Friday, November 30, 2018

Cranberry Orange Bread

Cranberry Orange Bread is both sweet and tart, bursting with fresh cranberries and the flavor of oranges. Topped with an orange glaze, this bread is as beautiful as it is delicious, and makes for a delightful holiday breakfast or snack!

Cranberry Orange Bread is both sweet and tart, bursting with fresh cranberries and the flavor of oranges.

This post is sponsored by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make My Baking Addiction possible.

With Thanksgiving come and gone, you’d think I would have started to feel less stressed, but no, I still feel the crazy pressure of the holiday season.

Still a thousand to-do lists to complete, still a ton of holiday parties to plan for and attend, still too many presents to buy and wrap.

I’m always glad that the holidays go hand-in-hand with baking because baking is the thing that grounds me no matter how scattered and stressed I feel.

(more…)

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Aoyuan Dawson Street near Brentwood Town Centre Skytrain

Aoyuan Dawson Street by Aoyuan International is a new vibrant community in Burnaby, South East of Willingdon Avenue and Dawson Street. The project includes signature residential towers, commercial and retail space over four phases on an 9.3 acre site. Aoyuan Dawson Street will include around 1,400 condominium units and 50 townhomes. This community has stellar location, just a 3 minute walk to the Brentwood Town Centre and Millennium Line Skytrain Station.

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11 Helpful Phrases for Disarming Conflict


It's inevitable. Sooner or later there will be conflict. People will have differences. Disagreements will erupt. Mistakes will be made. Stuff happens.

But we can sharpen our skills to be ready when unhealthy conflict begins to rise. And we can use our tools to keep dialogue open and productive. Disagreements don't have to turn destructive. 

A difference of opinion doesn't haven't to escalate into a damaged relationship. The phrases I share below have worked well for me, for the most part. Tone of voice and body language are critically important too.

It doesn't matter if the conflict is with a student, a colleague, or a parent, it's so important to listen carefully and let the other person know you are listening carefully. 

Listen carefully and practice empathy. Try to fully understand where the other person is coming from.

Here are 11 phrases that might be helpful...

1. "Let's work together to solve this."

All of the problem-solving to address an issue shouldn't come from one side or the other. It's not me vs. you. It's us vs. the problem.

2. "I may be wrong. I frequently am. Let's look at the facts."

Our natural tendency is to become defensive when someone challenges us. Take a tentative stance at the start. That shows you're open to listening.

3. "If I'm wrong I want to correct it and make it right. I may be in error."

If you start to defend your position right away you set yourself in opposition to the other side. When we set ourselves in opposition to another, it's their instinct to cling to their ideas and defend them whether there is truly any merit to them or not.

4. "Let me see if I got that."

Or "Let me see if I understand you correctly?" Listen actively. Acknowledge what the other person is saying. Instead of defending or explaining, start by paraphrasing. Repeat what they've said to ensure that you're getting the right meaning. Ask clarifying questions. It makes the other person feel heard. It shows you are listening.

5. "What's your biggest concern?"

Sometimes when people get upset they vent about all sorts of things that may be related and may not be related. This question helps focus on what the real issue is.

6. "How are you feeling about that?"

Again this question is acknowledging that there are strong feelings as a result of the situation. It's good to validate the feelings someone is having. It doesn't mean you agree with what needs to happen, but you are trying to understand how they feel. 

7. "What would you like to see happen? What would make you happy?"

Sometimes when I ask this question after I've listened carefully for a time, the person will say they don't really want anything to happen. They just wanted to express their frustration. And sometimes there are specific requests. This question get possible next steps out on the table. 

8. "Is it possible that we could...?"

Or "What if..." Help introduce new possibilities to the situation. In emotionally charged situations, people often get locked into seeing things from only one perspective. We're looking for a creative solution that is win/win.

9. "I'm willing to discuss this as long as needed until we're both satisfied how it's resolved."

I love to say this when I can tell things are really heated. It immediately says to the other person that I'm not going to be your opponent in this discussion. I'm not going to allow this to be an argument. It almost always diffuses the situation.

10. "Let me think about this some more. Let's try again later."

Sometimes, even when I've tried to maintain dialogue and approach the problem with as much diplomacy as possible, we still can't seem to either deescalate or find acceptable solutions. Then it's time to say let's both think about it some more and try again later.

11. "Do you feel like the situation's been handled fairly?"

It's very rewarding when a conversation that could be angry and awful ends up being successful. It actually builds a stronger relationship. Conflict can make us stronger. Sometimes I will even ask if the other person feels it's been handled fairly. If they can't say yes, then maybe we need to talk some more.

