Jenny On the Spot: Caffeinated mom, lover of dancing, glitter and glitter.

Anyone out there appreciate teachers? *cups hands behind ears* Anyone want to earn a $100 gift card for your favorite teacher?

Of course you do! And now we have a chance to show some teachers just how much! I was a teacher years back, and I spent over $1300 of my own money to supplement my curriculum that first year. Because it was a private school, my salary for the year was a whopping $14,000, but I wanted more for my kids.

I know first-hand that this is a decision all teachers face. And let’s face it, teachers are not paid enough. I know there is a lot of content that follows… and some pretty specific detail. However, if anyone is worth a little effort — it’s a quality teacher. If you have any questions about this program, please leave a comment or email me: jennyonthespot [at] gmail [dot] com

**Personal friends and family — please note the “fine print” at the bottom**

Did you know teachers spend an average of $1200 of their own money on classroom supplies each year? That is $4 billion annually! That’s why OfficeMax joined with Adopt-A-Classroom to create “A Day Made Better” national cause event founded to erase teacher-funded classrooms. This year, “A Day Made Better” will take place on October 6 where 1,000 teachers will be surprised in their classrooms each with $1,000 worth of essential supplies from OfficeMax. That’s more than one million dollars donated to help teachers! Principals at needy schools nominated the teachers for demonstrating dedication, innovation, and passion.

To pay-it-forward, OfficeMax and Mom It Forward have teamed up to create awareness about the issue of teacher-funded classrooms and to give you the opportunity to get involved and help a teacher in your community on behalf of “A Day Made Better”… Here’s how:

Simply nominate a teacher of your choice to win this giveaway by following the entry requirements. Be sure to check out the prize and criteria!
Continue reading ‘Office Max + Adopt-A-Classroom = A Day Made Better!’

NOPE.

And that is why I love her. For when she is on my shoulder, you can’t even see my butt. Look:

Let’s do a little comparative… “The Mother Ship” vs. “The Cute, Yet Very Sad Green Purse”:

Continue reading ‘The Butt Series – Does this Purse Make My Butt Look Big?’

That’s right. You can’t see me, but I am doing that rocker-devil-sign thing with my right hand. Ouch. I can’t thrash my head around like that anymore. I think I just gave myself whiplash. I also nearly crushed my toes as I attempted to do a pirouette without my pointe shoes:

Why did I feel inclined to pop onto my bare toes and perform a pirouette? Broadway rock, Baby! Broadway! I’ve been listening to the unique muscial stylings of Rock of Ages – the Broadway Soundtrack. It is available at Amazon now.

Some cool info: New Line Records just hammered the in-store release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of five-time Tony Award nominated “ROCK OF AGES.”  For those of you not in the know, Rock of Ages is the new Broadway musical starring American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis. Set in 1987 in a legendary Sunset Strip rock club, a small-town girl meets a big-city dreamer and they fall in love to the greatest metal songs of the 80’s. The musical is an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and more.
Continue reading ‘Rock Of Ages: Original Broadway Cast Recording CD Giveaway’

So, not too long ago, my girl Lisa surprised the socks off me. She got me a REAL LIFE tambourine!!! But not just ANY tambourine… the tambourine of my dreams — one of those half-circle ones for people like me who definitely can keep a beat, but one who also gets off beat because as Awesome as I know I am… I am not perfect. I tend to get a teeny bit distracted and it is a little hard to howl sing and keep rhythm AND shake one’s booty. It’s just not as easy as it looks, people…

Continue reading ‘Hey, Mr. Tambourine!’

I want to start a conversation here. It’s a continuance of one I started on Twitter and Facebook last night. To be honest, there was no chatter on Twitter (probably everyone was in bed), but a pretty good debate went on in FB. Now I want to continue this conversation here in my little home on the internets.

Before I do, here are select responses from the conversation last night:

Michelle of Noggin Toppers: Totally Popcorn! Tinsel- who knows what that stuff is made from? Plus, Tinsel gets EVERYWHERE!

