CELTA Review at IH in Chiang Mai Thailand

I did the CELTA at IH Chiang Mai this past(2015) January.  I really enjoyed it and got a lot out of the classes and evaluations.   I do have a couple items that I would like to mention for people looking to take the course there.

• The grounds and housing are separated away from the city.  You are a bit secluded.  I found this great for being able to study and focus.
• You will get informational packets the first Sunday.  READ THOSE MATERIALS.  THis will help you with getting information for the coming weeks.
• Talk to the students before and between classes.  Even if you want to throw up before a teaching lesson day.  The investment is worth it in terms of student interaction and for assignments.
  The students are fantastic!  Moreover they WANT you to succeed.  The intermediate students have been coming for a while and pretty much know the CELTA teaching way so they will get up and move around and follow your instructions without any gripe or unwillingness.
• The instructors that I had were very good at teaching the classes.  If you have learned something in a class(a proctoring technique, a drilling prompt, whatever) you  are expected to use that technique!
  Not everyone who pays and takes the course passes.  We had a few people drop out and not return, a person drop the proctored portion but still take the course(just no certificate at the end) and a person was asked to leave halfway through as he was not going to pass the course.  
• If you need to fix one of your papers-Find the evaluator who graded the paper and FIND OUT WHAT HE WANTS TO SEE.  This will help you with corrections.  Do this as soon as you get your paper back.  
• The food at the center is AMAZING!  The chef is wonderful and really the food is a good variety of Thai and western food.  
• I can only speak for IH Chiang Mai - Copy Machine - you only get 400 copies with your copy code.  You will go over and then have to pay per sheet used.  *Pat the Bunny tip* The people who have dropped the course(there will always be a couple) still have their copies allotment and copy code in their file.  Get that code and you can use those pages.  I had to pay just 10 baht while others had to pay several hundred baht. 
• Remember that they are teaching their CELTA technique.  You may not agree with everything they instruct.  It is best to file away the disagreements in your head and not try to push issues with instructors.  If they say 'don't drill from the board' well...don't do that.  

I would recommend prep-wise the books:  LEARNING TEACHING Jim Scrivener (Macmillan), PRACTICAL ENGLISH USAGE, Michael Swan (OUP), SOUND FOUNDATIONS, Adrian Underhill, (Macmillan) they have copies at the school as well.


I got a lot out of the course, especially the proctored teaching.  I had previously finished the TeacherReady course and had my license.  The whole first week I was wondering why I had chosen this stressful course and not a month in Bali.  I am now a teacher at an international school teaching Literature and Writing to middle schoolers.  I'm happy with my time in Korea, but much happier now. 

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I have not received any additional boxes, nor have I gotten any real communication from this company.  I would not recommend this box at this time. 

Ellada Lane is a new subscription box about all things Greek!  I am so excited about this box as I have been a lover Greece for as long as I remember and have been fortunate to spend two summers working and traveling in Greece.

#elladalane

Well it took a little while for this subscription box to arrive but let me tell you that it is well  worth it! I am overseas at the moment and different countries have different customs regulations.  As it turns out Ukraine requires you to pay the customs fee at a bank before the package will leave the entry city.  Guess the customs people over here do not trust that the fee will be paid upon delivery or even mailed to a local location.  Well after figuring that out I was already back in the US...  So when I finally got this box and it had obviously been opened and rifled through and all of the customs paperwork and invoices were removed...  I am assuming that this is not an issue for the boxes arriving in the US.  I get things shipped to the US from overseas a lot and I have never had an issue.  Oh, the joys of living in Eastern Europe...

Hopping Through Life

moving on


Upon opening the box though, I was so happy that everything had arrived intact and undamaged.  As this is the inaugural box the company decided to ship the parcel in a decorative wooden trunk!  It is something new and fantastic that I have not seen in another box.  It is the style of decorative item that you may find at a World Market or Kirklands type shop.  It is very thin wood but perfect as a display piece.  It is currently holding my old seasonal decorations for my home.  It's about 15"x9"x6" in size.

There is a full sized magazine that let me discover more about the locations and details of each of the items.  The magazine also lists fun short articles and secrets about the islands as well as local recipes to try out.  This is the most comprehensive informational I have ever received from a subscription box.  Yes there were some grammatical mistakes, but I am a writing & literature teacher so I immediately hone in on errors, however they are not distracting and most people will never notice them.  I enjoyed reading through this magazine as I uncovered each item.

My first finds were two items from the company Fish & Olive from the island of Naxos.  I have not visited that island so it was fun to see artisans that I have not yet come across.  I received a lovely mortar & pestle set and a citrus reamer.  Both items are carved out of olive wood and are both useful as well as being beautiful for display.  The magazine discusses the items as well as how to care for the wood pieces so that I can make sure to keep these beautiful for a lifetime.

Ellada Lane Krinaki Jewelry

The next packages I received were this beautiful Krinaki bracelet and soft aqua blue silk scarf.  The bracelet is gold over sterling silver and delicate while having nice structure.  I would show it on, but am still puffy from international travel.  I think this will be a summer staple when going out.  The silk scarf is delicate and just simply beautiful.  The type of scarf you take for a wedding wrap or evening outing knowing you will be constantly complimented.  Honestly it is the type of scarf I am drawn to but rarely ever pull the trigger on after seeing the price tag.


In the package I also received a lovely gold swirled bookmark with designs.  I am not sure exactly where it comes from, but I will enjoy it as I love to read actual paper books as well as on my Kindle.

The next set of items came from Atlantis Books.  If you are a traveler you know how difficult it is to find a good English section in a foreign country that is not only the same three popular authors...  Well this bookstore is something special and a must visit for anyone on Santorini.  This tiny bookstore has a wide selection of foreign and rare books in English as well as about a dozen other languages.  It is amazing how much can be crammed into that little store.  There is also a lovely balcony overlooking the caldera that you can read and relax to your hearts content.  The bookstore doesn't carry multiple copies of books and I seriously doubted a subscription box would toss in a 1st edition of Alice in Wonderland so I was curious what would be enclosed.  The box included a couple postcards and a hand drawn map of the island.  Perfect for both memories and ideas.

The last item I pulled from the Ellada Lane box was this heavy lavender honey box.  I mean I got a wooden box with a large jar of The Family Beez organic wildflower honey!  The wooden box is a miniature  example of the honeybee boxes that farmers use to cultivate the honeycombs.  I saw pickup trucks transporting full sized boxes when I was in Crete this fall.  I will probably reuse this cute box for office supply storage.  I love being able to store things in things so I am basically in heaven with this 1st box.
The honey is over a pound of sweet wildflower honey.  The company sells two types of honey and the other is Thyme honey.  I am glad I got this type as I have a good amount of thyme honey from my recent fall travels.

Overall I am very happy with this box.  Each item is unique and useful.  This is not simply a box of souvenirs and trinkets mass produced for the tourists and export.  I hope that the high standards remain for future boxes!  This is the priciest subscription box I have ever purchased, at around $160 bi-monthly, but I love getting lovely home decor and I wanted to treat myself.  Plus they ship Everywhere!

to find out more about this subscription box visit www.elladalane.com or on their facebook page


I have had several interactions with Stavros the 'voice' behind Ellada Lane.  He has been courteous and usually prompt with my answers.  Ellada Lane ships around the world and I did not have to pay any additional fee for shipping to Ukraine.

Ellada Lane

Visit Ellada Lane and find out more!

Peridot & Freshwater Pearl Necklace Review

*I received this at a discount in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links.* 

This necklace is Gorgeous! I really think that I have found my staple necklace for spring and summer. That is if spring ever gets here... I love the variety of natural freshwater pearl intermixed with the peridot.  I think it looks fresh and fun and can be used with dresses, work, or simply with a clean white scoopneck top and tan.  

