We are the Robinsons!

savings on saturday

2012-02-11T09:21:00.000-08:00

You're probably wondering why I can be talking about saving money when I just recently pitched a three-dollar loaf of artisan bread. People, it is because of those little mishaps in life that make it all the more necessary to watch our Washingtons and Lincolns! (President's Day is coming up.)

Run, don't walk, to the nearest Target and get one of these. Not the dog! The card! While I do not advocate going into debt, I do advocate saving money. Using our Target credit card has saved us money. Here's how.

For every purchase at Target that we make with our Target credit card, we get 5% off.

Right away.

No waiting.

Not points or coupons.

No making calls to Peggy.

As soon as you swipe your card, it takes 5% off your purchase.

Five percent doesn't seem like much, but all those little amounts add up over a year. Say you spend an average of $100 a month at Target (then you have more self-control than me). That five percent savings translates into $60 a year. That's a pair of shoes ~ or two on sale.

That being said, you have to be diligent about paying it off or else your savings will be eaten up with interest, which I am certain is more than 5%. Every time we use the card, we immediately allocate that money for the payment when the statement comes. We never carry a balance on the card from month to month. Greg is awesome about keeping track of all that!

Also, did you know that if you bring reusable bags they take 5 cents off your purchase for every bag? I don't think it matters what kind of bag, just as long as it is reusable.

P.S. I am not an affiliate of Target and my opinions are my own. They did not pay me to say this. Although if they'd like to pay me, I'd be ok with that.

P.S.S. Before you get your Target card, be sure to read all the fine print and make sure you are ok with their terms. I am not a financial expert.

instagram time

2012-02-11T08:34:00.000-08:00

My instagram week only has three pictures this time. That does not indicate that this week was any shorter than the others.

Besides, three pictures is more than none.

I worked briefly on crafty items last weekend. There's a spring craft show I'm getting ready for. I spent the whole of Saturday working on the yearbook instead of crafty things ~ which coincidentally is due the same weekend as the craft show. Can you see how I might be conflicted about how to spend my time?

Do you ever drink these? I only buy them when they are on sale. And only two flavors. Pina colada and strawberry daiquiri. So, so yummy.

This one reminds me of summer. Not that I spend my time sitting on a beach sipping umbrella drinks or anything. But still. Summer.

Which we might have in a couple of weeks if the weather keeps behaving the way it is. Yesterday and today we have temps in the 70s instead of the usual cold, windy, crappy weather. Lunch duty with 70 degrees is pretty nice.

See this? This was a good idea gone all kinds of wrong. The other day Greg ~~complained~~ mentioned that we eat the same thing all the time. I'm pretty sick of our repertoire too, but I haven't felt especially culinary lately. Actually I've been feeling who-cares-if-we-eat-dinner lately.

So, I was thinking I'd make these gourmet grilled chicken sandwiches on ciabatta bread. With chipotle mayonnaise. And provolone cheese. Tomatoes. Lettuce.

So fancy.

Here's a kitchen tip for you ~ when you buy fancy three-dollar artisan bread on Sunday, it will be as a hard as a rock when you finally get around to making those delightful sandwiches on Thursday. Buh bye three dollars in the trash can. Good thing we had some hamburger buns ~ with sesame seeds.

And while I was making the chipotle mayo, I put a between a quarter and half a cup of mayo in a ramekin and was getting ready to put the chipotle pepper seasoning in. I grabbed the half teaspoon and got it all filled up. At that point Greg inquired whether or not there was a recipe ~ did I know how much to use. No, silly boy, I'm winging' it here. He tells me that looks like an awful lot of spice. I think for a minute about the word "pepper" on the can and reconsider. He's probably right. So I only put a quarter of a teaspoon in. Good thing too, cuz that was borderline too spicy.

And.

Yes, another and.

When I grilled the chicken I didn't think about the thickness. We ended up with really thick pieces of chicken! Next time, I'll have filet the chicken into thinner pieces.

Next time? With a dinner full of errors as this, you think there will be a next time? Yes! They tasted delicious! We just need to work out the kinks ~ with different bread and thinner chicken.

What did you cook this week?

Now, I'm off to ~~craft~~, ~~work on the yearbook~~, ~~craft~~, ~~work on the yearbook~~ do something.

Linking up with Life Rearranged.

the curse of the dvr

2012-02-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

I love our DVR.

I enjoy being able to watch shows when I have time rather than when the networks say I should have time. I love season passes so I don't miss an episode of my favorite shows because I can't ever remember when it comes on. I {big puffy heart} the pause and 8-second rewind features.

We've had a DVR since before the kids were born. We are partial to the one that begins in Ti and ands in Vo. They have never experienced life without one, except the early years and Grandma & Papa's house. They'd tell Papa to pause because they had to go to the bathroom only to find out that they had to actually utilize the commercials! They were offended that they couldn't watch their favorite shows on demand, but had to wait until they were actually aired. Spoiled much? Grandma and Papa finally saw the light and got their own, much to the relief of my children.

But.

There's always a but.

What should take less time to watch a 30-minute show with fast forwarding through the commercials, can sometimes take upwards of 30 minutes. Sometimes forever.

Because people talk.

Little people have questions about the show, about whether or not they can have an after-dinner treat, about anything on earth. Greg and I pause to have a discussion about something ~ sometimes not even related to the current show.

How did our parents ever watch a complete show with all the interrupting? Where we only allowed to talk on commercial breaks? Probably.

So at our house, unless you are watching all by yourself, it is likely that it will take you longer to watch a show on the DVR than live t.v. because we've always got something to say.

And if we are watching live t.v., we will pause it.

tales from a schoolyard

2012-02-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

I've started a new blog that will chronicle the classroom a little more than my tales from the schoolyard posts on this blog do. I will still post a few schoolyard tidbits here ~ you know, the funniest and cutest ones. But if you want to more of the day to day teaching story, you can find me at Tales from a Schoolyard.

See you on the playground!

tales from the schoolyard

2012-01-25T17:59:00.001-08:00

One of my 4th grade teammates brought us all a candy treat today. Too bad I am powerless against Reece's Pieces and these will be gone before the dance class marathon is over tonight.

Who am I kidding, they are half gone and we've only been here fifteen minutes.

Have you noticed the lack of schoolyard posts this year (nevermind the lack of any posts in general)? I have come to the conclusion that 4th graders are not quite as hilarious as 2nd graders. Fun? Yes. But they do not bust out the innocently cute comments that the little guys do.

We do have fun. Especially when we have a spontaneous 2-minute dance party.

Or when I make them twist up like a pretzel and spell their names backwards to get their brain synapses firing.

Or when we are choreographing dance moves for our recent flag ceremony.

Or when we have a "snowball" fight while I'm being observed by the assistant principal for my yearly evaluation.

What can I say - I'm hecka fun!

And when I'm not busy being fun, we are working hard because there's a lot of pressure for my kids to pass the state test later this spring. And since I'm returning to 4th grade from my 5-year stint in 2nd, I feel like I am really under a magnifying glass.

Now that I'm all hopped up on sugar, I'm gonna be working on some grading while I watch my pretty girls dance.

See you on the playground.

ties for the littlest guy

2012-01-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've been busy at the sewing machine. I've added something to the shop for the littlest guys in your life. Aren't these just the cutest?

