Squishy, squeezy bags of gloop!

Hello again,

Today has been an interesting day and I bring you my first ever tutorial!

My day consisted of creating some sensory, mark making bags for my class.

I know it sounds bizarre, but I wanted to introduce a more interesting way for the children to practise their letters and numbers. It's great stress reliever too!

They may not be the prettiest things to look at, but I'm pretty chuffed with them!

It's super easy, cheap and surprisingly enjoyable to make!

First you'll need some hair gel, I picked up some from my local supermarket for 15p a tub! Not sure I'd be keen to smear that all over my head but it's lovely for squishing and squeezing!

Pop some glitter into the pot and give it a good shake or stir to blend.

Next, you'll need to prep the bag. I used medium-sized resealable bags, to ensure no gel was going to escape.

Using heavy duty tape, like duct-tape, tape along the three closed edges of the bag to reinforce the seams. Remember to overlap the tap at the corners for maximum protect. (ooerr misses).

Pop the glittery gel into the bag and carefully squidge any air out of the bag. It's important to get rid of as much air as possible, as little fingers need to be able to move the gel around without popping the bag. Seal the opening with the zip and a sturdy strip of tape!

Voila! A wonderful mark-making bag of jelly gloopyness that are perfect for tiny fingers. Particularly great for childrne who struggle with grip and pressure when writing with a pencil as they must press quite hard to create a clear line. Can't wait to try it out this week! Speak soon, Emily xxx

Unposted

Hello again,
Today is a Wednesday. There is nothing special about this particular Wednesday but today is the day I have chosen to start writing. January is a miserable month, the weather is dismal and the holiday season is well and truly over. I haven't given myself a new years resolution because there not something I ever really focus on. I spend a good few days trying to think of the perfect resolution, the life-affirming, epiphany of all new years resolutions and come back repeatedly to the same three targets. 1. Worry less. 2. Smile more. 3. Stop whining about being fat then eating an entire share size bag of Doritos in one sitting.

As I fail to tackle these resolutions in any form of proper manner, it seems only appropriate to choose a slightly more vague approach to them. And so, may I introduce to you, my list of things that make me happy!

I don't appreciate the good things in life anywhere near as much as a well-rounded twenty-something could, and it seems apt to choose today, this very Wednesday, to throw caution to the wind and scribble down (metaphorically, naturally) the things that make me feel pretty alright. Shall we?

1. Appropriate song choices - I listen to music, I enjoy music - but I'm not particularly knowledgeable about music. I don't even know where my headphones are. But I'll admit, the right song choice is absolutely essential for a cheeky little lift on a miserable day. I seem to be one of those people that has a list of go-to songs depending on my mood.

When I'm lonely, or having a bit of an emotional wobble re: boyfriend living in Brighton, the best and only song I want to hear is Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen, we are floating in space. It's bloody brilliant.

Foals are there for me when I'm feeling nostalgic for days gone by, reminding me of my huge but freezing third year flat in Portsmouth. I can practically smell the mould when I listen to Inhaler, excellent by all accounts. The same goes for Bastille and Kate Bush. They give me that summery feeling and make me miss Albert Road, the road of pure joy!

2. Reaching 'a third' - It's not quite a half, but it's a pretty solid milestone! I'm currently a trainee teacher, which may well be one of the greatest and most difficult things I have ever done. I am offically now, a third of the way through my training and it feels GOOD. A third is good, it is better than a half. A third means you have TWICE as long as you've just done to go. You're submerged, you're in the thick of it, but steady on, you've got a way to go before you're expected to know everything. The perfect place for a worrier like me, who expects to know everything and be amazing before I've even started.

3. Re-reading - A magazine article, blog post, book, anything! When I'm feeling a bit lost and underwhelmed, re-reading something familiar that reminds me of feeling good is a perfect pick-me-up on a dreary day. Preferably carrying out re-reading in the bath, for maximum happiness.

So there it is, the top three things I do to keep the grumpy day away! They're simple, but essential for me to kick the blues and keep my chin up!

What do you do to keep yourself feeling chipper?

Speak soon,

Emily

xxx

Edit - It's no longer Wednesday, or January... It's the very first day of March and once again I begin the resurrection of this poor blog. Third time lucky?