 I like the length of this necklace as it lends a wide variety of shirt collar styles. I also like that the necklace is a bit adjustable and I do not have it sitting too low into my cleavage. Overall I am very happy with this necklace. I do think that I will need to wear my hair up when wearing this necklace because my long hair tends to get caught up in most necklaces and I would think this might get even more so. I received this at a discount in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I am also excited that it arrived with a certificate stating that it has been made under the Fair Trade guidelines.  

• An original NOVICA fair trade product in association with National Geographic.
• Includes an official NOVICA Story Card certifying quality & authenticity.
• NOVICA works with Nareerat (Thailand) to craft this item.
• Includes an original NOVICA jewelry pouch to keep for yourself or give as a gift.
• A keepsake treasure designed to be loved for years to come

Go Sport-it Fitness Pilates Ring /w Workout Guide Review

*I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.  This post contains affiliate links.*

I used to take pilates group classes at a studio.  We would use these Pilates rings in a lot of our exercises.  I have a real love/hate relationship with this piece of equipment.  I now do workouts at home online.  I love how this ring can get muscle groups really focused and a great workout.You can really add to a Pilates floor routine with this ring.

 I like that this ring comes with an exercise guide to remind me of different moves that I can do with this ring. I tries out the exercises on the workout guide and I can always feel them the next day.   I also like that the ring is not too soft and not a hard inflexible ring like some can be.  This pilates ring is well made and durable.  The cushions on the inside and outside of the ring allow for a holding place for your legs or hands.


I recommend this pilates ring to beginners and advanced users alike.

• Proven Results - Boost Health & Energy, Tone Muscles, Increase Flexibility, Improve Posture, Shed Calories, Gain Stamina, Burn Fat -- Sport-it Fitness Pilates Bar and Workout Guide --
• Full Body Conditioning - Easy to Use Athletic Gear for any Exercise Routine Targeting both the Upper and Lower body. Effective Shaping and Strengthening for Arms (Biceps + Triceps), Shoulders, Chest, Core, Back, Inner and Outer Thighs (Abductors), Hips and Butt for Women + Men.
• Environmentally Friendly - Manufactured using Ecological Materials and Processes. Designed for Comfort and Built to last with Sturdy Foam-padded handles, a Durable Rubber Seal & Strong yet Flexible 14 Inch Ring to keep Shape and Safety intact.
• On the Go - Take your Portable Training Tool with you, where you ever you go! It's Lightweight, Slimming Design and Flat Profile make it the perfect Travel Accessory. Bring it to the Gym, the Park, the Studio, or store it Home!
• Order NOW - Includes Bonus Pilates Ring Workout Guide ( Sent to your email ) + 1 Year Warranty + Sport-it Guarantee --- %100 Satisfaction or Your Money Back! -

Thank you for reading and have a great day!

Oasis Portable Humidifier for Home Review

*I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.  This post contains affiliate links.*

I have been looking for a small humidifier for a while.  where I live now is quite a bit dryer than I am used to and I firmly believe that dried out skin is just so dull and aging.  I was happy to quickly receive this portable humidifier.  What you get is a base, charging cord, and two linkers for your regular water bottle.  The instructions are pretty easy to follow and really you just simply put together the bottle, connector, and base.  There is a nice rubber seal so that the water does not leak.  I have tilted the bottle a couple time and have not seen any issues.  The humidifier does say that you need to use distilled water.  This is very easy to find cheap gallon jugs of for the humidifier.  You are supposed to use distilled water for your iron so you can use the gallon for both.


I do like how quiet this humidifier is.  You get a soft gentle micromist that emits from the base.  There is aso a soft blue glow that shows your humidifier is on and an on//off button.  I do think that this is too small an output for a room.  This portible humidifier is meant to be used on a desktop at work/office or else next to your bedside table.  Theoutput is a soft cool mist that is not overpowering but gives a lovely cooling effect on your skin.

