ISTE 2013=Mind Blown

I have been to conferences. Lots of conferences.

THIS conference is unlike any I have ever attended.

Seriously. My mind is whirling out of control.

Take a look at these Tier 1 sponsors:

Microsoft

Samsung

Pearson

Smart

Big stuff, people. Really big stuff.

Today's keynote was brought by Jane McGonigal who, in 2010 was one of Oprah Winfrey's Most Inspiring Women in the World, and in 2010 Game Developer Magazine called her One of the 50 Most Important Game Developers. So, what I'm saying is that she's stinking awesome. 

ISTE is the International Society for Technology in Education and do so much for educators by assisting them in integrating technology into their classrooms and teaching.  They do way more than that, but that's a good starting place. 

I'm quite the tech geek.  If it has a keyboard and/or a screen, I want to touch it.  

If it involves a cloud, I want to sync.

If it involves a hack, I want to learn it.  

So, I am in heaven right about now.  

When I am not DIYing or crafting my little heart out, I have a day job. My day job involves assisting Pre-K teachers with behavior issues in their classrooms. Coming up with strategies and individualizations for children.

Another hat that I wear in my day job is training staff and teachers on the use of technology and how to get the most out of the devices that they use every day. 

But, this conference is beyond anything that I anticipated.

If you follow me on Twitter (@amyleigh1204), you may want to check out #iste2013 to learn more from many conference attendees.  

#ISTE2013 was the top trending topic on Twitter on Sunday. Yeah, it's pretty popular. With 20,000 attendees from all 50 states and 70 countries, it's the place to be for any tech geeks.

Alas, do not worry your pretty heads.  I will be posting more DIY and crafty goodness next week....and, probably more tech-ness. (That may become a regular thing around here, we will see.)

Hugs and squeezes from San Antonio, ya'll!

20 Minute Crafting with Washi

Hi! I'm Amy!

This is the post that ran on Wednesday at Simply Dream & Create. Enjoy!

Hi, Simple Dream & Create Readers! I am Amy and I'm really excited to be guest posting here for Stephanie.  I "met" her when I shamelessly emailed her and asked for blogging tips a couple of months ago. Then she was gracious enough to participate in a blog series that ran over at my blog, Trip Worth Taking.  She shared her favorite crafting tool and cleared up a little confusion for me in the process! 

I love to craft and sometimes you just need a quick crafting fix, you know? At least, I do.  

Maybe I'm the only one with the problem.  If you're not in the same boat then just talk amongst yourselves for a minute while I share with all the craft addicts.

My kids think I'm crazy sometimes because a thought will jump into my head and I have to act on it.  Sometimes those little crafting explosions work out and sometimes they don't, but I give it a try anyway. 

I have recently fallen in love with Washi Tape. Yes, I know, I'm late to the party. (Hey, but I DID show up!) And, want to put it on everything. I have been able to restrain myself mostly, but I did decide that Washi would be the perfect answer for a little problem.

Poor worn out phone cable

Poor worn out phone cable

Isn't it sad.  I know it happens to us all.  

We use and abuse our phone cable and expect them to last forever.

I was going to just put some tape around the top and then I had a brain surge. Washi!

Before I could Washi my little heart happy, I had to get the outer rubber casing pulled down to the ends evenly.  To do that I simply held on to one end and ran my fingers down the cord.  It easily pulled back into place.

Then I set to work. No real technique involved here.  I started at one end with the cord running down the length of the strip of tape:

Washi Taped Phone cord

I just closed the tape around the cable. Easy Peasy.  

At the ends where the cord meets the USB and phone connections, I wrapped around the cord.

Washi wrapped phone cable

I did this all the way up to the connector.

Now my cord should last a while longer....and, it's pretty.

Washi Taped Phone Cable

Here's an itsy bitsy hint:

If you find that your tape is coming loose, use a little clear nail polish to stick it down. Booyah!

I bet you're going to Washi something right now, aren't ya?

Automate Your Life!

Do you know IFTTT (IF This Then That)? If you don't then you totally should get to know it.  

I am a firm believer in working smarter, not harder, and IFTTT helps you do just that. 

IFTTT can help you automate many aspects of your life.  

Automate blog posts to Twitter and your Facebook Fan Page. 

Automate your Instagram photos to Evernote, Facebook, or email.

Set your lights to come on at home when the sunsets or if your favorite team wins their big game.

Want to save a link to a favorite Youtube video to Dropbox? Automate it.