Project Life!

Well, after much deliberation, I am giving Project Life another go. 2011 did not go very well, as I had a busted laptop and was not very good about printing pictures (through the end of February). I actually have journaling through September...but it got too sad to keep going. This year I am attempting a digital version, which sounds much easier in theory. I'll make my pages in Photoshop as I go and order a 12x12 book once everything is complete. Here's hoping this year turns out better!

We stayed home on Saturday for the first time in quite awhile and I played around with a cover page. I'm hoping I will get a better photo of Tyson and I for the bottom right corner sometime soon though. :o)

The cover page is a mix of digital papers and elements I already had. For the inside, I am using the digital seafoam project life collection...just the journaling cards and title/filler cards though. Happy almost 2013!

Christmas in (a few) photos

Uploading pictures from my camera...in order to make room for more! I got a new camera for Christmas, so I am pretty pumped to play with it. It's been overcast and completely gross the past two days though. :o(

 A little Christmas day bubbly...Messina Hof almond with a splash of sherry. Totally delish!

 This is her all the time face. Except maybe when it's dinner time. Or when Brody first comes to visit. After that, it's back to being Snarky McGee.

 Found this on my parents' tree...totally hilarious! Is it just me, or are the bears kind of worried-looking?

I took this last Saturday before packing everything up. Love our little tree!

New boots, whoop!

Catching up...ish

How is it already Friday? My vacation is halfway over, and I am loving every minute of it! I've been sort of keeping up with my December Daily; I still have days 20-25 to finish up (hopefully next week). Here's a peek of how it's coming together...

We are making the rounds to visit family in Yuletide celebrations. This was taken at Tyson's family's ranch this morning on a walk. :o) Now we are hanging in Cypress with my parents and Fräulein Maria. Merry Christmas, indeed!

Yumminess.

Menu Planning not-Monday
Monday :: Pork tenderloin win mustard sauce (modified from beef to pork and shallots to onion...really tasty!) with couscous and steamed broccoli
Tuesday :: red beans and rice
Wednesday :: cheesy chicken, rice, and broccoli
Thursday :: sloppy joes with homemade wheat buns
Friday :: leftovers

It is so difficult to not gain weight during the holiday season! I am seriously going to have to get back on the wagon after the new year. Trying to do everything in moderation. With lots of snacks and lunches of Greek yogurt, turkey bacon, and french vanilla granola (new fave). I feel like I need a few more "healthy" dinner recipes though...

Happy Birthbay.

We celebrated Tyson's birthday this weekend! He had a half marathon in College Station on Sunday (his big day), so we were able to spend some time with his fam. One of the best parts was that his sister got a banner for him from Hobby Lobby...and it did not say birthday. I mean, really? What is going on? I'm glad she left it though because it made me laugh every time I saw it.

Also...we ventured to Best Buy and purchased a new charger for my camera!! The battery is happily slurping up new life as I type. I am pretty pumped to use it again. As we walked by all of the pretty new cameras in the store, Tyson stated that I don't even have to be jealous of the new models because it will be like having a new camera when I am able to use it again. Which I guess is sort of true...ish (random sidenote: have you read Ish?? Love that book!).

No title necessary.

Seriously? What a little muppet!

December daily--Day 3

Just a quick share today! I didn't take any specific photos, as our grades were due today and I had a plethora of papers to grade. I grabbed a few instagram photos from my feed and will print it 6x6 next weekend if I get a chance. Nothing too crazy for a busy week day. I'm sure I'll have many more simple days ahead! :o)

Digital overlay via designer digitals. 

I had a complaint from HR that I have been neglecting photos of my beloved Brody. He's still here and loving life.

Menu Planning Monday

monday :: meatloaf with green beans

tuesday :: parmesan chicken bake with broccoli + wild rice

wednesday :: corn, bacon, and potato chowder

thursday :: three cheese pizza

friday :: undetermined...Christmas party, out of town, or leftovers??

saturday :: some sort of pasta...Tyson has a half marathon in College Station the next day!

