Tag Archives: writing camp

goals + recipes for the week of 7/27

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Happy Sunday, friends! I’m making this a quick one because it’s a busy day for me! Here are my goals for the week…

weekly goals

Here’s how I did on my goals for this past week:
– revise 25 pages of my novel-in-progress
– write 10 pages of my new play
– teach a successful weekend of Summer Writing Camp
– connect with three friends
– finish reading Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro {about 50 pages left to go}

Here are my goals for this upcoming week — keeping them simple:
– submit new play to contest
– teach a successful week of camp for Communication Academy
– finish reading Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro

And here are some recipes I’m drooling over this week:
– chocolate-chip cocoNUT bars via It’s Progression
– watermelon, blackberry & mint salad via Two Peas & Their Pod
– spicy lime chicken salad via sometimes.always.never
– marbled banana bread {vegan + gf} via the real-life rd
– my own mixed berry cobbler

Questions of the day:

  • What are your goals for this upcoming week?
  • What recipes are you drooling over lately?

MPM-Spring
This post is featured on Menu Plan Monday!

goals + recipes for the week of 7/20

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Happy Sunday! I’m off soon to teach my second day of Summer Writing Camp! Yesterday went wonderfully. There’s something so special about about being in a room filled with young people lost in their imaginations, putting words down on paper. I love it!

Before I head out, here are my goals for the week…

weekly goals

Here are my goals for this upcoming week:
– revise 25 pages of my novel-in-progress
– write 10 pages of my new play
– teach a successful weekend of Summer Writing Camp
– connect with three friends
– finish reading Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro

And here are some recipes I’m drooling over this week:
– simple summertime bbq sides via Peanut Butter Fingers
– chickpea, tomato, pesto & mozzarella salad via Two Peas & Their Pod
– cherry coconut flour pancakes via It’s Progression
– spicy peanut noodles w/kale & edamame via The Pajama Chef
– my own butternut squash quinoa mock risotto

Questions of the day:

  • What are your goals for this upcoming week?
  • What recipes are you drooling over lately?

MPM-Spring
This post is featured on Menu Plan Monday!

year of kindness challenge: week 28

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year of kindness button

Hi, friends! How is your week going so far?

It’s been quite a busy past few days over here … this past weekend I taught my sixth annual summer writing camp for 15 energetic, creative and exuberant young writers. Teaching writing camp always renews my respect and admiration for full-time teachers — I love it, but whew! I am exhausted on Sunday evening! I’m doing some individual tutoring this week, and then I’ll have two more days of teaching writing camp this upcoming weekend. The kids are so much fun. I feel lucky to have such a great group. Their passion and enthusiasm is contagious!

writing camp

Making silly faces.

writing camp

Hard at work!

This week I came across this link thanks to Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean: “15 TED talks that will change your life.” There are some real gems here!  http://mashable.com/2013/07/08/ted-talks-change-your-life/

Now, on to the kindness! The Week 28 Kindness Challenge is to compliment a stranger or acquaintance at least once every day, and/or give out ten compliments by the end of the week. It is amazing how something as simple as a kind word or compliment can brighten someone’s entire day. The main thing is to be sincere. Brainstorm a list of the people you know who are doing good things — and then tell them what you admire about them! Compliment a coworker on their presentation. Tell the manager at your favorite restaurant how much you love their food. Maybe the barista ringing up your coffee order is wearing a strikingly pretty necklace — compliment her on it! I’ve read statistics that we humans are much more hard-wired to remember insults people say about us than compliments. I think that means we need to compliment each other more than ever!

As always, blog about your experiences and include your links in the comments section below, or feel free to send me an email at dallaswoodburn <AT> gmail <DOT> com.

