Miss Chrissy

How to photograph a Large group!

September 9, 2020 by Miss Chrissy Leave a Comment

Six years ago, just before Christmas I was asked to do an Extended Family Session of 27 people! This is like asking someone to do a wedding! Even though I don’t do weddings (well…I do, do a select few) the same principles apply for doing an extended family session. So, I’m glad that I have had a few weddings under my belt to understand how to prep for such a huge crowd!

Considering, we live in a cold climate, and the sun goes down by 4:30 pm, It was best to consider doing this session indoors. I did it indoors in a gym, to have control over my lighting, and keeping everyone safe from the cold, the wind, and a place to run around in, when it wasn’t their to turn to be photographed.

One of the first things, I needed to do was to figure out the best way to have an extended backdrop. I called “The Camera Store” in Calgary, they practically laughed through the phone, to tell me I was out of my mind, and that I better get over to the hardware store to construct my own backdrop stand out of pvc piping. I only had a 10 day window of when they wanted to do this session, so I was really trying to figure out quickly what I could do to bring this together. Checked online for other stores that might have something that could extend the backdrop stand, and delivery could be a hold up.

Then I called “Strobepro” a local store, in Calgary, where they sell non brand names. They were extremely helpful, and we worked it through, of how to combine 2 stands, into one, with additional support, of a 24″ feet crossbar and the best lighting scenario.

I then went to the Camera Store, to pick up a roll of beige “mocha” savage seamless paper, as the clients had brown tones in their home. The plan was to use the whole roll, length wise as my backdrop, and the rest of the floor. To be safe, I decide to set up 2 nights prior for a trial run. Yes, it was a lot of work, to do this, but it was so worth it, as I discovered, I didn’t have enough clamps, to hold the paper, for the backdrop, and I would need to buy more. It also helped me, realize that I needed to bring extension cords, and what other things I was missing.

My son, who I tempt to act as my assistant (as who else may inherit all my equipment some day) painstakely came along for the ride! For the sake of experimenting only, I used a roll of white paper, I had on hand.

This indeed could work! The only thing, I realized the day of the session, that my big roll of mocha paper, wasn’t as big as I thought, and I had to go home and get this white paper to cover the floor. This made me have to touch up more on my seams of where the backdrop hit the floor. I did use a light meter, to have even light across, by getting it right in camera, it saves a whole lot of time, afterwards.

Just like a wedding, you start with everyone as a big group, and then you narrow it down.

It’s all about grandma and grandpa, and their children, and grandchildren, so they get placed in the middle, on my fancy couch. Then work your way out, grouping the family together. A whole another topic, could be on the colour and style of dress.

Not everyone cooperates as well, so its good to take multiple portraits.

You can see in my after post processing, how I have had to cover up the gym lines on the floor, and clean up the clamps, all this is done in photoshop.

In the group of 27, I had to fix just a few faces. Can you tell which ones?

The use of chairs help with some variety, in heights so all their heads are not on the same plane, and placing hands on shoulders help create interesting triangles.

Slowly break the family down into different units. Like, all the men, (dad, sons, and son-inlaws). Can you see the imaginary triangles that could be formed with the men?

With the ladies, add some connection, with their arms…although some take it a little too far, and may touch one another a little inappropriately!

Then focus on every family. It really doesn’t matter what order. I actually did the children first, and then their family, at the end.

and the children

And the child, and this was able to be accomplished all within 2 hours. Phew!! Mission Accomplished!

Miss Chrissy

Little Reminds for your Schedule Session Day

September 9, 2020 by Miss Chrissy Leave a Comment

Little Reminders for you-

When to Schedule

Avoid scheduling your session the day of or after doctor’s appointments. Not too many of us, enjoy going to the dr’s, and vaccinations can have lingering effects, that could effect their mood, as well as yours.

A well rested and fed child is a happy child! Avoid scheduling around nap times (unless they are newborns) and stick to their normal napping schedule the day of your session. Have your child eat a meal/snack before their appointment; however please avoid mood altering foods like sugars and caffeine, as it may affect the photographer bouncing off the walls in pursuit of them! Check those faces before you come, to wash off the “macaroni and cheese” or stain lips from ravoli.

Oh No, My child is sick!