These ties are attached to a neckband that has a velcro closure. That way they are easy to put on your littlest guy and are adjustable. The tie is about 10" from the top of the knot to the bottom. The neckband is about 15 1/2".

I'll be working on ties for little guys (elementary age) soon that will be longer and have a little bit larger neckband.

menu plan monday ~ pantry challenge month

2012-01-16T10:06:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, our grocery store had a case sale last week. Holy cans, Batman! Greg went the first day for me to make sure everything we wanted was in stock.

With bringing home all of that goodness, the pantry needed a little overhaul. Some people have been getting lazy with putting things away neatly. Although we have lots of shelf space, the design of the pantry is less than ideal. On either side we have these wings that are hard to get to and make storage difficult.

After a few hours of cleaning, reorganizing, and stocking the shelves, the pantry is looking mighty fine.

I found some really old stuff in "the abyss" that needed to see its way to the trash can. Didn't I clean out the pantry just recently? Maybe it's been a ~~few years~~ while.

All of the case sale haul did not fit in the pantry ~ but I had a plan. This summer we knocked out the back wall of the closet under the stairs. Perfect for storing extra pantry supplies.

So, how are we doing with our pantry challenge? Let's review.

1. Use up items from the pantry & freezer. We are doing pretty good. For example, last week I found a bottle of mandarin sauce that needed to be used up soon. I forgot I even bought that! We had mandarin chicken over rice (and broccoli for three of us) and my family deemed it just as good as Panda Express. Hmmm, maybe because the sauce was the Panda Express brand.

2. Stock the pantry. Accomplished! I will be keeping my eye out for good stock up prices still, of course.

3. Save money. Yes and no. The stock up part was pricey (we'll talk about that another day). But as far as weekly shopping, we have been under budget so far, even with the midweek trip I had to make to get a few things for my grade level lunch last Friday.

Last week's menu plan was the same as the week before (the previous post) because I ended up making random things for dinner the first week. Now we have a fresh set of items for the plan:

chicken & stuffing bake
swedish meatballs
quesadillas & corn salad
bbq chicken pizza
tortilla soup
slow cook turkey chowder (new)

Linking up to Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday and Good Cheap Eats for the Pantry Challenge.

menu plan monday ~ pantry challenge month ~ week one

2012-01-02T14:46:00.000-08:00

Woo! Ready for a new year?

Here at the Robinson house, we are working on getting back on track with things ~ like menu planning. I actually have been menu planning for most of the ending weeks of 2011, I just didn't post about it.

On the menu this week:

baked potato soup
king ranch chicken
chicken spaghetti
slow cooker beef stew
cream cheese chicken
meatloaf
vegetable soup

Most of the items on the list are the exact items from my list last week, but I bought a ham at the grocery store at the last minute, so we had ham and scalloped potatoes plus some other recipes involving ham. That sure did make menu planning for this week a piece of cake.

Along with the weekly menu planning, we are participating in the Pantry Challenge. Here are my goals for the Pantry Challenge:

1. Use up items from the pantry and freezer. Right about now you're saying, "Uh, hello, isn't that why it's called a Pantry Challenge?" Yes, yes, it is. My hope is to use items that need to be used before throwing them away. For example, we have a nearly full, large container of fried onions left over from Thanksgiving. Since it is already opened, the window of usage is coming quickly to a close. I'd rather find a way to use it besides green bean casserole than throw it away. Check back as the month goes along and I will share with you how I used a few those odds and ends.

2. Stock the pantry. Oh, I'm really confusing you now, aren't I? When we participated in the Pantry Challenge last year, we realized that our grocery store has case sales in January. The store will be having case sales again this coming week. There is no better time to stock up on pantry staples than during a case sale. All the same stuff you're going to eat anyway, only cheaper. By focusing on clearing the pantry of older items, I am freeing up grocery budget money to stock up for later. See? Not so crazy after all.

3. Save money. When Greg took over the family accounting and bills over a year ago, he gave me a grocery budget based on what we'd spent in the previous months. That number was $132 a week. This is basically groceries only. I have a separate budget for household items from Costco and Target. For 2012, he has increased my budget to $140 a week. However, for the month of January my goal is to spend only $100 a week, or $500 for the whole month. Since we do our grocery shopping on Sunday or Tuesday, there are 5 shopping times in January. So far, I've spent $130. This is over my weekly January budget, but I plan to make up the difference in the coming weeks.

So how about you? Are you taking the Pantry Challenge this month? Are you menu planning?

I'm linking up with Organizing Junkie (menu plan) and Good Cheap Eats (Pantry Challenge).

snowflake frame tutorial

2011-12-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

When do you take your Christmas decorations down? Right away? Or do you let them linger?

We usually take ours down right around New Year's. Many a New Year's Eve has been spent putting away Christmas decorations while watching television to ring in the new year.

January is too early for Valentine's decorations, so a little snowflake decor is in order. Let's make a little something.

You will need:

snowflake ornament
5" x 7" frame (or one that fits your snowflake)
scrapbook paper
ivory, black, and white paint
brown antiquing gel or some sort of stain
paint brushes
sandpaper
glitter (I used Martha Stewart ~ white)
spray adhesive
strong glue

I got the frames on clearance a while ago at Target. I got the snowflake ornaments on clearance also just before Christmas this year.

Take the glass and other cardboard/paper out of the frame. Find another use for the glass ~ we will not be using it today. Paint the frame ivory. Good coverage is not crucial because we are just establishing a base coat and something to peek through when the frame is scruffed up later.

Next, paint the black. This is where you will want good coverage.

When the black is dry, use the sandpaper or sanding block to scruff up the frame where natural wear might occur. Do as much or as little as you like. If you are fancy, use a tack cloth to wipe away the grit. I'm not so fancy, I just use a damp paper towel.

Apply the brown antiquing gel or stain with a brush, then wipe off with a cloth. Use as much or as little as you like. The gel doesn't show up as much on the black as it might on a lighter project, but it does leave a nice sheen.

These are the ornaments I found on clearance. One is plastic and the other is some sort of ceramic. I found them at Joann's and Hobby Lobby.

I spray painted them white. I like how the coverage was minimal on the one on the right.

Um, what the what?

I bought this spray adhesive some time ago in anticipation of needing it for some craft or another. I've never used it until now and what do I find when I pull off the cap? No nozzle!!

When Greg got home I showed this craft travesty to him and he replaced it with a nozzle from a can of WD40. I'll keep that guy!

Now back to crafting. Spray the snowflakes with the glue then apply the glitter liberally over a paper plate. Pour the excess glitter back into the container to use another time. I let this dry overnight.

Next comes choosing a paper for the background. When I was shopping, I bought several because I wasn't too sure which would work best once the snowflake was painted and glammed up with glitter.

Love, love, love this paper. But it's too busy for the snowflake and overall too much the same color as the snowflake. It just gets lost.

This one is better. It has a smaller, less crowded pattern and the overall color is darker. This one might have been fine.

But I also bought this one. Perfect. Even less busy and darker. This one will allow the snowflake to pop. That diva is really the star of the show, you gotta let her shine.

Cut the paper to fit the cardboard backing that came with the frame (5" x 7").

