California Science Education Conference - San Jose 2012

Phew. We just finished an amazing two day experience at the CSTA meeting in San Jose! So many friendly and enthusiastic science teachers. I found such great comfort in knowing that even during troubling financial times with so much controversy in education, great teachers remain great teachers. Not only did A LOT of them love our geeky stuff, they engaged in meaningful conversations about their classrooms and their student's achievement. It was exhausting and yet I'm once again rejuvenated both as a maker of nerdy stuff AND as a teacher! Thank you California Science Teacher's Association! (Stay tuned for pics!)

Father's Day is coming!

Guess what we are working on at Shopgibberish? You guessed it! Father's Day Cards! Our cards are offered either by themselves or with tie tacs, or cufflinks, to make sure your Dad is completely geeked out!

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Maker Faire!!!

So how do we describe our excitement and enthusiasm for this coming weekend? Two days of creativity, innovation and diy on steroids? We've never attended, but have heard about it for years and our anticipation is almost at critical mass. 

We just got invited to a happy hour and dinner on Friday night, along with all of the other exhibitors which will be hosted by Gareth Brawyn, Editorial Director of Make Magazine!

I'm trying to remain calm, and get as much geeky stuff made as possible. My Mom has even been roped into helping me sew pillows. San Mateo, here we come!

Here's to a Geeky Mother's Day!

Marie Curie had the distinction of being one of only two people awarded a Nobel Prize in different fields and in 1935, the first mother to see her daughter win the Nobel Prize.

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Should Have Known Better

I , and my students, were working on an acid/base lab when I went on a "clean all the glassware" spree. Unfortunately I had a flask under my hood that I grabbed in a very "hurricane-ish" way and this is the result. The chemical was silver nitrate and it permanently stains your hands, and remains there until the cells replensish themselves. It was a short 3 weeks ago and only my super dark pinkie remains stained. The moral of the story? Don't save the silver nitrate in solution in your hood!

All in the Golden Afternoon

Last weekend we went to the Descanso Gardens in La Cañada and it was the perfect activity to celebrate the beautiful Spring weather that seems to be here to stay (or at least the next two-three seasons). We have been so tired of the rainy, cold weather and though it does seem silly to complain when the rest of the country is dealing with snow and such, but come on! It's California! Spring is supposed to start in February (sorry, Corinne). Now that it's finally here, we plan on taking full advantage of the beautiful weather with many fun excursions to new and exciting locations!

We both have strong memories of flowers and nature from our childhoods...For Julie, it's of the irises her grandmother would fill her home with every Spring.

For Jenavieve, it's of the fluffy, perfectly green grass and the lilacs, irises, and daffodils that used to grow at our home in Iowa. So, going to the Descanso Gardens was heaven!