Lisa of Queen of my Castle: Plus you can’t eat tinsel when you are decorating with it – how do you TOP THAT?

My friend Jennifer said: I saw the coolest garland in a kids magazing. Popcorn, Gumdrops (for SPARKLE!!!) and lifesavers…. Mmmmmm….

Then Jennifer introduced: I think the real question is… To FLOCK or NOT to FLOCK???

To which I replied: Nice addition to the conversation… I’m a fan of flocking — if it’s flocked in powdered sugar and the tree is made of donuts!
Continue reading ‘Pick Your Poison: Tinsel or Popcorn Garland?’

So. I am all a-dither thinking about my new career as a vlogger. But I am a little confused too. Is it a “vlog” if my video is a post on my blog? Or would it be considered a “vost”? Just thinkin’ here.

Meanwhile… I have done a bit of research on vlogging. If I am going to launch into this new world, I want information. I want to do it right, and do it well. I found a delightful young lady on Youtube — LOOinLONDON. I found her vlog on vlogging to be VERY educational. Please watch this video, then you will know the burden we vloggers *ahem*… carry…

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Warning: self-promotion…

Do you love me? Do you? Or do you just like me? Tolerate me? I’m cool with toleration… but if you love me — prove it please prove it. And if you just tolerate me, I’m cool if you pretend you love me, but just this once… I am all about keepin’ it real, unless a prize is at stake — as is the case here… 
 
I’ll only ask you once. Today. Voting ends November 30th. Don’t delay. Act now. All you have to do is click on that pretty little badge, register at DivineCaroline and vote. What do YOU get for your effort? Not sure. Prolly nothing but the internal gratification that you can check “good deed” off your list for today. However, I could win a Visa gift card and a bragger-badge. The money is great (YAY, Mama’s buying Christmas presents!), but the badge is better (YAY, ME!)…

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It’s taken me 4.5 years, but I am creeping curiously close to Post #1000! Whoa Nelly! 285 of which (plus a few) have all been created in 2008… I have Blog 365 to thank for that, as well as the rather unhealthy “bent” in my personality, that professionals refer to as… “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder”. Is there “Selective OCD”? Because there are areas of my life I do not obsess over: doing bills, returning phone calls and emails, dusting, vacuuming, or things that may require planning or commitment.

If my math is correct, I could hit post #1000 on January 1st. But I hate math. You do it. 1 post a day through the end of the year – 80 days left… Ouch. Just typing numbers make my head feel like it’s gonna crack wide open. *gagging*

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Hey – how is the market affecting you? Have gas prices gagged your purse strings? I’m curious. Are you making different choices for your family? Cutting back? Will you keep your house colder this winter? Do you make your own lattes? Stocking up on socks, are you? Growing an extra layer of body hair, perhaps??? I hear large sea mammals (such as the walrus) have lots of blubber that keeps them warm…

I find I am tolerating a colder home, working harder to make food at home, drive less, I am thinking harder about purchases, PB&J & refried beans are more and more often a viable option for multiple meals in a row… but the most unfortunate result of this economic crisis is: my roots are horrible! Oh the travesty!!!

I am going to be sporting the grunge look a few weeks longer than is socially acceptable. Keeping up one’s roots, while important, is VERY expensive. Wall Street doesn’t even talk about this kind of stuff. Real sacrifices for real people. We bloggers, we keep it real… we keep it on the level. WE are the social media, and I feel it’s time I said something!!! The economy is affecting my hair, people!

Don’t bother asking a woman how the market is affecting her/her family… just look at her roots…. just look at her roots.

Go ahead. Laugh… but mark my words… Mark. My. Words. The roots… you will find your answer at the roots.

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My first question has to do with my Confidence Apron. By the way, she has a name now… I am sure you are not surprised since I border-on-obsessive when it comes to naming my possessions (i.e. Lollipop & Nosie…). Thanks to the help of these friends, my Confidence Apron will now be called “Roxi”! Yeah, together we ROCK the kitchen! 

My question for you is this… Do you remove your apron when you use the restroom? I got to thinking. I know, “thinking” is not my forte’, but… When I cook without an apron, I don’t remove the clothes I am cooking in if I need to *ahem* use the little girl’s room, so why is it I feel compelled to remove my apron? The ties are not long, so there is no danger of an accidental “dip”. Tell me, what do you do… or what do YOU think? Noble Pig? Evil Chef Mom?? Anybody??? Everybody????

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My second inquiry is a bit more complex. I am thinking about teaching a class at my local parks and recreation department on beginning blogging. I am not a super-star blogger… Who am I to do something like this except that – no one else is doing it! I am well-aware of the fact that I am no “pro”… but I know a thing or two. Despite my non-supa-star-blogger status, I am compelled to pursue this. So compelled I picked up a little “class proposal” from the parks & rec department today. *gasp*

I have found that a number of local folks have asked me questions about blogging. Questions that have been in my capacity to answer. I am just feeling a bit unsure since I don’t have the high stats, comment numbers… I haven’t written for another blog or an online magazine ‘r somethin’. I’m just Jenny. However… I have been blogging 4.5 years and have learned a few things. I could know more… but I’d have until next Spring, even next Summer to pull it all together…

So. My question for you is not necessarily whether I SHOULD do it (but if you have an opinion on that, I’m wide open!)… My question is – if you were (or if your currently ARE) just starting or thinking about starting a blog – what would your questions be? What information would have been helpful when you first began blogging? Regrets? Your own tips? I have LOTS of ideas, tons of notes, and a great number of links… but much of my acquired information is based on MY questions and experience. If I do this, I want to give a good foundation to build on, and as much as I pretend that everything is all about me – I know it is not… but it is… I digress.  

So – lay it on me peeps… please? Pretty please? I don’t actually know if this will fly, but I think I really want to give this a shot. Or at least TRY to give it a shot. Who knows if anyone will even sign up. I think I’d rather try and flop than not try at all.

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Folks. My friend Lisa – of The Blozulfog just posted prolly the Best. Post. Ever! Of course it’s about me…Oh, and her, but also ME… So… yeah… But seriously, it’s wicked funny. She’s got mad bloggin’ SkillZ – that’s right – Skills with a “Z”! You gotta check it out. 

Love ya Lisa….MWAH!

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Keep up-to-date on the insane, the insightful, and the whatever…

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 After much consideration and with the generous permission of Jenny at Absolutely Bananas (because she started it!), I proudly share with you – Make Me Laugh Monday! as a regular feature here at Jennyonthespot. 

I participated in Jenny’s MMLM for awhile, and then she stopped hosting it… and I missed it! Granted, I was not able to come up with something laughable EVERY Monday, so that will be my challenge in this new “project”. It’s one thing to come across something funny at random, but to know I need something every week… it’ll be a good challenge.

I had debated over whether to seek Jenny to copy and use the name of MMLM. I thot about “Tickle Me Tuesday”, but the fear of sick-o internet searcher-types quickly caused me to nix that title. My friend Casey suggested, “Funny Friday”… and I nearly went with that… but my heart was attached to MMLM. I mean, of all the days of the week – Monday is prolly the day we need a good laugh the most.

Now. Ya’ll know that Jennyonthespot, while named for it’s founder – Me (Jenny), is not all about Me. No. It has never been about Me. It is about You liking Me! In keep with my “All About You” theme, I want to cordially invite you to come and play along on Make Me Laugh Monday! Isn’t that fun? It’s an invitation to fun! Continue reading ‘Make Me Laugh Monday’

No. That is not the name I have chosen for my shiny road bike. Here’s a picture of her again. I love looking at her so much…

So, in my search for name ideas, summa ya’ll had a few ideas, and a few opinions. Thank you so very much for caring enough to send the very best ideas. Thank you for your creativity and taking an active interest in my mania. Let’s take a look at what we got:

Continue reading ‘Bikey Bikerson’