If you or you’re child isn’t feeling well, it okay to reschedule the session, no one is themselves when they feel slightly under the weather. Please try to give at least 48 hours notice, if possible! Your creation fee, will not be returned to you, but it will hold a spot for you to reschedule. I respect your time, by scheduling plenty of time before and after your appointment, and usually only reserve this appointment for you.

Cheese!

Let’s not be cheesy, and drop “Cheese” out of our vocabulary on portrait day. It’s my job to enjoy your children, as much as you do! So no need to encourage your child, “to have to smile”, just let it come naturally! I have that child, that will do anything not to smile! The more stressed you become, so does the child, they will not want to do what you want them to do, no matter how hard you try. So, please, if you allow me to, can I bribe your child, and offer goodies, and say the clever things, to make them smile, so you don’t have to grit your teeth, and not have your blood pressure rise!

Comfort

Remember to bring comfort items, if your child depends on it! Soothers, blankets, and stuffies, are all welcomed.

Keepsakes

Please bring anything that you might want to have included in your portraits. An ultrasound, a favourite outfit, special toy, keepsake baby shoes, name blocks, favourite stuffy, favourite team memorabiala, perhaps even your well behaved pet.

Clothing

Bring several changes of clothing. Avoid stripes and logos, they can date a portrait. If it’s their style to wear logo t-shirts, or old running shoes, if you’re okay with that, so am I. Solid colours, in similiar tones, or opposite palates, as with layers, work well. Don’t be a afraid to mix up the colours, gone are the days, that everyone has to wear white and just jeans.

If you’re coming in for a headshot, remember, the focus will be on your face and upper shoulders. Collar shirts, and jackets, will draw the eye to your face. Solid colours are favourable, long sleeves, are more slimming. For a man, a tie, a briefcase, bring what respresents you. For women, if it’s your style, bring a scarf, it will draw attention to your face, too.

Hair & Make-Up

Coming in for a headshot, is not the time for you to get a new hair cut the day before! I would encourage everyone to check the status of their nail polish, if its chipping, take it off.

I don’t think it’s my right to tell you how to wear your make-up or hair. If you would like to have a make-up artist or a professional hair dresser, I can provide these mobile services. Please book early, to avoid disappointment.

Pretty Focused Course Review

July 23, 2020 by Miss Chrissy Leave a Comment

I signed up for this course in May 2020, this is not a paid review. I do have affiliate links within the post, this means, if you click on the link, and if you purchase the item, I will receive some spending money to buy some kitchen props. I thought some people might want to hear a true personal opinion on the pretty focus course before your decide if this course, is right for you to purchase. The course, was first launced in 2018. Below is Lauren, she started just 2 years ago, without even knowing how to use a camera, and she’s now a positive force that keeps me focus in this course!

Who is this course for?

Those interested in photography. You don’t need to be a professional. Some start with a new digital camera, with no experience.
Must like cooking, or creating crafts.
Blogger, or a viritual assistant to help be a creator of content for those online, and for printed resources, likes magazines, and books.

How is the course taught?

The course is self paced, with online videos. I would recommend, not rushing through it, as practise takes time, and by going slower, you build up your skills. I rushed through it, and I have had to go back to relisten and understand better.

Two Courses to Choose from:

The Blogger Edition. For those that blog, and want to improve their imagery. It has 4 modules in it.
- Art of Styling
- Camera Basics
- Taking the Picture
- Lightroom

2. The Pretty Focused Course.

It has 6 modules, the same 4 of the blogger edition, with these 2 added modules:
- All about recipes, with a new addition about copyright laws.
- Getting Down to Business

Yes, there are Bonuses!

Facebook Coaching Community Group
Full Length Sessions
100 Highly Searched Recipes
Portifolo Review
Sales Post Guide
Expense Tracker
Session Checklist
Pretty Preset

My WHY in taking this course?

I chose #2, as a professional photographer, as I wanted to know more about module #6 offer in the Pretty Focused Course about getting down to business, and how to price, and posting for work.

A blogger friend, recommended how great the quality of the photos was from the graduates in the buyers group, and for the connections of the those wanting to buy content. One of her associates, even got paid to make her own meals, as she was creating paid content.

Before I Signed Up?