Tyson is training for the Houston marathon this January. This weekend he casually mentioned that he'll probably do a five mile run before the half on Sunday...craziness.

December Daily--day 2

I have still not found my camera charger, but I did find a $20 bill in an old wallet, an unused Target gift card from our wedding (over two years ago), my old point and shoot AND its battery charger, my missing hot glue gun, and a Christmas ornament (which, interestingly enough, I needed to hot glue back together). I am starting to think my beloved charger got lost in the move. Boo.

I tried to take today's photos with my point and shoot...but that thing is not very crisp at all. I even took the same pictures with my phone and then the camera, and my phone's pictures were a tiny bit more clear. So there you go. The sad part was my camera was sitting right there, taunting me...

I miss you.

 8x8 day 2 that will slide into a page protector

 the little ♥ with the 2 makes me happy.

 Stamps from the Target $1 spot (or whatever they're calling it these days) on a plain sheet of vellum. I neglected to mention how utterly insane everyone was at Home Depot, but maybe that's a given. I thought it was worth mentioning that this is our first Christmas in the house (and, as a result, have very little Christmas cheer in the form of decorations right now). 

I'm interested to see how I do keeping up with this project during the week when I'm getting home late. :o)

December daily--day 1

Disclaimer: I am so embarrassed to admit that after spending an hour looking for my camera's battery charger, I came up short...and moderately irritated. So I had to take today's photos with my phone. Lame.

So, at first I was just going to secretly make my December Daily project, but then I realized that without some accountability, I would probably not follow through. So I'm going to go ahead and post what I made today.

Cover--I'm using an old American Crafts 2 ring black binder. Boring.

 Just a little intro page.

I played with some new stamps, so fun!

I cut the top off my k-cup today and then just punched a bunch of circles. The patterned papers are from an old sheet of ornament stickers from Basic Grey. Seriously, they were ginormous. I think I've kept it for maybe four years.

Here's to hoping I find my camera charger quickly!

Puppy breath = pepperoni pizza

Meet Bella.

No, I did NOT get another dog. We are puppy sitting over the long weekend for a co-worker. She is pretty darn cute. However, it has been four years since Brody was a puppy, and we skipped that phase with Sophie. I find it completely ridiculous how much she has to potty. Seriously, we go outside every 15-20 minutes. Don't ask me how many accidents it took to figure that out. Luckily she only likes potty-ing on tile. Apparently carpet is gross. Works for me.

It's also been funny seeing Sophie's reaction to Bella. She's been going out of her way to be the model daughter at all times. And even more cuddly than normal. I love it!! (Brody has been very fatherly, yet also playful. He's also been very helpful corralling her.)

"Look Mom, I'm more photogenic than that puppy!"

Random Photo Wednesday

 

"I don't have parasites anymore!" #partytime

Monday

 This is actually from Halloween. It may have taken three raw hides to keep her quiet with all of the munchkins at our door!

Menu Planning Monday
monday :: spicy garlic salmon, couscous + sauteed zucchini
tuesday :: leftover Thanksgiving turkey enchiladas
wednesday :: leftovers
thursday :: "OMG chicken," rice, and steamed broccoli
friday :: Trader Joe's pesto-filled tortellini with meat sauce + salad
saturday :: Christmas party

Surprisingly, today wasn't nearly as painful as I was thinking it would be. Tomorrow my kids are taking a test, so that means some peace and quiet for me! In semi-related news, my students have been cracking me up more than usual. Sometimes I roll my eyes, but sometimes I just have to laugh along with them. The thing I love about seventh grade is that there is this crazy dichotomy between acting absolutely insane and trying to fit in with the crowd.

1. I love sunsets. Snapped this tonight and 5 minutes later the clouds had dissipated and my pretty pink sky was gone.

2. Sophie gets right in my face when my phone comes out. She used to loathe having her picture taken but has become  more obliging lately.

3. Just read Reached today (#3 in Matched series) and am still pondering it. I guess that's the point of reading. In the words of Tyson, I'm into "dystopian whatever" right now. Maybe that's indicative of my political outlook right now.