Have a wonderful week!
Dallas

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year of kindness archives:
– week 1 challenge: donate items to those in need
– week 2 challenge: leave quarters & note at laundry machine
– week 3 challenge: write & send a kind handwritten note
– week 4 challenge: give hot chocolate to someone outside in the cold
– week 5 challenge: do something kind for a neighbor
– week 6 challenge: deliver valentines to a nursing home
– week 7 challenge: donate to a food pantry
– week 8 challenge: donate toiletries to a shelter
– week 9 challenge: post a kind note in a public place
– week 10 challenge: do something kind for a child
– week 11 challenge: thank someone in a genuine & meaningful way
– week 12 challenge: deliver baked goods to a fire station
– week 13 challenge: give someone flowers
– week 14 challenge: donate books
– week 15 challenge: reach out and spend time with people
– week 16 challenge: smile at everyone you meet
– week 17 challenge: pick up litter/trash
– week 18 challenge: write a kind note to a mom figure in your life
– week 19 challenge: leave an extra-generous tip
– week 20 challenge: donate blood/join bone marrow registry
– week 21 challenge: visit a cemetery and pay respect
– week 22 challenge: practice a little patience
– week 23 challenge: call 3 loved ones on the phone
– week 24 challenge: do something kind for a senior citizen
– week 25 challenge: pay for someone’s public transportation
– week 26 challenge: volunteer at a food pantry or soup kitchen
– week 27 challenge: send a care package to someone in the military

what I wore to teach writing camp

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I was delighted to teach a special one-day winter break session of my youth writing camp this past weekend! It was so much fun. I always come away from teaching creative writing sessions thinking, “I hope my students had even half as much fun as I did!” 🙂

When deciding upon what to wear to teach writing camp, I tried to come up with an outfit that was:
1) fun
2) professional, and
3) warm {it was cold by California standards this weekend!}

Inspired by Deme at Fresh Coat of Paint, I ended up layering a sweater underneath a pretty summer dress and pairing it with tights and flats. I also added some sparkly jewelry and a flower barrette for extra flair.

writing camp outfit

Here’s a back view:

writing camp outfit

I was pleased with the outcome! I think the pop of bright blue made for a cheerful and inviting look, which is great when working with young people and trying to establish and open, fun and safe classroom environment. {And I’m linked up at Fine Linen & Purple, woo hoo!}

I was really excited to find these babies at the grocery store yesterday:

pumpkin marshmallows

PUMPKIN MARSHMALLOWS!!

I used them to make a pumpkin-y batch of my rice krispies treats, which I brought to writing camp as a snack for the kids. They gobbled them up! The pumpkin marshmallows are a nice seasonal change from regular marshmallows. Highly recommended!

rice krispie treats pumpkin

Hope your day is going wonderfully!

-Dallas

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You might also enjoy these posts:

– what I wore to thanksgiving dinner
– what I wore to see “the nutcracker”
– rice krispies treats with m&ms

goals for the week of 12/16

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Wow, this week flew by! Mike is visiting and it has been so fun to have him here with my family. We’ve seen The Nutcracker, played lots of pinball, seen a comedy show, watched some movies, eaten lunch at some of our favorite Ventura spots {hello, Snapper Jack’s and Nature’s Grill!} and even spent a day at my alma mater USC.

This week I also was relieved to get my grades submitted, two big applications mailed, and taught another super fun Winter Writing Camp through my organization Write On!

Here’s how I did on my other goals this week:

  • send out newsletter about book drive and writing camp
  • finish & send the remaining post-grad applications
  • read The Zero by Jess Walter {instead I read through a bunch of old New Yorkers I hadn’t had time to read during the school year … I’ll get to The Zero this week!}
  • watch Christmas movies with Gramps {we’ve got this on the calendar for the upcoming week}
  • address and mail Christmas cards
  • get email inbox and computer desktop cleaned out and organized {started this but did not finish it all the way}

And here are my goals for this upcoming week:

  • throw a terrific bridal shower for my cousin Amanda
  • take cookies and holiday cards to the local nursing home
  • read The Zero by Jess Walter
  • watch Christmas movies with Gramps
  • finish getting email inbox and computer desktop cleaned out and organized
  • write goals for the upcoming year
  • work on short play to submit to festival

What are your goals for the week? Feel free to share in the comments below!