I attached the paper to the cardboard with double-sided tape. Then pop in the frame. I planned on using E6000 to glue the snowflake to the paper ~ but alas it was dried up. I'm really having glue issues with this project.

I ended up using hot glue. It worked just fine.

Just so lovely and simple! Can you see the glitter? I'm kinda wondering what else around the house I can glitter.

This is a perfect decoration for January. Seasonal & sparkly but unassuming.

What a beautiful pair!

I'm linking up with Mique at 30 Handmade Days.

instafriday - last week of the year

2011-12-30T10:30:00.000-08:00

It's time to link up with life.rearranged for Friday phone photos.

Although I started wrapping early, I was still up late wrapping on Christmas Eve. My laid back attitude this holiday season meant I wasn't moving too fast so it took a while. Even though we stayed up late, I didn't feel frantic about it. That is a distinct difference from year's past.

The day after Christmas we took Greg to a museum with period housing from our area. Various houses were moved to the museum site and restored in a cute little cul-de-sac. The kids and I have been before and I knew Greg would love it. He did. I get a kick out of looking at the old houses and reading about what life was like when these houses were built.

After the museum and a visit to Hobby Lobby (yay for 66% off wrapping paper), we went out to eat. I colored with Heather. It's easy to color with her since she's a lefty. I just have to stay on my half.

Yesterday the girls waited patiently for Papa to pick them up for a playdate with their cousin, Gianna.

Well, I'm off to finish a fun craft to share with you soon. I just came upstairs to get some glue and got distracted here on the net.

This is why things take so long at our house.

Happy Friday!

did you know?

2011-12-29T05:36:00.000-08:00

You can now find Daffodils and Daisies on Facebook!

Go ahead, say you like us!

You're going to want to like Daffodils and Daisies for a fun giveaway later this week.

happy new year sale

2011-12-28T21:13:00.000-08:00

As we are ending this year, putting Christmas decorations away, and getting ready for a New Year I decided it is time for a little bit of a sale. From now through New Year's Day you can get 10% off everything in my shop. Use the code HAPPYNEWYEAR10 when checking out to get the discount.

Let's take a look at a couple of new items in the shop.

I added a couple of new drawstring backpacks ~ this time something the little guys will like.

I'm also working on something else for the little guys in your life. More on that soon.

For now, use the code and save a little money!

books i read in 2011

2011-12-28T12:40:00.000-08:00

For several years now, I've made a book reading goal for myself. The first two years I was able to make my goal. Last year, I almost made my goal.

This year?

Ha!

Not even close!

My goal was 35 books for 2011. I read 13.

1. Second Thyme Around by Katie Fforde

2. The Smart One by Ellen Meister

3. Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick

4. Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

5. Save as Draft by Cavenagh Lee

6. Angel Lane by Sheila Roberts

7. Matters of the Heart by Emily Giffin

8. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

9. Work Hard. Be Nice. by Jay Mathews
10. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

11. The End of Molasses Classes by Ron Clark

12. Who Loves You Best by Tess Stimson

13. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Shameful?

No. I still found the time to read those 13 books. I do know that one pitfall to reading was taking papers to grade at dance class this fall instead of doing the reading that I normally do while the kids are dancing. I'm thinking that needs to stop.

However, this does lead me to a question. Should I make a goal for 2012 or just see how it goes? Each year I increased my goal. The first year I started with 24 and it has progressed to 35. Should I start with a lower number this time?

After ~~a lot of~~ only a little pondering, I have decided to set a conservative goal of 24 books for 2012.

Here's to reading in 2012!

Linking up with The Nester. What books have you read?

this week on my phone

2011-12-23T12:04:00.000-08:00

It's time for Insta-Friday at life.rearranged.

Monday the kids and I headed out to a museum nearby to take our Christmas card pictures. I planned to use this location last year, but the weather mocked me with windy and rainy days. There ended up being no card at all last year. We rarely get our Christmas card out before Christmas ~ that's what the week after Christmas is for at our house!

Oh, and Heather is not showing any skin or unnies on her backside. Her layered cami turned up white in this black and white filter.

The kids had their dental check/cleaning. No cavities here ~ although this one will be having a small procedure done in the summer. She's wigged out about it and keeps asking me if it will bleed. I keep telling her not to worry then change the subject.

Even with all the crap this child has had to endure in her tiny little mouth, she still likes the cleanings too. This time she got a couple of spacers to help some molars position themselves properly.

I finished the kids' Christmas shopping, but not before I got a little White Chocolate Mocha treat for Mommy. A couple of Greg's customers have given him gift cards in the past. He doesn't drink coffee so I get a treat once in a while when it's chilly out.

This year I have been lugging school work to dance class with me. I have spent most of the time grading papers and such, pulling out my book for only a little while if at all. Consequently, it has taken me forever to read this book. I left my school bag at home this week and focused on my book. And watching my pretties dance, of course.

I finished the book this morning. Now I can rent the movie next week.

I've been making pumpkin bread for neighbors and Greg's coworkers this week. Making pumpkin bread during the holidays is a tradition for me that started even before I met Greg. I've only used one recipe this whole time. It's oh so good. Why mess with what's right? There is also a pumpkin cookie recipe that I love.

Hmmm, maybe I'll make some of those too.

I've enjoyed this week off. I have spent time with the kids, gone shopping, baked, wrapped some, and worked on last minute projects. For the first time in a lot of years I am not stressed about the holidays. I am enjoying the moments leading up to it. I still have stuff to get done, and it will get done, but I'm not pulling my hair out over it. I like it better this way.

Today the kids and I are making ornaments.

What did you do this week?

on a sunday afternoon

2011-12-18T15:42:00.000-08:00

I was summoned to take a few action shots today.

I know lots of folk are dealing with snow and parkas right now. But in our neck of the woods the leaves don't fall until right before Christmas and the kids can wear shorts to play on a nice, sunny afternoon.

The girls and their buddy, Austin, raked and threw the leaves over and over today.

They couldn't get enough of making it rain down leaves.

Apparently they were all tuckered out and decided to nap in the leaves.

That is, until they couldn't hold a straight face anymore.

Oh, and believe me when I tell you I didn't win any popularity awards when I told them to bag up the leaves so Daddy doesn't have to.

it was so fun we did it again

2011-11-27T15:09:00.000-08:00

One of the perks of hosting Thanksgiving is having leftovers. But even though we practically cooked an ostrich, we didn't have as many leftovers as we wanted. One of the stores was having a sale on fresh turkeys. One thing led to another and before you know it we were sticking another turkey on the grill yesterday.

Greg asked if I got a picture of the ~~ostrich~~ turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Sadly, I did not. So here's a picture of our more scrawny bird the second time around. Even still tied up, she is a pretty bird.

I even made another batch of dressing to see if I could alter the recipe a little bit. It was drier and I liked it just fine. Greg said it was too dry. I also made more of the yummy homemade rolls that disappeared all too quickly. We warmed up a bunch of other leftovers and had Thanksgiving dinner all over again ~ except this time in our jammies.

We watched Elf and our traditional Thanksgiving weekend movie, The Christmas Story. We start our holiday season with that movie every year. We laugh over and over at that movie like it was the first time we'd seen it. Such classic lines.