4. Have you seen "Lolwork"? It's kind of like a real version of "The Office." Loves it.

5. Happy Thanksgiving!

Too much relaxing, not enough work going on.

Scene: in my parents' living room, watching the Aggie football game

Dad: So...does the basketball team move to the SEC too?
[laughter]
Mom: Yes. The whole school is in the SEC now.
Dad: Like what?
Me: Everyone. Volleyball, golf, soccer, equestrian...Jumanji.
My parents: Jumanji?!?!
Me: Yes.

Loving some quality family time...and being lazy.

Currently.

Listening...to scrapbooking podcasts. Nerdy and strange, I'm aware.

Enjoying...the beginning of a new six weeks. No pressure of grading and a lighter to do list.

Drinking...more water. I had forgotten how much I love it.

Thinking...about a December documenting project. Whoop!

Obsessed...with Rudy's breakfast tacos. Tyson is so good to me and brings two on Saturdays.

(Still) Celebrating...the football win this weekend! My students share good news on Mondays and someone from each class mentioned it. They know how to make me smile. And I have quite a few Aggies in my classes. :o)

Organizing...my classroom and home closet. I need order and simplicity!

Thankful...for the blessings in my life. We are talking about expository writing and themes of family and freedoms. Just made me realize that it's so easy to get caught up in things I "have" to do.

Praying...for my friends and family. It seems like 2012 has been full of heavy stuff.

General shenanigans.

This little bug better be glad I love her. Today I found out that my little Sophie has tapeworms...joy. Kind of confused on how that happened. So more medicine for the sweet girl, which she loves because that means pill pockets (her favorite). I do love her so much, and I think we're definitely BFF now. She hardly ever leaves my side. Even if I'm in bed and I won't let her up with me, she gets under the bed right beneath me. Kind of funny. My favorite Sophie-ism is that any time we put on shoes, she trots over and lays down right on our feet. Like, please--take me with you!!

I mentioned earlier about how I have been lazy in the kitchen lately. To emphasize this point, Tyson called on his way home yesterday to see where I wanted to get dinner (since he just assumed I didn't have anything planned). Little did he know, I had already been to the grocery store (ugh: sidenote...I did not have a good shopping trip, and then a former student today said he saw me and I was "zooming through the store" with a serious face. Ha!) and was marinating shrimp for this delicious recipe: honey lime shrimp. Definitely a favorite. Thank you, Pinterest.

Menu Planning Monday/Tuesday
monday :: honey lime shrimp, brown rice + salad (yum as always. love this recipe!!)
tuesday :: pork tenderloin with raspberry chipotle sauce, quinoa + salad (yum--seared in a skillet + baked)
wednesday :: cheesy chicken and rice bake (out of chicken, used a little ground beef I had and it was pretty tasty)
thursday :: crispy buffalo chicken + salad (didn't make. we went out for mexican food. yuuum.)
friday :: leftovers!

Random favorite quote: "Why do Americans like macaroni and cheese so much?" --Norwegian student

MIA

I have been blog lazy again. I blame school...this six weeks has been insane. I've been coming straight home and pretty much crashing every day. Cooking efforts have been minimal and the house had not been cleaned in at least two weeks. I finally had a few hours this morning to catch up on chores around here though. I guess that can happen when you go to bed early on a Friday night. And when you're procrastinating grading short answer tests. But I've vowed to stay organized this next six weeks! I'm getting to school early on Monday to clear off my desk for a fresh start. Here's to hoping at least...

::currently::

Listening to Spotify at home and loving it.

Enjoying date nights with Tyson...tonight was happy hour at Perry's, followed by Harry Potter:7b.

Perplexed by Starbucks...I asked the barista if it was peppermint time yet, and he responded that they always have that. Um, what? Tyson's response? "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

Thankful that Sophie is finally on board with potty training. She was totally down with going in her crate (isn't that weird for a dog?), but is too cool for that now.

Basking in this glorious, cool weather!

Ignoring the huge stack of papers to grade...and work on this weekend. Boo.