Well thank you for reading and have a great day

Mandy

• Suffering from dry, dull skin in the winter? The Air-N-Mist mini travel humidifier creates a PORTABLE OASIS of NATURAL HYDRATION that is guaranteed to replenish aging, dry skin and leave your skin looking HEALTHY, VIBRANT with a YOUTHFUL GLOW!
• INDUSTRY LEADING LIGHT-WEIGHT COMPACT DESIGN provides an all-natural anti-aging environment that deeply nourishes your skin. If you are looking to hydrate "on-the-go" then this small and versatile humidifier will leave your skin hydrated and radiant
• This convenient and quiet air humidifier also ALLEVIATES COLD, FLU and ALLERGY SYMPTOMS and IMPROVES SLEEP in the home, bedroom, hotel room, office cubicle, flight, buses or on trains. Easily fits into pockets, backpacks, purses, and luggage while the whisper-silent operation will never disturb you
• Hassle-free and simple to use tank-less design. Simply screw onto a standard sized plastic water bottle such as Dasani, Aquafina, Smartwater, Fiji or Evian, plug into a USB power and never worry about leaving your AC adapter behind.
• Satisfaction guarantee. Includes travel pouch and 2 FREE bottleneck adapters for Global use.
• 
  

Ellada Lane Subscription Box Review. Volume 1 Dreaming of Santorini and the Cyclades

Ellada Lane is a new subscription box about all things Greek!  I am so excited about this box as I have been a lover Greece for as long as I remember and have been fortunate to spend two summers working and traveling in Greece.

#elladalane

Well it took a little while for this subscription box to arrive but let me tell you that it is well  worth it! I am overseas at the moment and different countries have different customs regulations.  As it turns out Ukraine requires you to pay the customs fee at a bank before the package will leave the entry city.  Guess the customs people over here do not trust that the fee will be paid upon delivery or even mailed to a local location.  Well after figuring that out I was already back in the US...  So when I finally got this box and it had obviously been opened and rifled through and all of the customs paperwork and invoices were removed...  I am assuming that this is not an issue for the boxes arriving in the US.  I get things shipped to the US from overseas a lot and I have never had an issue.  Oh, the joys of living in Eastern Europe...

Hopping Through Life

moving on


Upon opening the box though, I was so happy that everything had arrived intact and undamaged.  As this is the inaugural box the company decided to ship the parcel in a decorative wooden trunk!  It is something new and fantastic that I have not seen in another box.  It is the style of decorative item that you may find at a World Market or Kirklands type shop.  It is very thin wood but perfect as a display piece.  It is currently holding my old seasonal decorations for my home.  It's about 15"x9"x6" in size.

There is a full sized magazine that let me discover more about the locations and details of each of the items.  The magazine also lists fun short articles and secrets about the islands as well as local recipes to try out.  This is the most comprehensive informational I have ever received from a subscription box.  Yes there were some grammatical mistakes, but I am a writing & literature teacher so I immediately hone in on errors, however they are not distracting and most people will never notice them.  I enjoyed reading through this magazine as I uncovered each item.

My first finds were two items from the company Fish & Olive from the island of Naxos.  I have not visited that island so it was fun to see artisans that I have not yet come across.  I received a lovely mortar & pestle set and a citrus reamer.  Both items are carved out of olive wood and are both useful as well as being beautiful for display.  The magazine discusses the items as well as how to care for the wood pieces so that I can make sure to keep these beautiful for a lifetime.

Ellada Lane Krinaki Jewelry

The next packages I received were this beautiful Krinaki bracelet and soft aqua blue silk scarf.  The bracelet is gold over sterling silver and delicate while having nice structure.  I would show it on, but am still puffy from international travel.  I think this will be a summer staple when going out.  The silk scarf is delicate and just simply beautiful.  The type of scarf you take for a wedding wrap or evening outing knowing you will be constantly complimented.  Honestly it is the type of scarf I am drawn to but rarely ever pull the trigger on after seeing the price tag.


In the package I also received a lovely gold swirled bookmark with designs.  I am not sure exactly where it comes from, but I will enjoy it as I love to read actual paper books as well as on my Kindle.