Today we are staying in our jammies again and working on decking the halls. Greg is nursing a sore back so we are just taking it easy around here.

And you can be certain we won't be cooking another turkey any time soon.

new shop item

2011-11-26T06:33:00.000-08:00

I made these new camera strap covers for the craft boutique last weekend and have a few left.

They are double-sided and padded. What a fun way to jazz up your boring camera strap.

Plus, having a unique camera strap cover eliminates camera confusion at family/friend get-togethers. You won't accidentally walk away with someone else's almost identical camera.

These are in the shop now!

turkey

2011-11-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

We cooked it.

We marveled in its beauty.

We ate it.

We filled our house with people. There were twenty-three of us to be exact.

Moms, dads, grandparents, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles ~ all the likes.

These two are adding to our family. Kayla & Andrew's baby girl is due in the spring. I can't wait.

Everyone had a nice time ~ relaxing, laughing, catching up with each other.

We have so much to be thankful for, it's hard to even know where to begin. I am so thankful for this guy. He gets me. He keeps me grounded while letting me soar and be myself. He works hard to provide for our home and keep everyone in it safe and loved. He is my soul mate.

Greg usually sweet-talks his dad into carving the turkey. Clearly, Jim really enjoys this job. We cooked the turkey on the rotisserie again. Oh. my. word. Such a tender, juicy bird.

Some little people refused to eat. Like this one...

and this one. That's ok. Stay away from the Aunt Nell's salad. More for me.

We were able to get almost everybody seated in the same room. I'm hoping Wendy didn't mind me sitting on her lap!

Jared hunkered down with his plate for some serious eating. The only thing that makes a cook happier than a plate piled high is the empty plate at the end of the meal. His was empty.

I tried a couple of new recipes this year. The praline yams are a absolutely a keeper. At the last minute I tried the recipe on the can since I had all the ingredients handy. It was so good. The dressing recipe needs to be tweaked. I like mine dryish, but most everyone else likes theirs more moist. I tried a new one that was more moist and cooked in the crock pot. Perfect, right? It ended up being a little too moist. Greg said the flavor was great but we need to work on the moist factor. I wouldn't know. I didn't go anywhere near it with a fork cuz it was too mushy.

After dinner, the kids put on a fashion show for us. They came down several times in various outfits.

Someone asked where they got so much stuff. Let's see, Halloween costumes...dance costumes...dress up clothes...they keep everything for play.

Gavin couldn't get enough of the witch's hat.

As another Thanksgiving dinner at the Robinson's comes to a close, we are reminded of our blessings both big and small. Take a minute to count your blessings too.

this week in phone photos

2011-10-28T18:35:00.000-07:00

I'm joining life.rearranged today with my Instagram photos for the past week. I love that app ~ love the filters ~ love the little moments of life it catches for me.

Since school started, I haven't spent much time at the sewing machine. This past weekend I ignored my big bag o' schoolwork and did some sewing. I also did some napping, but that's beside the point. I will be in a craft boutique in November and I've got to get going. I have lots of ideas in my head ~ let's see what I can work out in time.

I was crafty and somewhat productive last weekend. I think I sewed 7 pouches and this banner. It's something new I'm trying. What do you think? Sure, I know, everyone has been doing these forever and I'm just now seeing fit to making one. It's really cute I think.

Well, shoot, where did the week go? Today the kids and I went shopping to get supplies for Halloween costumes and more fabric for crafty creations. I wore them out ~ they both fell asleep on the way home.

This will soon be a Halloween costume. Any guesses about what it will be? Don't think too hard about it, it's kinda obvious. I really hope this works. I've made and remade these costumes in my head over and over for the past couple of weeks. One prototype didn't work out and I had to rethink it. In my brain is the perfect solution. Let's just see if real life cooperates.

camping with family

2011-10-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

These days our lives are filled with all things busy. School started. Dance started. Homework started. I'm finding myself working more hours than the last several years. I brought home a pretty hefty bag of work this weekend. This doesn't make for much crafting or blogging time, I tell you. I have a craft show coming up in November, so I better get busy!

We did take time out about a month ago to go camping with Greg's sister, Wendy, and her family.

They camp in a 5th wheel. We camp in a tent. Honestly, the tent is fun except when somebody has to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. The campground where we usually go has pretty nice bathrooms, considering. We went to a different place closer to home this time & the bathrooms were g.r.o.s.s.! Let's just say I had a little quiet time with nature a few times in the middle of the night.

The weather was chilly ~ a nice reprieve from the still hot days. Shoot, our days are still hot now, even in the middle of October. The hatchets and axes came out and fun was had by all.

Greg taught the kids how to use the hatchet to chop wood.

Everyone got a turn.

He even taught the littlest cousin.

He was pretty proud of himself!

Check out Heather's concentration.

Do you think it run in the family?

Just before it was Sam's turn to use the ax (and while he wasn't looking), Wendy lodged the ax into the stump pretty hard to make him work at getting it out. Just as expected, he couldn't get it out.

Uh, I guess the joke was on Wendy, cuz she had quite the time getting it out herself. If I remember correctly, Greg had to get involved.

Yup, everything is fun and games until the ax gets stuck.

Grandma & Papa came up for the day with their little doggie.

There was a lot of sitting, eating, and relaxing. Can you see the dog waiting, hoping that Chris drops some of that beef jerky?

All this sounds pretty quiet and peaceful, right? Well we did have some excitement along the way besides middle of the night bathroom breaks. It was supposed to rain that weekend. Ha! Where we live if they say it's supposed to rain, it usually doesn't. But, we were in the mountains, so we were prepared with an extra tarp, towels, and blankets. We'd never been rained on while camping. And I wasn't interested in getting rained on.

Friday night ~ no rain.

It started raining Saturday. Off and on. Once a little bit hard. We even took a nap in the rain which was nice. After the rain we inspected the tent and only a tiny amount of leaking in a corner or two, so we mopped it up and left the towels to soak up any more potential water.

Saturday night in the middle of the night the heavens opened up wide! At first it was a spectacular show of thunder and lightening with the rain. The rain got harder and harder. It was so loud in that tent that we had to shout at each other to be heard. Greg was a foot away from Stephanie's face and shouting to be heard.

It was pretty exciting. It was a little bit scary.

And then.

It started hailing.

It got louder. It got a whole lot scarier.

Greg and I hurriedly got fully dressed because we thought we all might have to make a run for the camper. Things finally calmed down and we realized we wouldn't have to make a run for it after all. When we peeked out of the tent, the ground was covered in white.

The next day we found that the tent leaked quite a bit more than our middle of the night assessment. We were super glad for the tarp that was draped across the top.

We had a hot mess of wet stuff on our hands!

I informed Greg that it was fun and all, but no more rainy camping.

catching up

2011-09-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

Hello! Remember me? Once again, this holding down a job thing seems to be kicking my butt! But I'm here now, with pictures of the adorable babies. Be glad.

Because of scheduling issues, Greg was not able to take all the girls to the first day of school. Only one other time did this unfortunate event happen. All the other years, we've been lucky enough to have him off work on the first day of school.