Thinking I might need to take some me time to be crafty.

Cheering on Tyson...he has a half marathon this weekend!

Refusing to get sick...Mucinex and Airborne, yes please!

Menu Planning Monday

monday :: baked potato night!
tuesday :: red beans and rice
wednesday :: BLRs
thursday :: chicken ranch tacos
friday :: pizza grilled cheese

It never fails; I plan a dinner for Friday, and we never actually make it. It's more of a habit now than a belief that we'll eat it. We'll see how it goes this week!

Random Photo Wednesday

Menu Planning Monday

This weekend flew by! Luckily I only have professional development today...because I did not get enough graded. But I relaxed plenty. :o)

Menu Planning Monday
monday :: baked potatoes and leftover shredded beef
tuesday :: mini meatloaves and steamed broccoli
wednesday :: panko chicken** and salad (I feel like we had leftovers instead of this, but I'm not sure...)
thursday :: roasted garlic pizza (the crust I chose was awful [maybe my yeast is old??], so we ended up eating the toppings off and then going to Chick-fil-a. Sad but true.)
friday :: leftovers (aka we went to La Finca. oops.)

**My new favorite (quick!) way to cook chicken is to dip a raw, seasoned chicken breast in plain Greek yogurt and then roll in breadcrumbs. Sometimes Panko is the way to go, other times whole wheat breadcrumbs or Italian-seasoned sound good. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes and voila! Easy peasy, tasty chicken.

Quotable Quotes

Student: "Can I go to the bathroom?"
Me: "Nope."
Student: "That...is preposterous."
Me: "Nice word choice...still no."

I really do love working with junior high kids. :o)

I was looking through the pictures on my phone earlier and totally cracked up at this...there really are not very many good photos of Tyson and I. It's mostly just ridiculousness like this.

Random Photo Wednesday

I promise, she sat here all by herself. She just wanted to say hello!

Rite of passage

This weekend, Sophie joined her brother and auntie in the club of annoying my parents. I suppose I annoy my parents too, but I've never spread Spanish moss all over the house. Sophie was then chased around the house with the vaccuum. Poor baby.

Menu Planning Monday...ish!

Monday :: baked potatoes and leftover fajita meat
Tuesday :: shredded beef tacos
Wednesday :: leftovers before small group
Thursday :: "Alice springs" chicken with wild rice and salad
Friday :: spaghetti with meat sauce and steamed broccoli

Random Photo Thursday

Scruffy, yet sweet.

So presh. I think Miley stole her hairstyle though.

What I've been enjoying lately...

• Jalapeño dip and chips (almost every day after school lately...so bad.)
• When the dogs talk to the neighboring dogs, Sophie does not just wag her tail...her whole backside moves back and forth.
• Naps
• Real Housewives of New York
• A plethora of jean days and spirit days at school (pajama day = the best)
• Finding my camera cord!
• Sweet emails from parents
• Kind and uplifting co-workers
• My Mat Kearney Pandora station
• Toffee coffee in the Keurig...and anticipating bringing out the pumpkin spice and french toast coffee soon!
• Saying "ch-ching!" when I unplug my straightener. I'm notorious for returning home to check that it's not on. Totally OCD about it.
• Ironing...did you know that if you starch one side and then iron the other side, it's a lot easier? My mother-in-law shared that tip several months ago, and it really works well!
• Non-headache days. I feel like they have been fewer lately :o(

 She looks so serious...I think she is not a fan of the camera.

Random Photo Wednesday

Brody's typical Saturday morning spot. Checking out the goings on in the backyard.

Sophie's all-the-time spot: wherever I happen to be. :o)

Quotable quotes

I was grading my students' first week of school mini-me-books this weekend, and was totally cracking up at this:

"I really don't like eating broccoli because I feel like I am eating a tree and harming the environment."

How funny is that? It's the small humorous exchanges and comments I want to remember. I mean, I will never forget my student last year who completed his homework of bringing in a newspaper by picking a neighbor's up on the way to his bus stop.

