January 13, 2010
Surviving a Vacation with In-Laws
It has been awhile since I posted. That’s mostly because of Christmas Break. I was able to spend 2 weeks in New York with Ginna’s family. It was a blast… mostly. I, however, have a few thoughts on spending a vacation with the In-Laws. Here they are:
- Bring something to entertain yourself. You may find that you are waiting for extensive periods of time. Whether it is waiting for people to get ready, deciding what to do, or in my case for father-in-law to get out of work, you will wait.
- Pack for all occasions. Yes, I know you have to pack light but keep in mind that the in-laws will want to test you. They will spring events upon you: fancy dinner, night on Broadway, unexpected New Year’s Party. Surprise them by being ready.
- Stay neutral. There will inevitably be a fight. Especially if your significant other has siblings. Avoid this at all costs. You may feel you need to side with your partner. You won’t win in this situation. Your in-laws will not appreciate you “being mean” or “attacking” either of their children. Just go to the bathroom when the fight starts. You’ll be safer!
- Order a middle priced item. Here is a catch-22. If your in-laws are footing the bill for most of the trip you may find yourself wondering what to order. You don’t want to order the most expensive item and seem like you are taking advantage, but you also don’t want to seem like you think they are being cheap. Go with the middle. Your best bet is if everyone is ordering something similar, go with that. You can’t lose there.
- Offer to help out. This is also if the in-laws are paying for the trip. Don’t be ungrateful or offend them, but also make sure they know you appreciate the trip. In my case, Ginna and I always offer to pay for one of the meals. This ends up being about $150-$200, but it is nothing compared to paying for a 2 week vacation to NY on our own.
- Don’t complain. This may seem self-explanatory but not always so easy to do. It’s okay to complain to your partner, just don’t let anyone else (including siblings) see you do so. If you wanted to do what you wanted all the time then go on your own separate vacation. Those who pay the bills make the rules in this case.
- HAVE FUN! This is the most important one. It’s a almost-free vacation. Enjoy it. If you are completely miserable try not to go with them again or make it a shorter amount of time. With the money you saved on this vacation, you and your partner can take a solo trip some other time. Two vacations for the price of one!
Check in later for a discussion on why there always seems to be problems with the in-laws.
December 17, 2009
I’m Texting Santa!!!
So yesterday as I’m trying to teach a Social Studies class, the kids will not be quiet. They are talking a mile a minute (nothing about Canada of course). They are getting out of their seats and running around. One child is singing to himself (Christmas songs). As I’m sitting there wondering how not to scream, a thought pops into my head. “You better watch out, you better not cry…” Now some people may think this song is creepy, but to me it is inspiration. I pulled out my phone and yelled at the top of my lungs, “THAT’S IT! I’M TEXTING SANTA!”
I have never seen these kids sit down and be quiet so quickly. As I began to write my text, they started begging “Pleaseeeee Ms. Jillian. Anyone but him. I promise I’ll be good.” “Ms. Jillian! I NEED my DSi!” “Come one Ms. Jillian, one more chance”. I slowly looked up and told them I’d give them one more chance, but I’m keeping my phone out just in case. After that, everyone participated and stayed as quiet as possible for them.
So to all your educators out there… if you are lucky enough to have kids who still believe in Santa…. send him a quick text! 
December 15, 2009
Rice Krispies Treats Houses
Ginna and I made Rice Krispies houses the other day. We had talked about making Gingerbread houses because it was something we had never done before. We went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and they had Rice Krispies houses. We decided to try that. Here is what we learned: it is super easy to make Rice Krispies treats, we didn’t need to buy the kit, and we liked it a whole lot better than Gingerbread Houses. So here is a picture of Ginna’s house and the recipe 
Ginna's House and Snowman
You will need:
- 1 cup of marshmallow cream
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 4 cups of rice krispies treats
Directions:
- Mix the marshmallow cream and butter in a sauce pan until it is the consistency of milk. Do not boil.
- Pour the Rice Krispies into a bowl
- Slowly pour the marshmallow cream over the Rice Krispies
- Mix the marshmallow cream and Rice Krispies to even cover the cereal with the cream
- Let sit for 20-30 minutes to allow for easier forming of designs
- Put the cereal on non-stick paper and begin to design!
Tips:
- Dye marshmallow cream any color you like and you can make holly, Christmas trees, menorahs, and more!
- The longer you let the Rice Krispies cool, the easier it will be to form your designs.
December 5, 2009
Cheating
I hate for my first blog to be on this subject… but it’s relevant to our world right now.
If you have even come close to a news channel or website you would have seen alot about cheating lately. Of course cheating is all over the news, radio, and internet. A lot of celebs are cheating lately… Tiger Woods, Jude Law, and Eric Benet (and how could you cheat on Halle Berry??). Even politicians are cheating all over that place. But as we look at those who make the news, we have to look at the rest of society.
I was having a conversation with a good friend the other day, and she talked about how a friend of hers admits he doesn’t know a guy who hasn’t cheated. That’s kind of scary for all you straight girls or gay guys out there. However, society likes to pretend only guys cheat. That’s definitely not true. Women are just as guilty of cheating and probably just as often. From my experience with girls I’ve dated, girls my girlfriend dated in the past, and girls other girls/guys I know have dated, there is just as much cheating in the female lifestyle.
So what makes people cheat? I don’t claim to know the answer, but I have opinions. Part of it is a lack of respect for the person you are with and your relationship. If you must sleep or be with this other person, break your current relationship off. I am sure your significant other will appreciate the honesty. It also shows a lack of character. You are hurting the person you claim to love and you promised to be faithful to. That is such a lack of dishonesty on your part. I can go on forever, but I don’t want this to turn into a rant. I could really go on forever I feel so strongly about this subject. I’ll end here, however, and let you leave your own comment.