Before I came across this course, I thought, that I could get away with taking my cellphone photos, and adding them into blog posts, or into an instagram feed, and hadn’t thought too much about the process of it all. I do know better, even I get lazy. I’m a professional photographer, I know images can make or break a sale. Only 40 spots per course opening, so I acted fast! I had plenty of extra time on my hands with self-isolating from Covid-19.

Banana bread from a client, taken by my cellphone.

What does one need to start?

I already had the recommendation of equipment:

a digital camera
100 mm macro lense (2.8)
50 mm lens (1.2)
Reflector
Expo Disc
Backdrop stands/light stand/c stand/clamps

You don’t need to have experience to start this course. You can buy an entry level dslr, and even a 50 mm 1.8 lens (around $100-150), some dollarstore foamcore, and you would be off to a great start!

I felt I needed more items to buy, as I want to get this going fast!

Linens
Kitchenware from second hand stores
Paint/Wood from a Hardware Store
Flooring and marble tile from a Warehouse Store
Backdrop Banners made in a smaller size at Print shop or backdrop store
Formcore/sharpies from the Dollarstore

My Beginning of the course

Strawberry Banana Bread, taken 2 weeks into the course,
with the added bonus preset to make the colours pop!

Same Banana bread, ready for you to feast your eyes on!

These are still my practise shots. I have to post about 10 recipes in the facebook group first from start to finish, and be specific in where I want to be critiqued. I’m almost ready to start my portifolio.

Review of the Modules

1. The Art of Styling

I felt at times the lessons were conflicting, as you do certain photos one way, over another. I feel I know composition, but its doing it at different angles with the camera, that have thrown me off at times. I tried to rush through some of the modules, as I felt I know this! My advice, would be to slow things down, read and apply to the comments on all the photos in the Facebook group. The coaches are in there, and are uplifting, but want you to succeed. They were once, just like me! They will give suggestions to make you improve, as it will build your confidence, as you have to work with others to meet their expectations. You can buy premade food to practise on, to save you time in preparation work. I sometimes feel like, “Can I really meet their expectations? I will never get there.”. Then I remember, that this course first started in 2018, and some of the coaches, like Lauren, didn’t even know how to use a camera. Lauren has a young family of 4 children, now develops and sells exclusive new recipes each month. She has flexibility in her schedule, and makes a very decent pay cheque, and now she has even added 1:1 coaching calls. If they can do it, so can you!

First time I shot this, I was thinking this is great, I can see the full jar behind, as well as the spoon, and the jelly dripping! Lauren gave me advice, of where my spoon really should be.

A few days later, I reshot this again, to put the spoon more centred in the photo.
I still have my jar in the background, but the focus is the spoon.
I added the banner across, as it could be made into a great pin for pinerest.

2. Camera Basics

Too basic for me, with the added emphasis of using natural light, although you will learn quickly, that many do use artifical lighting. I do use artifical lighting, as then I can photograph at night, usually when my motivation hits. They are nowing offering a Masterclass on Artifical lighting, I feel I don’t need to up my skills on this, but it could be worthwhile, if you are new to it.

3. Taking the Picture

You will be repeating some mantras so you don’t screw up. You learn how to nail focus, and where it should be. You get a great session guide to help guide you through all the steps. I need to photograph and laminate this, it will save me time, and remember all my steps! Lots of great tips in this module, of what you need to look for, even before you take the photo. Photographing a recipe for me, can take 1-2 hrs, with prep work, and all the steps involved. Some of these coaches, have young kids, if they can do it, you can too! Some of them, had no experience or knowledge of how to use a camera, and its amazing how far they have come, in such a short time.

4. Lightroom

I have been using lightroom for years, but in my past, I had a glitch where I couldn’t export photos. I am now, on the cloud as a subscription membership, and I finally got ahead to learn how to export the images! The bonus preset is also introduced in this module, and I love it!

If this is enough…buy the Blogger Edition.

5. All About Recipes

There is a lot to know about recipes, and what makes one exclusive, over semi exclusive, and how to develop your own. It gives a general overview, but with the recent addition of a copyright laws, it gives a better understanding. They are now offering a masterclass, of how to take this to a higher level. I’m too early to get to started at this next level, but it may be a consideration, in the future.

6. Getting Down to Business

I love business principles, and this is a must to understand the market, and the potential of where your this could go.

If in business and you have a desire to focus on food, or craft content, I would recommend the Pretty Focused Course especially, with the added Bonuses!