No daddy on the first day of school means I'm in charge of the first day photos. Now I can take photos well enough, but that means I have to be extra organized and on time to have a moment to do that. Those of you who know me well, really well (or read well since I've told you before), know that being early is not my strong suit. Merely being on time is a huge challenge.

I think we did pretty well. Stephanie was not tardy the first day. Whew! For the record, she was only tardy twice last year. Uh, and once already this year. Yikes! I better clean up my act.

Stephanie and Heather were so excited to go back to school this year! Stephanie is in 7th grade and Heather is in 4th grade. Like every mom says, where has the time gone? Just look at them, all sassy and cute!

Stephanie is returning to the magnet school this year, which means uniforms for her. Well, uniform in a loose sense of the word. They actually call it student standard attire. A little more flexible. She chose a more casual outfit for the first day this year.

Stephanie had open house this past week. I love going to middle school open house. We go through her school day, going to each class. I'm liking all of her teachers so far. She is going to be starting work on a big semester project ~ a living museum. The kids will research someone from history, write a speech, then become that person for the living museum. I'm looking forward to that night.

Heather is still at school with me. When people find out that I've moved back to 4th grade, they ask if she will be in my class. Nope. She needs to be with other teachers during the day. We have mommy-school all the time. She needs another face during the day. Plus she absolutely adores her teacher & can't wait until she comes back from maternity leave.

Heather declared that she will be wearing more skirts and dresses this year. So far, she's kept to her pledge. I still have a few skirts to make that I promised her.

So far we are surviving this year. We are getting used to getting up at the crack of dawn, homework, lesson plans, more homework (Stephanie has lots), trying to go to bed early, grading papers, & getting presentably dressed every day again.

Just for fun, let's take a look back to the first day of school last year.

tales from the schoolyard

2011-08-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

School started yesterday and I am wiped out! This always happens the first week of school. I nearly fell asleep at my desk after school grading papers today.
My feet hurt because of new shoes.
The kids got blisters from their new shoes.
Cute new shoes can be a rough deal ~ but oh, so cute.
The kids were so excited to start school. The excitement is not waning.
Stephanie is a pro now at this middle school gig. 7th grade. Wow!
Heather is in 4th grade. Like me. But not in my class. Her teacher is on maternity leave until October. Heather is not happy about that, although she does like the sub.
Moving back to 4th grade has been a positive experience so far.
They get my jokes and twisty sense of humor.
My class seems sweet and so far they are behaved. Good behavior will continue because it's what I expect.
The one child whom I was most afraid of having in my class just may turn out to be a favorite. Go figure.
Students from last year have the good sense to come say hi to me and tell me they miss me.
There are first day pictures of the kids. So adorable. I'll post them this weekend.

what's black & white and cute all over?

2011-08-13T10:51:00.000-07:00

I've made a few of these pouches lately with either red or yellow ruffled flowers. Recently I was asked to make a pair and she said any color flower. So I took myself down the the store and found this cute pink and black polka dot. While I was making hers, I made an extra set.

I couldn't stop. I made a checkbook cover.

And another checkbook cover.

Then I went upstairs and made a black & white card with a little spot of color. The pink was a coincidence.

And one more card.

There's something really striking about black and white with an accent color. I may not be done with this theme.

Here's a little sneak peek at what's going on inside my classroom. Uh, it appears to be black and white. Maybe I've been thinking of my classroom all along as I crafted. Hmmm.

I'm sure you can guess what the theme is this year, right? I took some before pictures and will take loads of after pictures for you. I'm having lots of fun making a cute environment for the kids.

The pouches, checkbook covers, and cards have been listed in the shop. Do you want a pouch with a different color ruffle? Let me know.

lettuce wraps

2011-08-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

For several years now, the teachers in the 2nd grade have taken turns bringing lunches on Fridays. So each teacher had a turn every six weeks. It made for a happier morning every Friday knowing that I didn't have to worry about what to pack for lunch. I will miss these lunches!

Anyway, Helene would bring lettuce wraps every once in a while. We'd ask her how to make them and she'd him & haw around a little and tell us the basic ingredients. She didn't really use a recipe, so she had a hard time telling us how to make them.

I tried them a couple of times and finally came up with a combination that suits us. We tried hamburger, ground chicken, and ground turkey. We liked the ground turkey the best.

Be forewarned, like Helene & much to the dismay of my husband, I don't measure with this recipe. I just go with it until it seems right.

You will need:

1 lb ground turkey
mushrooms (5-10 mushrooms)
water chestnuts (I use about 1/2 to 2/3 of the can)
cilantro
garlic (can be fresh or jarred)
onion powder
teryaki sauce
soy sauce
potsticker sauce
lettuce (iceberg or romaine hearts)

Chop the vegetables. I like to chop the mushrooms quite small so they blend in well for those family members who seem to think they don't like mushrooms. I give the cilantro just a rough chop.

Spray a skillet with non-stick spray and start browning the meat along with the mushrooms.

When the meat is mostly cooked, add about 1/2 a teaspoon onion powder, the equivalent of a clove or two of garlic, and the water chestnuts. You want the water chestnuts to stay slightly crunchy, but you do want them to soak up all the flavors that are about to come to the party.

I like the pieces of meat to be pretty small. For years I wondered how to accomplish this until one day it dawned on me to use the potato masher. Brilliant! I didn't need to use it this particular time, but I use it frequently on ground beef.

After several experimental batches of lettuce wraps, this is the sauce trifecta for me! Start by adding about 2 tablespoons teryaki sauce and one tablespoon each of the potsticker and soy sauces. Then? You'll just have to taste it and add more of what you feel it needs. I almost always add more of each one. Let the sauces hang out with the meat for a bit, you know, everyone getting to know each other.

Just a few minutes before you are ready to serve it, add the cilantro. I would have never thought to use cilantro in an Asian dish ~ it just screams Mexican food to me. But it adds a bright layer of flavor that cannot be left out.

Serve with either iceberg leaves (like that very famous restaurant) or on hearts of romaine (like Helene does). I like the romaine & Greg likes the iceberg.

You can experiment with this meal so it better suits your tastes. You can add different vegetables, like shredded carrots. Or how about a little bit of chopped peanuts. Sesame seeds? Get daring & make it your own!

And there you have a satisfying meal that is figure friendly and health conscious. Your stomach will thank you and your hips will not betray you.

Linking to:

menu plan monday ~ august 8

2011-08-08T18:06:00.000-07:00

I went grocery shopping today, after I spent a few hours at school in what seemed like an unairconditioned room. I was hot and hungry by the time I got to the grocery store. That may have explained how the almond M&Ms ended up in the cart. And possibly how I let Heather talk me into the onion bagels with onion & chive cream cheese that weren't on the list. Dang!

In ended up going $22 over our grocery budget today. But while I was checking out the cashier asked if I'd do her grocery shopping cuz when she spends that much she only has three bags. I'll take that as a compliment.

Part of the reason I am able to stay anywhere near the grocery budget is the fact that I do have a list and a plan. I gave in to the bagels, but when Heather asked to have Chinese chicken salad for dinner this week I was strong and told her next week because I already have a plan.

This week we're having:

orange crumbed baked chicken (new) with mashed potatoes & gravy
chicken pot pie
vegetable soup
chicken quesadillas with corn salad
sour cream chicken enchiladas
pork chops & grilled corn

What's on your menu? I'm linking up with orgjunkie.com. Head on over to see what everyone else is cooking this week.