Don't allow yourself to become an opponent in the conversation. If people sense that you are defensive, they will set themselves in opposition to you. They will cling to their ideas and defend them no matter what. Even if there isn't merit to the concern, they will fight for their point of view. They won't care about what's right. They'll only care about being right. They'll defend the most ridiculous claims and blunders simply because they view you as an opponent.

And conversely, if you truly listen and avoid becoming an opponent, people are far more likely to admit errors of their own. If they are handled gently and respectfully, they will be more open to listening to your perspective too. But make sure they've had plenty of opportunities to be heard before you expect them to hear your point of view.

Do you have other ideas for disarming conflict? What's been your experience with handling conflict successfully? I'd like to hear from you. Leave a comment below or respond on Twitter or Facebook.

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Thursday, November 29, 2018

Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies

Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies are a fun holiday classic to make with friends and family. They’re always a hit at holiday cookie exchanges and are so easy to make with the KitchenAid® Sifter+Scale Attachment.

These Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies are the perfect cookie recipe for your holiday dessert tray! Simple and delicious.

This post is sponsored by KitchenAid®. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make My Baking Addiction possible.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: expecting me to leave my house during the holidays is just a big fat no.

At this point I’m going to need a whole team of Santa’s elves to help me finish my holiday shopping, not to mention the wrapping. Holiday cards will go out, but they might be Happy New Year cards, is what I’m saying.

(more…)

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Sometimes the “Work” is Really the “Learning”

I was blessed with the opportunity to work with a group in Yellowknife, NWT this past week and it is easily the furthest north I have ever been in the world. As a Canadian, I have experienced cold, but the participants were raving about the unseasonably warm weather in November as a beautiful and toasty -10 degrees Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) as compared to a typical -35 degrees Celsius.

BRRRR!

Although it was cold, the participants were warm and incredible. I loved the day being surrounded by a group that is eager to ask questions and learn, and this group was exceptional.  What I appreciated about the experience was that this was a group that by all accounts, are doing incredible things, but they are not resting upon that and still wanting to learn from others and each other.

One of the participants talked about her passion for students developing emotional intelligence and had an excellent idea for recreating a booth similar to “Speaker’s Corner” from City TV and MuchMusic fame (very Canadian) where you can just go up and share something on your mind to a video camera with the possibility of being shared on television. It is something that I fondly remember from my younger days, and I loved the idea and how she connected it to a project with social-emotional learning.

She then asked me, “How would you set it up?”

My response? “Why are you asking me? Ask your students.”

Sometimes, what we see as “the work” is sometimes “learning” we are taking away from our students.

Think of the process to set that up and how much incredible learning and resilience teachers show by going through many things for their students. But we sometimes take away incredible learning opportunities from our students through the process.

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes that, when applied, can change a lot for educators.

Image result for what are you doing for the students they can be doing for themselves aj juliani

Not everything we do in our classroom should be created by students. It is about identifying opportunities when the process would benefit our students as much as the product and taking advantage to share those opportunities with the learners we serve. This is the type of learning that will go way beyond classrooms walls.

Source: George Couros



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Sometimes the “Work” is Really the “Learning”

I was blessed with the opportunity to work with a group in Yellowknife, NWT this past week and it is easily the furthest north I have ever been in the world. As a Canadian, I have experienced cold, but the participants were raving about the unseasonably warm weather in November as a beautiful and toasty -10 degrees Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) as compared to a typical -35 degrees Celsius.

BRRRR!

Although it was cold, the participants were warm and incredible. I loved the day being surrounded by a group that is eager to ask questions and learn, and this group was exceptional.  What I appreciated about the experience was that this was a group that by all accounts, are doing incredible things, but they are not resting upon that and still wanting to learn from others and each other.

One of the participants talked about her passion for students developing emotional intelligence and had an excellent idea for recreating a booth similar to “Speaker’s Corner” from City TV and MuchMusic fame (very Canadian) where you can just go up and share something on your mind to a video camera with the possibility of being shared on television. It is something that I fondly remember from my younger days, and I loved the idea and how she connected it to a project with social-emotional learning.

She then asked me, “How would you set it up?”

My response? “Why are you asking me? Ask your students.”

Sometimes, what we see as “the work” is sometimes “learning” we are taking away from our students.

Think of the process to set that up and how much incredible learning and resilience teachers show by going through many things for their students. But we sometimes take away incredible learning opportunities from our students through the process.

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes that, when applied, can change a lot for educators.

Image result for what are you doing for the students they can be doing for themselves aj juliani

Not everything we do in our classroom should be created by students. It is about identifying opportunities when the process would benefit our students as much as the product and taking advantage to share those opportunities with the learners we serve. This is the type of learning that will go way beyond classrooms walls.



from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2Q3ggDr

Sometimes the “Work” is Really the “Learning”

I was blessed with the opportunity to work with a group in Yellowknife, NWT this past week and it is easily the furthest north I have ever been in the world. As a Canadian, I have experienced cold, but the participants were raving about the unseasonably warm weather in November as a beautiful and toasty -10 degrees Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) as compared to a typical -35 degrees Celsius.