Facebook Groups

As a part of joining the group, you are added into the pretty focused facebook group. This is valuable, as you are expected to put in a lot of practise of posting the process of photographing recipes or of crafts to be critqued. They are there to support you through this process! I have found some conflicting advice of how many exact recipes one has to add before you can start your portifolio, and if they are to see them all, or a selection. They are a friendly group, and give great advice, as how to improve before your start a portifolio. I don’t feel like I can critique others photos, as I’m still learning, but I can comment on how delicious it is! After you post enough, you can start our portifolio. The portifolio doesn’t get shared within the group, but from what I have seen, its amazing what they create!. Once you pass the portifolio, you are then put into the Pretty Focused Buyers Club, where there is a plenty of willing buyers, that will pay for your skill level. In the facebook group, we discuss real life. I like hearing how honest they are in the facebook group, and when Lauren recently shared her numbers, and how many projects she takes on. You really decide how much you can take on, how much work is out there, and how busy you want to be. I’ve taken a month off of practising, as I needed time to organize my house, and get new kitchen applicances.

Almost every Friday in the Facebook group is a Q&A, where its hosted on Arizona time, (that has its own time zone, and always confusing for someone). Each Q&A has different topics, sometimes its an open discussion, zoom call, others a discussion from coaches, and how they first started, or even photography skills and how to solve problems, such as white balance.

Added Videos

Its quite nice, to see 4 recipe videos from start to finish, so one can replay , the process of how you go through. The same principles apply to craft makers, it would be nice to have an added video of a craft.

Why Wait, run, as spots are limited!

Each course that runs, has a max limit of enrollments, and is only open for a span of less than a week. This could be a perfect flexible job, for you to work from home, and around your family schedules. I love working for myself! I also love shooting food or product. I could even have my food paid for, and that’s an added bonus! I invite friends to bring over ingredients of a favourite recipe, so I can practise. Saves them time, keeps me praticising, and not having to eat it all or give it away. I have already applied some of my skills that I have learned from this course in a VA (virtual assistant) group, and had my first two customers. I have had great feedback on my images, and have been paid. I can’t wait to finish up my portifolio, to truly show what I am capable off. I’m up to the challenge, and the new opportunites it can bring! Come join me in the Pretty Focused Course and I will cheer you on in the facebook group! We can be in this together! You can buy the blogger edition, and upgrade later on, and there are also payment plans, if that helps your budget, too. Oh and by the way…..There is also a 30 day guarantee, if you decide its not right for you. I have taken another food photography class online about 10 years ago, but this one really doesn’t leave you after you go through the lessons, they are there. Some in the facebook group, come back after a long break, and say, they wished they weren’t so worry about posting, they delayed because of their own fears, which turned into wasted time. Any type of a job, will require work and dedication. I do love photographing food, as each time, I can create a new scene, it makes it new and refreshing. I will come back and share more, to tell you of my journey!

Bears, Mountain Lions, and Marmots, oh my!

June 23, 2020 by Miss Chrissy Leave a Comment

If you ever are hiking in the Canadian Rockies, you might be wise to pack some bear spray, keep your eyes on the back of your head to be aware of the mountain lions, and watch out for the marmots, that might like to share your trail mix.

With my recent trip to Bulk Barn, I came up with a clever homemade “Oh Canada” Trail Mix, with all things red and white, with some added Canadian flair in it.

Canada is known for a being a melting pot, because we are made up with a variety of cultures. I took the red melting wafers, placed them in a double boiler over water to melt them, and then added a single red or white chocolate smartie on each pretzel; for a sweet & savory experience.

The pretzels, also reminded me of a Kunik, which is known as an Inuit kiss, which is when one pressed the tip of one noses against another nose.

By adding Greek yogurt raisins, it is just one of the many one of the many cultures that make up the many immigrants, that call Canada their home.

Cherry Sours, are a perfect representation of a famous reindeer, whose nose shone brightly one Christmas Eve a long time ago. He is from the North Pole, and every year, Santa’s helpers (also known as the Canadian Postal elves) will write back to the children. The address is Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0.