Tomorrow, I'll have a recipe for you.

overheard conversations

2011-08-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was reclining on the couch reading a book. The kids and their neighbor buddy were at the kitchen table having a snack when I hear these snippets of a conversation:

She's always reading a book.
She makes reading goals...and makes them.

Clearly, Austin asked about my reading habits and the girls were happy to supply him with information.

And I managed to completely avoid a h.u.g.e. project I'm working on by starting and finishing a book in a mere 20-hour period.

you know you're a teacher when...

2011-08-04T12:21:00.000-07:00

You know you're a teacher when going to the teacher supply store and walking out with new bulletin board trim makes you feel a little giddy inside.

How could this not be the start of a great year?

I've been to school twice this week ~ moving furniture and organizing my library. Moving grades and moving rooms this year means I have extra work to do. But really, there's something about that August 1st trigger that starts all the teachers thinking and itching. A little furniture shoving and bulletin board decorating is truly the only way to settle the nerves.

But I am conflicted because I'm not really ready for summer to be over. I'm enjoying the lazy days of sleeping in, hanging with the kids, dollar movies, and spontaneously visiting friends who've just had sweet babies who need a special Auntie cuddle.

Here's to just a little more summer!

you've got to read this!

2011-08-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

I might have a little bit of a crush on this man!

Oh, it's okay. Greg knows all about it.

Plus, it's purely educational.

His previous two books are truly motivational and so quick to read. This one is no exception. I saw The End of Molasses Classes on Amazon a few months ago and pre-ordered it right then and there.

This has been a perfect book to read just before the beginning of a new school year and the beginning of my new-again 4th grade experience. Even though the summer has done an amazing job of refreshing and reenergizing my spirit, reading a back-to-school book helped really get me in the mood for teaching. It reminded me of why I chose teaching as a profession in the first place ~ because let's be honest, it wasn't about the prestige and the money!

Ron Clark's approach to education is grounded, yet unconventional. He may bust a move on the tops of desks and have an amazing electric blue tube slide in the middle of his school, but he demands respect and hard work from his students. And they are glad to give it to him.

Teachers ~ I challenge you to get this book now and read it before school starts! Even if you come away with only one idea you can integrate into your classroom, it will have been worth the money for the book and the time to read it. You will not be sorry. I'm pretty certain, though, that you will come away with more than one idea.

Parents ~ This is a good book for you as well. Right in the middle, Ron Clark addresses some of your concerns and ways you can help your child be more successful in school.

I'm looking forward to more *Tales from the Schoolyard* posts, are you?

learn to sew

2011-07-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

It's on the kids' summer list.

Two Christmases ago, we bought Stephanie and Heather this teeny sewing machine because I had the bright idea to teach them how to sew.

Then I got scared. There might be fighting. Crying. Not listening.

So the box sat under my sewing table. Until now.

Yesterday, I pulled up my big girl panties and got the machine out for them.

The air was electric and giddy as I set up the machine and figured out how this little guy worked. We started with a very simple project (tissue cozy) to get used to the idea of ironing, seam allowance, backstitching, etc.

They were both very patient as they waited their turn. Heather ironed first, so Stephanie sewed first.

When she finished the last stitch, Stephanie was pretty proud of herself.

They are learning that sewing takes patience, concentration, and good eye-hand coordination.

This machine is rinky dink, I tell you. I almost marched it right out to the trash can before we even started. It was difficult for me to work with. When I texted Greg with my frustrations, he might have called me a sewing machine snob. Hmpf!

So what if I am?

Since the kids have no prior experience on a machine, they did not find it as frustrating as I did, however. At one point Stephanie even said, "This is easy!" The little machine can stick around a little bit. Maybe they can work up to a more legit machine by Christmas.

Heather was very surprised at one point during her stitching.

And found herself introduced to the seam ripper. Twice.

And we have a finished product. They were so proud of their cozies and so was their mama. We had a great time getting to the finish!

When we were all done, Heather said, "What are we sewing tomorrow?"

this is the story of a stool

2011-07-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

I got this stool for my classroom as I started my first year of teaching & she's been with me all along. This past school year marked my 15th year!

My friend and I each got one at an unfinished wood shop. We decided to paint the legs and rungs red, yellow, green, and blue. Hello, Bob Marley. We didn't do a great job at all. In fact, if I remember correctly we lost interest in finishing the job {happy hour was calling our name} and her father finished them for us.

During my second year of teaching, Greg made me a cool paint rack for my craft room, which he spray painted a pretty shade of blue. Bored of the rasta look, I asked him to spray my stool tool.

And so it has stayed that color since then. It started to show signs of wear. Just a little bit at first, then it got out of hand. I kept saying I was going to redo the seat. I even brought it home over a few long weekends only to take it back to school in the same shape. Last year I didn't even bother bringing it back to school because I was a little ashamed of how it looked. I went an entire year without her. I sure did miss her.

One of my missions this summer was to repaint her and give her a new seat.

Greg asked me if I was going to sand it down to the wood and start all over. "Why would I do that?" I asked him. Silly boy, too much work.

Oh, all right. But only part of the way down to the wood. I figured the surfaced needed to be a little bit prepared for repainting. You can see all the lovely colors it was painted the first time around. You can also see how Greg neatly taped off the seat when he sprayed it for me.

Next, I painted two coats of Antique Ivory.

It wasn't necessary to have the ivory coat be perfect because that is the underneath color that will show when the stool is distressed in the end. The main color of the stool will be black.

Rub a bent-because-it-was-in-the-heat candle where normal distressing might occur over time or any place you will want to sand the black away to reveal the ivory underneath. The candle wax acts as a resist so sanding to distress takes minimal effort. Remember, I didn't take it down to the natural wood and don't really want any of the primary colors showing though which could happen with too much elbow grease put into sanding later.

Of course, with any project, snacks are always nice. It's a good thing I have kids so there are occasionally Cheetos in the house!

Paint a coat of black. After the first coat of black, I pulled the vinyl seat cover and the batting off. This was pretty easy because it was really only held on by a few of the staples after all the years of wear. The foam was still in good condition, so I used it again in the recovering process later. I did decide to leave all the staples where they were.

After the second coat of black was applied and the underside of the seat was painted, I used this sanding pad to lightly sand the legs and rungs along the areas where I had applied the candle wax. I ran it lightly over most of the areas to add to the distressed look and give the wood a final smoothing.

Then I applied a brown antinquing gel over all surfaces so the ivory wasn't so stark. I started using a brush to apply, then wiping it off with a rag like I do when the entire surface is a lighter color. I ended up just applying it with the rag and rubbing it in a little.

Let that dry well overnight and apply a varnish of some sort. I used a satin finish applied with a brush, but you can find it in spray form as well.

Now for recovering the cushion. I traced the wood seat onto the back of my fabric. I picked a heavier weight fabric since it will see lots of action. I prewashed the fabric as well.

Then I added half an inch marks all the way around the circle for a seam allowance.

Carefully connect the dots to create the outer circle which is the cut line.

Cut out the circle.

