suzette roberts

// Chocolate Fudge Cake for A Good Cause

Kids helping kids... and a great way to have our cake and eat it too with school fundraisers such as Terra Cotta Cookie Co. Many of our schools are already actively involved in this very edible and fun hands-on fundraiser. For a small donation, you receive a cookie or brownie mix of dry ingredients to which you simply add water and two eggs for an easy anytime chocolate treat. Last year, my sister Gi, participated in this fundraiser and promptly handed me the box of dry ingredients to practice my cake-making skills. I added milk (instead of water), and some dark chocolate chips for added moisture and fudgyness, followed the simple directions, making another beloved slim cake. We thoroughly enjoyed it... More after the jump, and have a restful weekend. ~xx

 

Using half of the ingredients to make my loved slim cake...

// Developing Good Work Ethic Practices

Dedicated Educators actively in the business for 20 plus years or more can certainly relate-- just as we desired our dream Principal and Admin staff (and were blessed to have nailed it!) with entering into our profession in our very early twenties, now that we are working at an overseeing level, we look for new and even seasoned hires who come to the table and consistently demonstrate a strong work ethic: behaviours that emulate good self-discipline, self-management, self-drive, a serious commitment to the field/ 'job', the people we serve, and taking the overall performance to that next higher level. They always manage to get more done within the same 24-hour work day, while also maintaining a high(er) energy level that's focused and committed to the task at hand.

Last month's In-the-Classroom Webinar explored a few simple practices our polished and ethical dream bosses are often seeking during scheduled working hours, which also makes for an excellent Social Studies Lesson Planning Unit (Theme: Community and Citizenship) for our students at our Grade 3 level and upwards. Here are their top five...

// Abigail Halpin: Finding Wild

'Swooning over this beautiful beautiful children's book: Finding Wild, by Megan Wagner Lloyd with colourful, nature bountiful illustrations by Abigail Halpin. Using bolder blues and greens with pops of sunshine garden colours, Abigail Halpin brings to blissful life, creative simplicity, quiet wildchild celebrations with Mother Nature, and the inspiring message of finding all things lovely as we immerse ourselves 'with the wild' far and near. A delightful read and keeper for both young children and grown-ups...

// Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

Hello March! Somewhere in the very early 80's while at my high school graduation, totally clueless as to what the larger than life world had in store for a simple island girl who only wanted to swim in the warm salty sea, fly wide-bodied jets, eat fish and ice cream, and have a really good time, this, always a hit flavour with so many of our young kids, was born... becoming the best-selling flavour in 1983. Years later, deeply buried in classroom teaching, wings clipped and mostly grounded, this indulgent flavour continued to live on, as proof with the gazillion Favourite Ice Cream Flavours pictographs created by my kids at varying grade levels, and many times by-passing any reference to the usual chocolate and strawberry. What happened? It's simple... Cookies and Cream Ice Cream has a no-explanation-needed feel of extra-fun with all the sweet and sandwiched crunchies in the mix for both our younger and older kids. And it's still happening...

Have a refreshing weekend, and thanks so much for all my treats this week. I needed every. single. one. of them. :) Music and more after the jump... ~xx

// Have a Loving Family Day Weekend.~

{rustic-style homemade french fries; it started in a dream weeks ago...}

 

... where I was once again on a ship cruising the Atlantic with my last Grade 3 group. All my kids were enjoying fries: some had just one fry in hand, some two, others a few, and one or two an entire bucket. It made me laugh, but it also made me feel really good inside to see them sharing their golden goods and having a grand time with each other in casual style while taking in the majestic blue... #life #love #heartful Happy Valentine's(!) afternoon and/ or evening wherever you are in the world. Have a sweet one, and have a very loving long weekend. Happy Family Day to you and yours! More after the jump... ~xx

// CXBO Chocolates

I'm always amazed with how easy it is to find colourful unexpected inspiration with just a few early a.m. flips of our local morning paper... This new-to-me Chocolate Shop: CXBO Chocolates, nestled in the heart of our Toronto city, offers an award winning collection of handcrafted jewel-like signature chocolates, and other confections created by Chef Brandon Olsen, a self-taught chocolatier, and Sarah Keenlyside, an artist and filmmaker. The magic that happens when creative minds collide... 'Totally smitten and will definitely be indulging in a few must-try flavours later in the week. Click within the images (after the jump) to learn more...