The links in this post are affiliate links. This means, if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

These are the cutest mini Waffles, which remind me of Beaver Tails, a symbol on our Canadian 5 cent coin, also known as a nickel. Beaver Tails, also are a common Canadian treat; a fried-dough pastry, made with flour to resemble the long, flat tail of a beaver. It traditional to have cinnamon sugar sprinkle on a beaver tail, with a squirt of lemon, especially if you are ice skating on the Rideau Canal in Quebec.

The two tone, gummy, O, is perfect to remind of us, of our national anthem, “O Canada”. ” O Canada! Our home and native land! and “Oh” I want more trail mix, to eat.

Big Foot or also known as Sasquatch, lives in British Columbia. Any chance you have seen him?

Smarties, a favourite famous brand line…”Do you eat the red ones last?” Of course! As a child, I would make it my lipstick!

Shopping List, Bulk Barn: Red Cherry sours, white/red gummy circles, greek yogurt raisins, big foot -allan candies, pretzels, mini waffles, red melting wafers. The Canadian Smarties, I found at Wal-mart. Other additions, one could also add in Swedish Berries, dried cranberries.

Hope that you enjoy making your own Oh Canada Trail mix, but please remember do not feed the bears!

Miss Chrissy

Robot Day

January 30, 2020 by Miss Chrissy Leave a Comment

I liked to have a new theme, or a theme that builds upon it the following class. Since, each new day changed, everyday became my favourite day! I might do gears first, and then Robot Day, as you need gears to run a robot! Robot day has been hilarious journey to hear how these preschool lessons have impacted their families lives. Robot day is a great lesson that can be applied at home! Especially, when I pull out my irobot roomba vacuum cleaner, that shows a real robot in action!

The children would freak out! They would jump up high, as it rolled near their feet, they would jump up on benches. Then I would hear of their stories, of how some children thought it would be a great idea for their moms to get this vacuum, and one child even wanted one for his birthday, to clean his own room! This has been a great investment for my floors, and for the thrills it gave the children!

The links in this post are affiliate links. This means, if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affililate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Make Clean up a Game!

One of the favourite class rooms songs, is “Robot Number One”, sung by the musical group from Australia, called Hi5, one can find it on itunes. A part of the lyrics go, “Robot Number one, Hit the switch and turn me on, We’re gonna have some fun” . Pretending to turn on and off, the children as Robots, turns into a freeze clean up game.

I also love these! As it gives the children a chance to strengthen their arm muscles, to open and close the gripper, these ones listed below, can make it fun for adults, too!

Alphabet Game

Another fun activity are the Alpha-bots. The capital letters, transform into little robots, with hidden faces, arms, and hands, its a clever transformer. It also makes creating your name out of them fun or creating words that can rhyme!

A Robot Book

A fond memory of my childhood is reading with my parents, and receiving Hallmark Pop Up Books. I have a nativity one, and 3 fairy tales in one, where the binding is practically non existent.

For Robot Day, my favourite discovery of a pop up book is titled, If you’re a Robot and you know it” , with a fun active book to play along when you read. The arms, stretch way up high, and I love the lazer eye beams!

Would you like to rent out a Playtography in a Box, of the Robot theme? Where you can borrow, the pop up book, alphabots, and kid hand grabbers, and more! If so, please help me with this survey, https://forms.gle/B88MzgqNaoWCQMyM7

Thank you, Miss Chrissy

Taylor Swift’s Photo Car Rally

January 29, 2020 by Miss Chrissy Leave a Comment

One of my children, just hit a milestone birthday. She was rewarded Taylor Swift concert tickets, her favourite artist, and was in total shock! In keeping with the theme, I planned a fun out with a few of her friends.

I created a fun evening for them, but was surprised, that none of them, had heard of a car rally. They were a bit skeptical. This was a popular event that I did when I was a youth. It’s a scavenger hunt on wheels, and now with the ease of cell phones, you can record the event, and make a cell phone call rally. Back in my day, one could find different objects, as proof, that you were there, or one had to dish out the film cameras, to then take proof of the event. Now, one just takes your cell phone and record each stop.

SEND THEM OFF to go skating, or something fun, with the other parent, or friend, while you work on getting it ready!

Need a little help from my friend, Taylor

I created this event, in about 6 hours, with a little help with some of my friends, and with the help of Taylor Swift’s music lyrics, as clues. It took them about two hours to complete!

