Morning Pep Talk

Do you ever have to give yourself a pep talk?

Sometimes I do it before going into a job interview. (When I was jobless right after graduation, this happened a lot). I'd bump Lupe Fiasco's "The Show Goes On" basically the whole drive there, remind myself that I'm awesome and that a job's a job, and life is for joy, not jobs. Joy, not jobs.

I like Mindy Kaling's version of a pep talk...

"Sometimes you just have to put on lip gloss and pretend to be psyched."

Sometimes that's all you need to get through a day.


Remember this girl? She might be the most positive person on the planet, and I appreciate that. I could definitely take a cue from her. My favorite lines from her morning pep talk:

"I like my Allisons!"

How many Allisons do you have, kid?

"I can do anything good!!!!"

Yeah, girl. Get it girl.

"Look, I can be a sark!!!!!!!!!!"

You mean shark? Awesome. Me, too.

The Wish

Most of you know that I am a traveling art teacher. Yesterday we went to an elementary school in Clearfield. I called a first grade student by name because I saw his name card on his desk. The girl next to him exclaimed, "How did you know that?!" She was so impressed. I whispered back, "Because I'm magic..." There may have been some eyebrows and magic hands. The kid sitting next to me overheard this and immediately asked in a little sweet awe-struck voice, "Can I have a wish?"

He was so sincere. His eyes were big with wonder and anticipation at my answer. I couldn't let him down. I didn't have the heart. So I got down on his level as said, "We'll, it depends on what you wish for."

"I want to own a plane when I grow up."

He said his answer so sweetly and confidently that I knew he has probably wanted to be a pilot since he could flap his arms and run around like an airplane.

So I granted his wish. I had no choice.

I figured that by the time he's old enough for the wish to come true, he'll have the maturity to realize that wishes don't come true just by wishing them to a magic genie stranger.

And now I feel awesome.

If I could wish one wish, it would be for some pajameralls. They're the gift that keeps on giving.

Be A Party

Have you seen Kid President yet? What am I saying? Of course you have! Remember how I'm always the last one on the boat when anything cool happens? I don't know why I'm like that...but I've seen KP's videos get re-posted a kajillion times and never clicked on them until my co-worker sent me a link this weekend. 

He's basically just a kid in a suit who dances around and gives pep talks to adults, because adults are boring. He's awesome.

My favorite advice from him so far?

This may or may not be my new motto for the week. So happy Monday, you beautiful people! Go out there and be a party! 

PS: My two favorite videos to date.

Holiday Gift Guide: Kids Edition

one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine