Angel Houze Clay Art

If you want to win a grandma's heart, you'd better make sure her granddaughter is happy. 🥰
Mission accomplished. ❤️

Today, someone's grandma surprised me with this beautiful Tree of Life bracelet. I feel so loved and incredibly grateful.

I also couldn't stop admiring her beautiful skin—it was so healthy, glowing, and youthful. I feel lucky that she shared her beauty secret with me: using Pond's moisturizer regularly.

Thank you, Grandma, for your kindness and for sharing your little beauty secret. Wishing you a long, healthy life. May you always stay young at heart, kind, and generous. 🌷

One of my students told me that when he was a baby, his hair was much blonder and his eyes were a much brighter blue. Now, his hair isn't as blonde anymore. He thinks it's because he wears a hat a lot and because chlorine from swimming has affected his hair color. Somehow, his eyes have changed too—they're now a light teal, and there's almost no blue left.

His hairstyle also looks very familiar to me. It reminds me of someone. Maybe he'll even end up following that person's profession when he's older. He also likes to crack his ribs, legs, and fingers! 😂

And I'm pretty sure he'll have white hair someday too... just like someone's hair. 😁

I check his information and got this fact:

A small note about the science: it's actually common for babies with blue eyes or very light blonde hair to have darker eyes or hair as they grow. Hair can also become lighter from sun exposure and chlorine can sometimes give blonde hair a slight color change, especially if it's already light. Eye color can appear to shift from blue to blue-green or teal during early childhood as the amount and distribution of pigment in the iris changes.

I was happily enjoying my snack when one of my students looked at me and asked...
"Ms. Julie... are you eating dog food?" 😂🐶

Excuse me... do I look like a dog? 🤨🤣

Little does she know, this is the BEST pork jerky ever! She should've been asking for a bite instead of calling it dog food! 🥳😋

To be fair... I can see why she thought that. The shape and the packaging do look suspiciously like dog treats. 😅🤣

But after that comment? Nope! This pork jerky is now officially teacher-only snacks. 😎🥰😂

She can keep wondering... while I happily finish every last piece! 🤭🐷✨

Since Monday, I've been asking my morning students the same question:

"Don't you feel so hot today?" 🥵

Every single time, they look at me like I'm the strange one.

"No, we're fine," they say.

Some of them are even wearing sweatshirts! 😬

Meanwhile, I'm melting over here. 🫠

Today, after I complained (again), one of the girls looked at me very seriously and said,

"Teacher, you should go to the doctor if you keep feeling so warm." 😛😊

I had to laugh. She actually has good logic!

Looks like my students still don't understand my "problem” or maybe they think I'm just a human heater. 😂🔥

The conversation continues every morning... and I'm pretty sure they're waiting for me to ask the same question again! 😁😁😁

It’s always the best entertainment for the kids whenever they see the deer. 🦌🦌🦌

This has been one of the most challenging week of my teaching journey—perhaps the most challenging of all. There were moments that tested my patience and my strength. But challenges have a way of reminding us why we do what we love.

The greatest reward wasn't at the finish line—it was seeing every child come back each day with excitement, leave with a smile, and finish camp with beautiful memories they will carry with them. Those smiles made every challenge worth it.

Honestly, I still can't believe we spent 3 hours a day, for 5 days straight, creating with clay! Yet these amazing young artists stayed curious, creative, and eager to learn. They reminded me that when we encourage children to believe in themselves, their imagination has no limits.

Thank you to each of my campers for sharing your creativity, your laughter, and your beautiful hearts with me. You inspired me far more than you will ever know. Teaching isn't just about art—it's about planting seeds of confidence, joy, and courage. This week reminded me that even the hardest journeys can lead to the most meaningful memories.

A very special thank you to all of my assistants who stood by my side throughout this week. Your patience, hard work, encouragement, and support made this camp possible. I couldn't have done it without you, and I am so grateful for each of you🙏

Above all, thank You to the source of all my blessings and to the unseen Hands that guided, strengthened, and made all of this possible. I am deeply grateful. 🙏❤️

My heart is full. ❤️

Greeted by these beautiful agapanthus flowers every morning this week. Just wrapped up my clay art camp at noon today while everyone was already in the 4th of July holiday spirit. Thank you to the City of Dublin for opening their facility for us today. Thank you for supporting my classes and camps for more than a decade.

🎊Happy Independence Day, America🎊
250 years of celebrating freedom.
May freedom soar higher in the future🥂

I got a surprise visit from my student. He came into my class, stood next to me, and kept smiling. "Do you remember me, Ms. Julie?" he asked. I stared at him... "I am Rohan." "Really? Oh my God... is that you, Rohan? You look so different now; I wouldn't have recognized you if you hadn’t told me." He now also teaches at the same school. What a pleasant surprise. He had come to my class 10 years ago when he was 8. His brother also joined my class at some point. Both of them also joined my online class during Covid. I appreciate their support during hard times. Nice to see you again, Rohan. It’s a pleasant surprise for me. The first picture is him and his brother with a project they did online with me 🥰🙏

Ready to party with my little customers! I'm unleashing a 4th of July snack bonanza project. Want to take a wild guess? What will I whip up with the leftover bits? 🤔 Don't sweat it, I'll find something magical, because wasting food is just not my style. 💪💃🥳😎