Menu Planning Monday

I am loving my weekends lately! Especially this past one, as the temperatures/humidity actually chilled out a bit. I actually sat outside and did not sweat; it was amazing. I also had some quality bonding time with Brody and Sophie since Tyson was at the football game pretty much all day Saturday.

The house is starting to come together, so I don't have an excuse to slack off on cooking (last week's efforts were slightly lame, I am ashamed to admit). I'm also starting a daily cleaning schedule this week. Cleaning all day on a weekend is the worst, so I'm hoping to be able to start some good habits with the beginning of the school year. Here's to a tidier home and yummy recipes!

Menu Planning Monday
monday :: red beans and rice (always a favorite)
tuesday :: firecracker chicken stir-fry
wednesday :: small group potluck (I'm making jalapeño dip, yum!)
thursday :: leftovers
friday :: chicken parmesan (my old favorite recipe was on a blog that went private, so I'm trying Skinnytaste's version)
saturday :: grilling, if we buy a grill!

I'm hoping to have some home pictures soon...I still have not found that dang cord though!

Sidenote: Has anyone out there seen Married to Jonas? I was channel surfing Friday afternoon and could not stop watching.

Sophie update!

Last night hanging out after dinner. Right after I took this, she jumped in my lap and cuddled with me. :o)

Oh, little Sophie! I totally love this little muppet. She definitely keeps me laughing...and on my toes. Like Saturday morning when she literally came trotting in the bedroom with a Starbucks cup in her mouth. Apparently anything that gets placed on the floor is fair game. I was done with the cup (luckily), so I tried to resist laughing and took it away from her. I also had to resist taking a picture of that. As funny as it was, I probably shouldn't encourage naughtiness.

One slightly sad part of Sophie is her medical issues. We took her to the vet last week for a checkup; immediately we found out she had a double yeast infection in her ears. Yuck. The next day, her tests came back that she had active heartworms and whipworms. So we've been taking lots of medicine...which she doesn't particularly care for, but she's been pretty great about it. The whipworms mean I have to pick up her poop immediately so the whipworms don't get reintroduced to the environment. I find that pretty funny because I was so pumped about moving into a house so I wouldn't have to worry about that!

Anyways, this little girl could not be more precious. So thankful for her.

Random Photo Wednesday

Remember that time Iris hid in a cabinet whilst we unpacked all day? This weekend it was the bottom of a bookshelf.

On the menu...lazy week!

Menu Planning Monday Tuesday

monday :: baked potato night!
tuesday :: pesto-filled tortellini with sauteed zucchini
wednesday :: broccoli cheese soup with bacon (good, but the leftovers were gross)
thursday :: spaghetti with meat sauce
friday/saturday :: out and about

Still looking for the camera cord. Which is scary, since I only have two more boxes left to unpack! Eek eek! This weekend was a much-need break. Now I just need to get back in gear and get things done. My to do list is looking a little long these days!

So very tired.

This is pretty much how I feel.

Seriously? Longest.week.ever. In between settling into our house/unpacking/trying to find random things, meeting my new students, having morning duty (I volunteered to switch with someone so I am really not seeking sympathy!) outside in the humidity, working with my new teammates to figure out what in the world we are doing**, and getting to know Sophie's routines/preferences/quirks, I have barely had time to think.

**Have I mentioned that our team now has eight ladies working together to plan our brand new curriculum? So new that we received it about three weeks before school started. It's exciting yet frightening at the same time. And by frightening, I think I mean stressful because it's hard to get ahead of the work. For example, I am the "copy queen" for the first six weeks (we rotate jobs). Once we finally agree on an activity, someone still needs to generate the appropriate content and send it out to the team for revising and approval. After it's finalized, I  am then able to make copies and pass them out to the team (hopefully more than a day before it's supposed to be used). I just felt like I needed to document that because it's been consuming a lot of my thoughts lately.

That being said, I absolutely love my job. I've had so many interactions with students already that I've tried to take mental pictures to remember (Elizabethtown, anyone??) in the future.

 

source

This three-day weekend could not have occurred at a more perfect time for me. :o)