Mane Highlights for 9-27-2013

Hear Me Roar!: As the week draws to an end, the U.S. and especially anyone with a government job stands on edge once again waiting to see if the government will be shut down by Monday.  Is it just me or does it seem like the past few years have been a constant roller coaster of threats of government shut-downs?  

As my son and I have begun a once a week "Mommy-and-me" Montessori education class, I have been doing a lot of research on Montessori education and the method used, and as a past educator I am very impressed!  My reflection this week celebrates the inspiring woman who started it all and offers a little bit more insight into the method for those who may not be familiar with it.  

The project this week also follows the Montessori method and style of teaching children through basic skills.  As my husband and I have begun to implement some of the valuable lessons we have learned through the program in our home, I have begun to make some of the useful tools such as the one shown this week.  Tools such as this are able to be made very inexpensively and are great learning tools for your child, who will gravitate toward them with more interest than many of their noisy and exciting toys that hold little more of their attention than sensory stimulation.  

        Reflection of the Week: Opening Doors through Education

My deep interest in "how" children learn and in seeking the best methods available to assist theirnatural abilities, led me to further explore Maria Montessori and her method of Montessori Education. Continue

For more reflections: http://lionofdesign.blogspot.com/p/about.html

Project of the Week: Montessori Inspired Dressing Frames

These double-sided Montessori Inspired Dressing Frames are designed to help young children learn basic skills to dress themselves.  These exercises in Zippering, Buttoning, Tying, Velcro-ing, Snapping, and so much more allow children to advance in personal independence. 

To learn how: http://lionofdesign.blogspot.com/2013/09/montessori-inspired-dressing-frames.html

To see more works: http://lionofdesign.blogspot.com/p/gallery.html

Chic of the Week: Eating During Labor

If you were one of those women who was starving during your long labor and given strict instructions that you could not eat anything of substance aside for some ice chips...well, all I have to say is "don't shoot the messenger!" Continue

For more on Motherhood: http://lionofdesign.blogspot.com/p/household-chic.html

I leave you with this until next week: Octoberfest Trivia

Length of time: Traditionally 16 days! (That's a lot of beer)

Location: Munich, Germany (Pope Benedict was also from Bavaria!)

Began in: 1810 (Good to be German)

End's each year: October 3 (German Unity Day)

Minimum alcohol volume: 6% by volume (less is not permitted - who are these people?)

Festival Opening: Mayor taps first keg at 12:00 (college pays off)

Traditional Bavarian hat: Tirolerhüte (more tufts of goat hair = wealthier you are)