BRRRR!

Although it was cold, the participants were warm and incredible. I loved the day being surrounded by a group that is eager to ask questions and learn, and this group was exceptional.  What I appreciated about the experience was that this was a group that by all accounts, are doing incredible things, but they are not resting upon that and still wanting to learn from others and each other.

One of the participants talked about her passion for students developing emotional intelligence and had an excellent idea for recreating a booth similar to “Speaker’s Corner” from City TV and MuchMusic fame (very Canadian) where you can just go up and share something on your mind to a video camera with the possibility of being shared on television. It is something that I fondly remember from my younger days, and I loved the idea and how she connected it to a project with social-emotional learning.

She then asked me, “How would you set it up?”

My response? “Why are you asking me? Ask your students.”

Sometimes, what we see as “the work” is sometimes “learning” we are taking away from our students.

Think of the process to set that up and how much incredible learning and resilience teachers show by going through many things for their students. But we sometimes take away incredible learning opportunities from our students through the process.

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes that, when applied, can change a lot for educators.

Image result for what are you doing for the students they can be doing for themselves aj juliani

Not everything we do in our classroom should be created by students. It is about identifying opportunities when the process would benefit our students as much as the product and taking advantage to share those opportunities with the learners we serve. This is the type of learning that will go way beyond classrooms walls.



from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2Q3ggDr

Terraces 3 in the heart of Langley

Terraces 3 by Brydon Projects Ltd. is a new luxury townhome development in the heart of the city of Langley. The 56 three-bedroom townhouses bring modern living to the family home, featuring personal roof top patios and 9’ ceilings. These homes come equipped with forced air heating, rough-ins for air conditioning, quartz countertops and stainless steel whirlpool appliances. Just steps away from schools, recreation, shopping, dining and entertainment, these homes are built with the family in mind. 

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PMP:134 Creating Engaging Cultures with Dr. Tim Elmore

How do engage students while also understanding the unique challenges and strengths of Generation Z students? Several years ago, I was introduced to Dr. Tim Elmore through his curriculum and online resources for leadership. He is known as an expert in researching generational trends and is the author of dozens of books on developing leadership. […]

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Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Norquay Nine

Norquay Nine by Bosworth Ventures is a new boutique townhouse development located at 2396 East 34th Avenue in East Vancouver. This project brings 9 exclusive townhouses to Norquay Village for the modern family, featuring large windows and modern finishes. All units include carefully considered floor plans, contemporary designs, spacious balconies and luxurious kitchens. Norquay Nine offers stellar location, just a short walking distance to shops, schools, services, transit, and community centers.

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BRILLIA

Brillia by Benest is a new condo development located at 2628 Duke Street in Vancouver. The 29 unit project features 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes, fully equipped with smart living features such as voice controlled Google Home throughout, Nest thermostats and smart LED lights. The units include refined finishes including various colour schemes and floor-to-ceiling windows, along with European-inspired modern kitchens. Brillia amenities include a landscaped rooftop featuring BBQ areas, a children’s playground, and communal space, a fitness studio, secured underground parking and storage, electric vehicle parking, and car share stalls. This project brings peace of mind and convenience through warranty coverage, 24-hour security, and wheelchair accessibility.

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Holiday Picture Books: I Want Them All!

I was looking for a picture book to buy for my little nephew Elliott's first birthday, and I gravitated towards the holiday picture books, naturally. I love to read holiday picture books; there's something about them that brings back memories of past Christmas anticipation and looking at our Christmas tree all lit up and sparking at night. I did pick out one book for Elliott, but I also spent some time reading a few others.  


This is a classic, and the message is wonderful. A too-tall Christmas tree is trimmed, and each succeeding new tree is trimmed, all the way down to the smallest recipient.



  
Why won't the fox eat this tasty gingerbread boy?  Why is he such a tough cookie?  Funny illustrations, and a sweet surprise.



Jan Brett's illustrations never cease to amaze me. You can't help but linger over each page. Who is the mysterious Santa who is leaving presents for the animals? Can you guess?

Elliott got The Animal's Santa for his birthday gift. He's a budding book lover, and I hope this picture book becomes a favorite one for him every Christmas. 

Elliott enjoying his birthday cake




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Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Chewy Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chewy Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect chewy chocolate chip cookie. They’re studded with chocolate chips and mint chips for the best mint and chocolate flavor.

Chewy Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect chewy chocolate chip cookie. They're studded with chocolate chips and mint chips for the best mint and chocolate flavor.

This post is sponsored by Karo® Corn Syrup. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make My Baking Addiction possible.