1. First stop, the image of Katy Perry in a hamburger, with Taylor Swift in Fries, they made up, and so I send them off to McDonald’s to get dinner first, while I continued to get the clues over to the next stops. I had my husband, there earlier enough, to eat, and pay for their meals.

2. I’d never walk Cornelia Street Again….but I will go drive and go inside….(Name a friends street) . Inside, I had the host read “Barefoot in the kitchen/sacred/New Beginning/That became my religion”. Take a photo of all your barefeet in their House’s kitchen

3. Just before they left, the host gave them another clue- “I snuck in through the garden gate/Every night that summer just to seal my fate”

(Find someone with a garden gate, and then tape a clue, in a envelope, to say where to go next, in our case, it was inside the home of the garden gate)

4. “Here’s a toast to my real friends They don’t care about that he said, she said”

The host will open up some sparkling apple juice bottles and give them plastic champagne drinking glasses, to toast. Photo of them toasting each other.

Before they leave, Host gives the next clue

5. “It’s a love story baby just say ‘Yes”….

GO To this house, (one with a baby)! Take a photo with the baby…

And ask for the next Clue-

Host -will give them this clue, and they will open it there.

“And we see you over there on the Internet

Comparing all the girls who are killing it

But we figured you out

We know now

We all got crowns

You need to Calm down.”

Host takes a photos of all of them wearing crowns, gives them clue #6 with an address or you could be sent to a number of an address.

6. So it goes…“You did a number on me/but honestly baby, who’s counting?…

Go to this House #, and inside Host gives the foil Birthday Numbers to the birthday child. Take a group photo

Host then gives clue #7

7. But she wears shorts skirts/I wear T-shirts/she’s cheer captain/and I’m on the Bleachers”

HEAD to the bleachers at the Highschool field, and take your group photo.

(on the bleachers/or a person standing to give you the next CLUE #8!

8. I forgot that you
Got out some popcorn
As soon as my rep starting going down, down, down
Go to the movie theatre, and BUY a BAG of MOVIE POPCORN and then

“OLD TAYLOR CAN’T COME TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW, WHY? OH BECAUSE SHE’S DEAD!’

Head to the graveyard, your next clue will be handed to you .

9. Laughed on the schoolyard
As soon as I tripped up and hit the ground, ground, ground
And I would’ve stuck around for ya
Would’ve fought the whole town,…

Go to the School playground, take photos in the school yard with your popcorn and laugh and then read the last clue #10

10. And ah, take me out and take me home! (go back home)

A bunch of smiles, and time to blow out the candles, made it a successful night! There are so many versions one can do!

This simple toy, will give your child a hand up when it comes to reading.

September 10, 2019 by Miss Chrissy Leave a Comment

When I was a child, I spent many years going to speech therapy in my school, where I was taken out of class to work with a therapist. I also, went to an additional speech therapy sessions in the evening through the health clinic. I do remember, how exciting it was to pick from a treasure box, when I went to an unpleasant place, like speech therapy or even the dentist. If I had a toy like this, I would of been an envied to all my classmates!

So, when I started photography sessions, I would reward children with a small gift of appreciation for co-operating and placed these fun martian fingers in my treasure box. They were a hit with the children, but it wasn’t until I started teaching preschool, when I saw even a more significant use! Anything, that encourages play and coupled with a task to do, can make learning fun, and I highly recommend it! These martian fingers, can go on the child’s pointer finger, and the child can point to the words as he reads along! They can help children sound out the syllables, as a teacher you will have their full attention, for those visual learners.

The links in this post are affiliate links. This means, if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affililate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

As moms, sometimes, we see these trinkets, as more junk that children collect, and eventually we are thrilled when it gets lost or thrown out, and so it was with one mother. Although, she quickly realized how valuable they were! Her son asked to wear it as he did his daily reading to her. She was amazed of how he practiced sounding out his words, and she asked for a few spares, for her children, as well to have any extra on hand, in which I highly encouraged.

The martian fingers can be found on amazon, and also I found mine, at

Oriental Trading

I even found glow in the dark ones, which would complete a fun costume on Halloween night.

I have also used them on photography sets, for fingers protecting the gold in a treasure chest. Pick up these creepy vinyl fingers, and toss them in the Halloween bags, this year!

Couldn’t live without this!