The next set of items came from Atlantis Books.  If you are a traveler you know how difficult it is to find a good English section in a foreign country that is not only the same three popular authors...  Well this bookstore is something special and a must visit for anyone on Santorini.  This tiny bookstore has a wide selection of foreign and rare books in English as well as about a dozen other languages.  It is amazing how much can be crammed into that little store.  There is also a lovely balcony overlooking the caldera that you can read and relax to your hearts content.  The bookstore doesn't carry multiple copies of books and I seriously doubted a subscription box would toss in a 1st edition of Alice in Wonderland so I was curious what would be enclosed.  The box included a couple postcards and a hand drawn map of the island.  Perfect for both memories and ideas.

The last item I pulled from the Ellada Lane box was this heavy lavender honey box.  I mean I got a wooden box with a large jar of The Family Beez organic wildflower honey!  The wooden box is a miniature  example of the honeybee boxes that farmers use to cultivate the honeycombs.  I saw pickup trucks transporting full sized boxes when I was in Crete this fall.  I will probably reuse this cute box for office supply storage.  I love being able to store things in things so I am basically in heaven with this 1st box.
The honey is over a pound of sweet wildflower honey.  The company sells two types of honey and the other is Thyme honey.  I am glad I got this type as I have a good amount of thyme honey from my recent fall travels.

Overall I am very happy with this box.  Each item is unique and useful.  This is not simply a box of souvenirs and trinkets mass produced for the tourists and export.  I hope that the high standards remain for future boxes!  This is the priciest subscription box I have ever purchased, at around $160 bi-monthly, but I love getting lovely home decor and I wanted to treat myself.  Plus they ship Everywhere!

to find out more about this subscription box visit www.elladalane.com or on their facebook page


I have had several interactions with Stavros the 'voice' behind Ellada Lane.  He has been courteous and usually prompt with my answers.  Ellada Lane ships around the world and I did not have to pay any additional fee for shipping to Ukraine.

Ellada Lane

Visit Ellada Lane and find out more!

BzzAgent Winter Roundup

I am on a BzzAgent review roll this winter!  BzzAgent is a product review site that allows brands to get the word of mouth bzz spread throughout social media and organically at home.  I have been a member for about two years and have been very happy being able to try out new offerings and treats.
I usually have one or two BzzAgent activities going on, but I have been getting quite a few products to try and share with my fellow friends and family.   I am just going to go down the list.  There is no cost to joining Bzzagent.com and of course I always let my readers and social media know that I #GotitFree

 Nestlé® Pure Life® Splash

My first product is the Nestle Pure Life Splash water.  Now, I know that these have been around for a while but, to be honest, I had forgotten about them.  They have updated some of their flavors and now have a great strawberry melon and Acai Grape flavors along with Lemon, Berry, and Mandarin Orange.  The greatest thing to me is the flavor and that it is clear so you do not have to worry about staining your teeth like some water add-ins.  I think it is even more hard for me to drink enough fluids in the cold months so I love that I can remember to drink this tasty water on the go!  These are great to keep on hand at work, in the car, and at home.  They are not super sweet and are Zero calories.

The next item that I have been fortunate to try out was the hemisFares Gelato from Kroger and have been happy with the flavor but not blown away.  I thought the packaging was nice and in line with the other packaged Gelatos out now in the frozen section.   I tried the Nocciola con Praline(Hazelnut) flavor and was happy, but not blown away.  I thought the flavor was creamy and good but the texture was not quite what I was expecting.  The gelato was definitely whipped up and had the airy texture but seemed a little bit crystallized.  I thought the sweetness was correct and not cloying.  I am not sure if I will purchase this again.  I may try the lemon flavor as the flavor may better match the texture that I noticed.

Did you know that Silk made Nog!?!  I am so happy that I got to try this out.  The texture is creamy and rich without killing you on the calories.  A perfect drink to have on hand throughout the holiday season.