I decided to get all fancy and add piping to my cushion. Cut strips of fabric on the bias to make bias tape to encase the piping cording. I needed to cut mine 1.25 inches based on the cording I had on hand. I used this tutorial to determine how wide my bias strips needed to be. You will need a finished product that is several inches longer than the circumference of the stool seat.

To attach your strips to make one long one, place them right sides together at a right angle with pointy parts hanging over a bit.

Stitch together using a 1/4" seam allowance. When you have enough strips sewn together, press the seams open and trim off the little triangles.

Place the cording inside the bias tape, wrong sides facing, and stitch as close to the cording as you can get using the zipper foot.

On the right side of the circle, pin your newly made piping, matching raw edges. Stitch, following the line of the stitching on the piping as closely as possible, still using the zipper foot. The same tutorial also shows two different methods for finishing the piping since this is a continuous loop.

For the band that goes around the side of the cushion, cut a strip that is the circumference of the stool top, plus one inch. For the width, measure your foam (mine was 2") and add 2.25" to 2.5" for seam allowances and room for it to tuck under the seat. That made mine 4.25" wide.

On one of the short sides of the band, make a mark at 1/2" and then 3/4" from the first mark. The 3/4" section will be left open for the casing. With right sides together stitch the 1/2" section and the longer section as shown. You are creating a tube.

Press the seams of the tube open. Then on the long side with the unsewn portion, fold and press at 1/2", then again at 3/4".

The section you left open for the casing should be on the wrong side of the tube at this point.

Stitch close to the edge, completing the casing.

Pin the tube to the circle, right sides together. Use plenty of pins. Stitch using a 1/2" seam allowance, using the regular foot at this point.

This should be the result. We are almost done! Snip the seam allowance every inch or so all the way around the circle.

For the drawstring, I wanted something that was thinner than the cording I used for the piping, but without a shiny finish so it would stay tied. This decorative trim I found at Hobby Lobby was the right size and the right finish. I cut a piece that was about 18" longer than the circumference so it would be easier to tie.

Using a safety pin, thread the drawstring through the casing.

Turn the cover right side out. Place the foam on the seat and then fit the cover over it. Pull the drawstring tight, making sure the cover reaches to the underside of the seat. Tie in a bow and tuck it all under the cover to hide the strings. I did end up cutting the length of the drawstring a little once it was tied.

All done. Isn't she pretty? A little bit fancy and a little bit distressed.

Here you can see where I tucked the drawstring back underneath the cover.

The best part about this cover is that if it gets dirty, I can take it off and wash it real quick. I can also make more covers easily without redoing the whole stool again. Maybe one for Halloween? Christmas?

One of the reasons I decided to distress the stool now is so when any wear happens from my feet resting on the rungs or from it getting jostled about in class, it won't look out of place. It will look like it was meant to be.

Here she is all gussied up with her first day of school outfit on!

I'm linking to:

menu plan monday - july 18

2011-07-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

We've been trying new recipes around here ~ some we are really in love with! This past week we tried a figure friendly chicken fried rice and a strawberry spinach salad. When Greg asked why I bought the lemons that were in the fruit bowl, I told him it was for the strawberry spinach salad dressing. And then one night he asked what was for dinner and I told him strawberry spinach salad. Every single time I mentioned that meal he said, "Why do you keep saying those two words together?" Turns out, he l.o.v.e.d. it! Even though Stephanie was skeptical about the spinach leaves altogether, she thought it was pretty good. I highly recommend it! So light and refreshing.

This week we are trying a couple of new recipes as well. Some are familiar dishes with a new spin. Hopefully these will be just a delicious as the ones we've tried recently.

chicken marsala (new recipe)
green chile-chicken casserole (new recipe)
classic spaghetti & meatballs (new recipe)
southwest salad with cilantro lime dressing
chicken quesadilla with corn salad (new recipe)
vegetable barley soup

What's for dinner at your house? Visit Finding Joy in My Kitchen (guest host for Menu Plan Monday this week) for more menu planning inspiration.

See you in the kitchen!

birthday sale!

2011-07-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Greg's birthday is this weekend!

To celebrate, let's have a sale today and tomorrow. Use the code

BIRTHDAY15

in my shop to get 15% off your purchase (before shipping).

What are you waiting for? Go now!

adventures at the dentist ~ day 2

2011-07-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

Day two at the dentist this week. Turns out ~ no impressions ~ just like last time. Stephanie did, however, get fitted with her second occlusal guard.

She has to wear this 24 hours a day for two weeks, then 12 hours a day. We've been down this road before.

She's a little frustrated because she has to learn to talk with it in all over again. She was a little sore after a couple of hours. There's a lot of extra spit right now (lovely, right?).

She is quite thankful that the period of wearing it 24 hours a day is happening in the summer, not during school. Whew! Good thing the dentist pulled that tooth instead of letting it take its own sweet time.

But all in all, she's a good sport!

adventures at the dentist

2011-07-14T17:33:00.000-07:00

Somebody wasn't happy with the our trip to the dentist today. Heather had to have a filling. She knew it, of course, but I was purposefully vague about the details ~ namely the s.h.o.t. It wasn't until she was sitting in the chair chatting me up while we waited our turn that she found out.

Sheer terror washed the color out of her face.

Good thing I said "heck yes" to the laughing gas when they asked if I wanted her to have it.

A few tears were shed when she got the shot, but other than that she was a brave girl. The dentist even complimented her on being really still for him. Imagine this is the one I used to have to physically hold down so the dentist could look in her mouth as she thrashed and screamed bloody murder.

Somebody else's dentist visit was less traumatic. Stephanie got three sealants. As the dentist was doing the scheduled ortho check, he reached in and unceremoniously yanked out her last baby tooth.

Last.

One.

That was a little traumatic for me! Maybe I needed some laughing gas too!

That last baby tooth had been loose and needed to come out in preparation for her next appliance ~ another occlusal guard. This rounds out her 4th appliance. We are thankful for these appliances because it seems as if we may have successfully dodged the braces bullet. The route she started in second grade has been a long one, but a less painful one for her...and a cheaper one for us than braces would have been.

Impressions are tomorrow. She's thrilled because she wants to get the period of wearing it 23 hours a day over before school starts.

Apparently she's forgotten the drama involved with impressions.

And gagging.

I know, I know, what kind of mama makes a pitiful-faced patient go to Hobby Lobby after all that? Luckily much was made better by some pampering attention and a piggy-back ride from her older sissy.

new shop item

2011-07-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

When Greg was on vacation and we took the kids and their friends to the indoor amusement park, Stephanie's friend carried a little drawstring backpack with her wallet, phone, etc. inside. It was perfect because it was smallish like a purse tweens like to carry, as well as being hands free.

While cute enough, it was just a solid color. And it had no inner pockets.

That got me thinking.

And that got me making.

So here we have the drawstring backpacks that are kid/tween/teen sized. They are kid/tween approved as well. With each one I make Stephanie and Heather claim that one is the one they want.

These drawstring backpacks are great for trips to the amusement park {well, of course}, the mall, the beach, or the pool. They can be used to tote P.E. clothes to and from school. Really, they are wonderful for anytime you need to carry something, but don't want to bother with a purse or regular-sized bulky backpack.