September 3, 2019 by Miss Chrissy Leave a Comment

My first year of teaching, I spend a lot of time creating my own curriculum, and faithfully, went through hundreds of laminating sheets, even though my class size was small with 6 children. I always made 6 copies of each, one for each child.

A better way to save the environment, by just wiping off the markers, when the children practiced their pre-writing skills, and other worksheets. Some of the children, though still try taking them home, they love doing them so much. What do you do with all the unwanted papers, that seem so important to the child. Just take a photo of their work, and add it into their album to remember, how great they did!

Laminating is a time saver, especially if you teach in a home, school, a church setting, a road trip, or even creating your own planner! Best place to buy these sheet is amazon of course! This Scott Laminator, held up its job! I would give it 10/10! I buy, the big bulk Scott package of sheets, usually 200, as it a better savings, and after reading lots of the reviews, the pages do not peel over time, like the cheaper competition. Good Luck in your lesson planning, or reviewing your child’s skill.

The links in this post are affiliate links. This means, if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affililate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Under the Big Top!

August 28, 2019 by Miss Chrissy Leave a Comment

Let’s focus on those that make a great performance, and what has come to Calgary!

Get Ready to See Under the Big Top! Calgary Stampede park Lot #6, Aug 16, 2019 to Sept 22, 2019 the Cirque Du Soleil, Luzia has arrived!

In a Preschool school or home setting, one can recreate under the big top of the circus!

For Play
Use a Parachute, as a roof top decor, or as I prefer to play a few games, while throwing up the parachute into the air, and hiding under it like a mushroom. We are pretending to be in the big top tent.

As part of the big top tent, and where the children can hid in, until its their turn to perform, a tent or a pop up theatre tent of any decor works as a great solution!

For Play:

Costumes Pick up some clown noses, each child gets their own, we don’t want to be spreading any extra germs. One could just use some kids friendly face paint, to paint their nose red, and send home their red nose to play with at home.

**Come see the amazing Flying Canonball Performer!**

Have you gone or are you going to Cirque du Soleil, Luzia? Let’s hear your reviews!

https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/canada/calgary/luzia/buy-tickets

If you can’t….

July 15, 2019 by Miss Chrissy Leave a Comment

In 2014, I was at a local craft fair doing photography sessions. On one of my breaks, I walked by a booth, and saw a 12 year old girl, selling these unique bracelets. This bracelets have a unique a story behind them with a great lesson built right in.

These are “Zip- It’s” Bracelets. Children that wear them are committed to a two-fold idea. Firstly, that if they can’t say something nice to someone, they will keep it zipped! However, if they see someone being bullied, they should speak up and report it and NOT zip-it.

Chantelle and her mom Gina, were there to raise funds for their grass root charity, called “F.I.B.B”, which stood for Families Impacted by Bullying. Chantelle’s older sister, Jade was affected by a group of girls while in high school in England, where she was physically bullied, to the point where she received brain damage, and life long consequences. Jade’s story and her Mom’s is featured in this book, “Ray of Hope” as well as others in Canada. It is a heart felt book that is raw, and can give us a better perspective of all sides.

The links in this post are affiliate links. This means, if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affililate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

This concept really resonated with me, where a simple bracelet could serve as a great reminder.

At a later date, I sat with Gina and created “Be Your Own Hero”. A photography session, where children, adults and families, dressed up in caps, masks, pettiskirts, arm bands, and crazy super hero socks, that I provided, to create their own hero, and to stand up as a positive force, in a negative environment.

Here is a fact – Bullying happens to someone in Canada every 7 minutes on the playground, and just think of how often it could happen in a work place, and in other environments, as it comes in a variety of forms.

I had a good friend, that had a heart transplant. At times, she would use an electric motorized cart when shopping in a store, some people would be snide and make rude comments that she was too healthy and shouldn’t be using it. Just like this guy, running to high school classes, wipes out his energy, as he has a congenital heart defect, no one can tell of his battles he has physically inside.

Henry B Eyring said, “When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.” and if we take Roger Dawson advice, “Treat everyone you meet as though they are the most important person you’ll meet today”, just think of the difference we can make one on one, and on the sidelines! We can make a difference in every person we meet!

Let’s start a movement, an everyday awareness, with these zip it bracelets, you can buy them here!

Miss Chrissy