cut them out and punch a small hole between the teeth. Thread the sucker stick in back to front and you're done!

Most teens still have a wacky sense of humor underneath it all, so...

"READ MY LIPS" - Let's try to make them feel special, too!

(Even when they are rolling their eyes!)

Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM) at the Ordway

Photo Credit:  Brian Mengini

I was invited to attend a "Blogger Night" at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts to see Rennie Harris Puremovement, part one in a series entitled "Taking Our Place Centerstage:  The African Diaspora in Harmony.

Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM) was founded in 1992 by North Philadelphia native Dr. Lorenzo (Rennie) Harris.  RHPM is known as the first and longest running hip-hop dance touring company and was chosen as one of four US companies to serve as cultural ambassadors for President Obama's "Dance Motion USA".

I was very curious to see this show which featured "critically-acclaimed, bold, original hip-hop work"...

I would characterize RHPM as a "thinking man's show", meaning that there was deeper social commentary attached to each piece (that I may or may not have fully understood); however, all ages seemed to enjoy the show, myself included.

I was pleasantly surprised by the laid back "Block Party" vibe and the interaction with the audience.

"I say 'hip', you say 'hop'.  Hip (Hop), HIP (HOP)!"  

People felt comfortable making noise and were openly encouraged to express their appreciation toward the dancers.  The dancers were extremely talented (with tremendous core strength) and each piece was different and full of interesting shapes and movement.  The music was diverse and memorable and the artists continued their interaction with the audience at a Q&A session after the performance.

This show is an example of how the Ordway continues to reach out to the community at large with well-rounded, diverse projects.  (And I always enjoy a show that generates conversation in the car afterward!)

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
345 Washington Street
St. Paul, MN 55102

Ticket Office: 651.224.4222
Groups: 651.282.3111
ordway.org



I would like to thank the Ordway for providing these tickets! (A positive review was not required.)