I know it’s only November, but I’m in complete holiday mode right now.

So much so that I’ve already got my gift shopping list almost complete and there are already a few gifts hidden in my closet.

This truly is the most wonderful time of year and I plan on enjoying every single minute of it.

(more…)

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When Kids Lead

I remember I was about to speak at a conference and before things started, the crowd of educators was loud as they were connecting and having conversations with each other.  Educators don’t get the chance to talk to each other on a personal or professional level as much as I am sure many would appreciate so starting an event can be tough.  But then I saw a student who was maybe in Grade 2 stand up to the mic and welcome everyone. Within about one second, there was silence and the student commanded attention in a way that I have never seen any adult receive so quickly. After that, I have always advocated for students to speak and especially start our professional learning days.  This reminds us of why we do what we do and a great way to show the results educators have on our students.

I was reminded of this story for two reasons. The first was this awesome video from not Joe Sanfelippo. Joe is a good friend of mine, and I know he was sick this week, so he had his incredible daughter Alena give the weekly leadership message, and she is unbelievable in the message and delivery.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

I then saw this 4-year-old, Caleb Stewart, talk about the importance and benefits of reading (thanks Nicole Dahlke for the share!) and again, the message and the delivery are powerful:

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

These were great reminders of the importance of giving our students the opportunity to lead.

As Alena stated, “The more students own it the better they’ll like it.” I couldn’t agree more.

Source: George Couros



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The Thurlow in Downtown Vancouver

The Thurlow by Intracorp is a new project bringing natural luxury and sophistication to the West End of Downtown Vancouver. This 32 storey tower features 96 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units, with plenty of indoor and outdoor amenity space. Homes will have stellar views of English Bay, Stanley Park, Downtown Skyline and the North Shore mountains. The Thurlow is just steps from the water, seawall, high-end fashion district, cultural centres and the Vancouver business district.

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Elevate at Sunstone

Elevate at Sunstone by is a new project in the village of Pemberton, just 20 minutes North of Whistler Blackcomb ski resort. Elevate will feature modern and open-concept townhomes,  integrating into the natural setting, including green space, community gardens, bike paths and nature trails. The 52 homes, ranging from 2 to 3 bedrooms brings West Coast contemporary design to outdoor living, with expansive decks with unobstructed views of Mount Currie.

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When Kids Lead

I remember I was about to speak at a conference and before things started, the crowd of educators was loud as they were connecting and having conversations with each other.  Educators don’t get the chance to talk to each other on a personal or professional level as much as I am sure many would appreciate so starting an event can be tough.  But then I saw a student who was maybe in Grade 2 stand up to the mic and welcome everyone. Within about one second, there was silence and the student commanded attention in a way that I have never seen any adult receive so quickly. After that, I have always advocated for students to speak and especially start our professional learning days.  This reminds us of why we do what we do and a great way to show the results educators have on our students.

I was reminded of this story for two reasons. The first was this awesome video from not Joe Sanfelippo. Joe is a good friend of mine, and I know he was sick this week, so he had his incredible daughter Alena give the weekly leadership message, and she is unbelievable in the message and delivery.

I then saw this 4-year-old, Caleb Stewart, talk about the importance and benefits of reading (thanks Nicole Dahlke for the share!) and again, the message and the delivery are powerful:

These were great reminders of the importance of giving our students the opportunity to lead.

As Alena stated, “The more students own it the better they’ll like it.” I couldn’t agree more.



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Monday, November 26, 2018

Three ways to celebrate your staff in December at three different price points, plus a free download!

I love the holiday season. I love shopping for the perfect gift, at the perfect price, for the perfect “OH!” when they open it. I love celebrating my big Wolves and my small Wolves. I’ve done big things for my staff and some smaller type of things. Things that are all drawn out, and things that take just a few minutes, […]

The post Three ways to celebrate your staff in December at three different price points, plus a free download! appeared first on Technically Yours Teamann.



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Go-To Dough

Go-To Dough is a simple yeast dough recipe. It makes perfect cinnamon rolls and the perfect dinner rolls. It’s a double-duty dough you can make in no time. Split it in half to make a batch of each!

Go-To Dough is a simple yeast dough recipe. One dough makes a batch of cinnamon rolls and a batch of dinner roll.

This post is sponsored by Fleischmann’s® Yeast as part of the Bake It Yourself Blogger Program. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make My Baking Addiction possible.

Since having Elle, I’ve become even more sentimental about the holiday season. As she gets older, I find myself trying to make every aspect of the season as magical as I can.

Whether it’s a train ride that pulls into a glistening North Pole Village filled with caroling elves, or dressing up a certain elf that likes to sit on a shelf in adorable costumes, I am that mom. The one that tries to fill the season with as many magical memories as possible.

(more…)

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