Task #19 Completed: Learn How to Make Sushi (Rachael)

19. Learn how to make Sushi

Saying I'm a sushi enthusiast would not be an understatement on any account, because in fact I have loved Sushi for as long as I can remember. But somehow, I have passed over the opportunity to craft the delicacy on many occasions so I decided to take the task into my own hands.

I have recently been following a health blog which posted a recipe for quinoa, avocado, spinach, salmon sushi. So my friend Margo and I attempted on a Friday afternoon with nothing else to do. It took a few rolls to get the hang of it but it was very yummy in the end! I hope you enjoy our progress pictures!

Task #18 Completed: Create A Stop Motion Video (Kim)

18.  Film a stop motion video.

1. Stop motion: a cinematographic technique whereby the camera is repeatedly stopped and started, for example to give animated figures the impression of movement.
2. 
   

I attempted to film the stop motion video when I created Open When letters for my friend Molly.  However, I never posted the video because although it was a learning experience, I didn't find the video to be any good or interesting to watch.  Once again, I attempted a stop motion video with the melting crayon art project.  Since I asked for a tripod and received it as an early Christmas present, I had the added benefit of the tripod.  However, I once again was not impressed with the results.

I have decided to combine the videos and post them anyway to show my improvements.  I have learned the importance of keeping a camera perfectly still; even with a tripod I struggled with this skill.  In addition, stop motion is very time consuming.  Each movement takes about twice as long with the added necessity of pressing the camera button.  I think that when done correctly, stop motion can be a fascinating technique.  I hope that next time I attempt a stop motion video, I will have learned from the mistakes you see here and succeed.

Task #17 Completed: Melted Crayon Art (Kim)

17.  An art project: melted crayon art

Art has never really been my thing, but I have always wanted to try melted crayon art.  I've seen it on websites like Pinterest.   So, I tried it out.  Even though it took a long time, I am absolutely in love with how it came out.

I hot glued crayons to a poster board.  I used RoseArt crayons mixed with a few neon Crayola crayons.  I believe the Crayola produced brighter colors when melted.  Other than that, the only necessary materials are a hairdryer and newspaper to cover your work spaces (include the walls behind the poster.  You may actually melt the top of the crayons without meaning to).

I also obtained a silhouette of a couple standing under an umbrella.  I covered it with tape while melting crayons around it.

The whole process took several hours to get the final product I wanted.  The best part was you couldn't really mess up - you could always simply move around whatever you had already melted by re-melting it with the hairdryer.  The crayon also had a tendency to splatter into the areas of other colors, but it turned out looking cooler that way.

Something like this is the whole reason I love Project 52.  I never would've made the time to do this, but it was great.  Plus, I have something to hang up in my room that I can actually say I made.  This will stand as a reminder of everything Project 52 stands for in my mind: to live without regrets and take advantage of opportunities like a couple taking advantage of a special moment despite the adverse weather conditions.

Task #16 Completed: Surprise A Teacher with a Thank You! (Kim and Rachael)

16.  Surprise A Teacher with a Thank You!

Ms. Morris is our Project Explore mentor, and she recently underwent surgery for her wrist.  In addition, it is almost Christmas.  So, we figured it was the perfect time to surprise a teacher with not only a thank you present but a Merry Christmas/Get Well Soon present.  Rachael and I had one of our friends ask to take a picture of her for the yearbook.  As our friend took the "picture" (which was actually the video you see here), we came in with a poinsettia, flowers, and a present.  Inside the present was chocolates, a card, and a Snoopy mug and stuffed animal (Snoopy is her favorite).

Task #15 Completed: Wear a Costume to School (Rachael and Kim)

15.  Wear a costume to school

Since this blog was created in November, we have to play catch-up with some of the tasks we completed prior to the creation of the blog.  One of them is "Wear a costume to school", which both of us did on Halloween.

Both of us used a play on our names for our costumes: Kim Possible and Rachael Baker was a baker. The Kim Possible costume did not look like much of a costume because it was partially normal clothes, so I borrowed a monster onesie to wear during school. Both of us definitely stuck out and got attention for our costumes, but it was a fun experience for the day.

  

Task #14 Completed: Make a "Healthy" Dessert (Rachael)

14. "Make a Healthy Dessert"

Recently my friend Margo and I have been trying to create healthier eating habits so when I came across "healthy banana bread" I figured it was worth a shot. I am currently typing this while the bread is in the oven so there is no end product for me to comment on right now. However, I can tell you the recipe does not include white flour, butter or granulated sugar of any sort. Instead theses ingredients were replaced with applesauce, honey and almond milk for a dessert which is definitely healthy and hopefully delicious as well!

Task #13 Completed: Make an Underwater Video (Rachael)

13. "Make an Underwater Video"

My dad recently purchased a gopro which first became popular for their ability to film underwater and Kim and I thought it would be a hoot to try it out. Since I don't like to get pruney and Kim is on the swim team we thought it best if she dealt with this task hands on. I got to watch from the nice, dry bleachers as Kim swam and dove.

It took a few days (weeks) for me to figure out the program and pick an appropriate song but I hope everyone enjoys the final product!