Adult Reading Logs!

I LOVE to read!  The truth is that I don't have a TON of time to do it!  When I was a little girl, I had a small nook in my parent's garage where I set up a makeshift library.  I put all of the books that I could get my hands on on the shelves in my little nook.  I created a handwritten list of all of the books in alphabetical order.  Whenever I would remove a book from my library, I would "check it out" to myself.  Once I was done reading it, I'd return it back to the library.  I kept track of all of these transactions on notepaper attached to a clip board.  I remember that I would stay in that little nook for hours just reading and escaping into the worlds that the books created!  

Now that I'm older and spend my "extra time" (what even is extra time???) researching, working, going to the gym (sometimes....don't judge) and attending my son's extra curricular activities, I just don't have the time to leisure read as much as I would like.  I love the idea of audio books but there is just something about physically holding a book in my hands that is therapeutic.  

I recently stumbled across a blog written by my new #edtech friend, Mari Venturino and have become reenergized to get back to my passion of reading.  Check her blog out HERE. At the beginning of the new year, I set out to read at least one book a month for a total of 12 books for the year.  I was proud of this goal, UNTIL I ready Mari's blog!  Last year she read over 50 books!!!!  Now this was a combination of audio, physical and ebooks but the point is that she made time for what she enjoys doing....reading!

So, here it is, March of 2018 and I am almost done with my first book!  Again, no judgement....I've been busy people!  Mari posted an AWESOME reading log in Google Sheets (Click HERE to get it) that she shares on her blog.  It's the COOLEST thing ever!!  It automatically creates a cute little pie chart and organizes all of your data like what genres of books you read, how many pages you've read, etc!  It's too cute!  Because I love accountability and making lists....annnnd checking boxes, this is right up my alley!  

Check out Mari's blog and her reading list.  And be sure to make a copy of her reading log!  Join me on this reading journey!  If you come across something awesome, recommend it!  I have a looooong TBR (to be read) list but I'm always looking for a good read!

Keep on Keeping On!

Google Keep is one of my FAVORITE Google Apps in the world!  Although it's my favorite, I feel like it's one of the most under used tools located in the G Suite. Like other Google Apps, I love that I can access my Keep Notes on my laptop, desktop and my phone.  I can begin a Note on my laptop and see all of the updates in real time on my phone, etc.  It's a no brainer!  I use it for EVERYTHING!!!

• Grocery lists
• Blog post ideas
• Goals
• Things to check out
• To do lists
• Recipes I want to cook
• A list of my go to vitamins
• Appointments I need to make
• Accomplishments

You can access Keep by going to keep.google.com.  Once you're there, you will have to log in to your Google account.  You will then have the ability to "Take a note."

Below is a quick view and description of the anatomy of a Keep Note:

1. Give your Note a title.
2. Start typing your Note.
3. Pin your Note to the top of your Keep app list.
4. Set a reminder. You can literally set a reminder that will send an alert to your phone when you pass your local grocery store on the way home from work to pick up a gallon of milk.  GENIUS!
5. Add collaborators to your Note.  Great if you have other people that need to work on a share list/note.
6. Change the color of the background of your Note.  Maybe you want to make all of your to do lists green, or all of your grocery lists blue, etc.
7. Add a picture to your Note.
8. Archive your Note.  This will remove it from your main Keep dashboard but you will still be able to access it through the Archived tab.
9. Add a label to your Note-Great way to organize. Add a drawing to your Note.  Add checkboxes to your Note-Awesome for checking off your accomplishments!
10. Click DONE when you're done editing your Note!

So, what else is cook about Google Keep???  You can create audio notes if you are using Keep on your mobile device. When you open a new Note, you will see a microphone that allows for this option. 

Here's an example of what Google Keep looks like on your phone and your computer.

In another post, we will dive into an awesome way to organize and bring some flavor to your Keep dashboard as well as how this tool can be utilized in the classroom!

Are you using Keep?  Do you have any best practices for this tool? 

Adding Video to Google Drawings

Have you ever wondered how to include a video in a Google Drawing?  At the current time, this is not an option inside of Drawings, BUT don't fret!  There is a work around!!!

You can do this in ONLY FOUR SIMPLE STEPS!!!!  Say what?!?!?!

1. The first thing you want to do is open a Google Slide and in another browser open a Google Drawing.
2. Locate the video you want and insert it onto your Google Slide.
3. Copy the video.
4. Paste it onto your Google Drawing.

Bam!  There you go!  You've place a video in a Google Drawing! 

Here's a quick video of how to do this in real time!

Have you tried this before?  If this was your first time attempting to do this, was it easier than you thought?

Android-ify Yourself!

Happy Thursday!!!

Have you ever wanted to turn yourself into an Android character?  Well, maybe not, BUT this is a GREAT way to add a fun detail to your presentations, social media, etc!  Annnnd let me just say, in spirit of the great iPhone vs. Android debate, that you DON'T have to be an Android user to turn yourself into an Android!  LOL

Here's mine:

How cute is she?

You can create yours by going to:  https://androidify.com/en/#/

All you have to do is follow the prompts for shape, complexion, hair style, clothing and shoes, accessories, etc!  Give your Android a name, save it, and you're done!

It's super easy!  I've seen several comparisons of real pictures vs. the Android version and some of them are spot on!

Here's my attempt!  Sadly, I take a lot of car selfies and not a lot of full length shots, so this is as good as it gets!

Give it a try!  Post your Android on Twitter and tag me @apsitnatasha!  I can't wait to see how you Android-ify yourself!