Check out those glasses! They both have the same pair. Who could say no to them when they were on sale at Old Navy for a dollar & change!

You can find these adorable drawstring backpacks in the shop right now.

All six of them.

Unless you don't hurry.

And someone beats you to them.

Each one is lined with something fun inside and there are pockets!

Here's a peek at what I couldn't resist yesterday. I went for a specific fabric, which they were out of, and came home with all this instead.

menu plan monday ~ july 4

2011-07-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, America! Do you have big plans today? We are going to Greg's sister's for swimming, then out to see some fireworks. That is...if it doesn't rain. We had a pretty big storm here last night.

With Greg off for a week, we have been busy losing track of days over here. We've messed up our schedule pretty good, too. We might have eaten dinner around 10 p.m. and gone to bed near 1 a.m. a time or two this past week. Now it's time to rotate our schedules back to normal since he goes back to work tomorrow.

A couple of weeks ago I told you I was going to try a recipe for lemon pineapple cake mix cookies with pineapple glaze. At first I was thinking they weren't turning out. I was worried that Greg wasn't going to like them, so I even made a back up pan of brownies. He l.o.v.e.d. them. He inhaled them. They are so easy to make. You can get the recipe from Eat at Home. Try them. You'll like them.

What's on your plate this week? We'll be having:

taco ring
cheesy chili casserole
bountiful brunch pizza
chinese chicken salad
nachos
hamburgers & corn on the cob

I'm trying two new recipes this week ~ cheesy chili casserole and bountiful brunch pizza. I'll let you know how they turn out. Perhaps there will be photographs.

I'm linking up to orgjunkie.com. Don't know what to have for dinner this week? Go check out tons of menu plans to get some fresh ideas.

instafriday - saturday version

2011-07-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

What? Today is Saturday?

I know. I didn't get to Instafriday yesterday. But here we are today. This week I used the same filter on all my Instagram photos ~ Earlybird. I think it might be one of my favorites.

It's no secret I iron a.l.o.t! I cannot stand to wear unironed clothes. I also iron everyone else's clothes in the house too. I am also a firm believer that an iron is a secret weapon in sewing. You can just imagine how often that baby is plugged in! My iron has been leaking for months and months. But it still worked and it was a fancy Rowenta so I dealt. This week Greg took it apart to see if he could fix it.

Um.

Irons aren't really meant to be taken apart.

Greg was going on an errand so I printed out the description of an acceptable iron and told him my must-haves in an iron in case Target didn't have the one I picked.

He and the kids picked this one out for me. A Rowenta PROFESSIONAL! He decided that with the vast amounts of ironing I do, I must be considered a professional.

Let me just say ~ it's awesome!

Greg is on vacation this week. Instead of going out of town, we've been having a little staycation here at home. We took the kids and a friend each to a nearby place with some indoor rides. This picture was just after a ride that turns the ~~suckers~~ riders upside down and pauses before setting in motion again. No thanks. I just watched. If I'm going upside down, it's gotta be at high speeds. The ride with two loops and corkscrews was more my speed.

Easy and cool summer dinner ~ egg salad sandwiches.

I'm working on more craft show things. These are button bookmarks.

This is the dishwasher ~ on it's backside ~ in the garage. Fortunately these are meant to be taken apart and Greg was able to fix it ~ saving us hundreds of dollars. He's my hero!

He had to go get a part for it and when he got home I told the kids that the part wouldn't be available for a week, which meant they'd have to hand wash all the dishes until then. I was having a hard time keeping a straight face during the charade. Much to my surprise they looked at each other, hoorayed, and said that it would be fun.

Wha?

Not exactly the reaction I was expecting.

Later that evening when they were using the dishwasher we asked them about hand washing. We were told that that would only be fun if the dishwasher were actually out of commission for a week. Since it's available, it's no longer fun.

Greg said he could unplug it for them.

perspective

2011-06-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

Greg and I are blessed to have such.good.kids.

That being said, we've been a little frustrated lately about their reluctance to do their chores and the attitude that inevitably comes along with it. Every once in a while, they will bust out some chores with a great attitude. But daily? Notsomuch.

The other day when they were getting the chores-are-here-to-stay-so-get-used-to-it lecture, an idea dawned on me. I decided to help them change their perspective. We had just gotten home from somewhere and had seen the familiar woman begging for money on the freeway off ramp. The people we see asking for money bother the kids ~ they feel bad for them.

So I told the girls that doing dishes is a privilege because that means they just had a nourishing meal.

Helping out around the house is a privilege because that means we have a nice place to sleep.

They should be happy they get to fold their laundry because that means they have clean clothes.

I pointed out that the woman they just saw would be glad to *have to* do her chores because that would mean she had a house. Instead of grumbling, they should be glad that they *get to* do their chores.

I told them since God has seen fit to give their parents jobs that pay for a house, clothes, food, and extras that they should be thankful to do their part to help out.

Let's face it, chores are not glamorous, but I'm hoping this changes their perspective a little bit.

Then I started thinking that maybe the next time I'm about to grumble about something, I should look at the other side of it & change my perspective too.

Try it next time you are feeling like being a little grumbly. Let's see what happens!

instafriday

2011-06-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

I got a new app for my phone ~ Instagram. So cool. I love making pictures look like they were taken *back in the day*. There are quite a few filters you can choose from to apply after you take the picture. The app also has a sharing feature where you can upload them to Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Anyway, I'm joining Life.Rearranged in sharing my Instagram photos for this past week. You don't have to have Instagram to participate ~ you can share any phone photos.

Here's my week:

Still making more pouches and other sundry items for my upcoming craft show.

I can't get enough of these dancing beauties. Although, I do have to say that it's been nice not driving to dance practice this week. We're off until August. This kids will be so excited to start again.

Daddy took the kids to a water park this week {check off an item from our list}. They all came home sun-tired, sun burnt, and smelling like sunscreen. There were two bottles of sunscreen in the bag (neither expired), but for some reason the bottle that Greg and Stephanie used didn't work and they got burned.

I had two classes and two meetings this week {paid - yay!} which is why I was absent from the water park. The meetings were with my 4th grade buddies to plan for next year. I've been out of the 4th grade mode for a little while now and some things have changed since I was there, so my head was certainly spinning a bit from thinking about the entirety of it all.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I hear ~~the washing machine~~ my sewing machine calling my name.

menu plan monday ~ june 20

2011-06-20T17:25:00.000-07:00

Hey, it's been a while since I officially menu planned. It's high time I get back on that wagon. So this week we'll have:

BBQ chicken pizza
shredded beef enchiladas
BBQ pork sandwiches with cole slaw
chef salad
Swedish meatballs
alfredo chicken bake
steak with pasta salad

During the summer months, I'm going to try to bake something at least once a week. This week I'm going to try a recipe for lemon pineapple cookies with pineapple frosting. I'll let you know how it turns out. I'm also wanting to try out some new recipes to hopefully add to our list of favorites. This week, the new recipe happens to be a dessert.

I'm linking up to orgjunkie.com.

you melt me

2011-06-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

People, it's dance recital time of year again. I love this time of year. The kids work so hard from August until now and they finally get to show it off on the big stage. Boy do they love the big stage. I have lots of pictures to show you today, but this is a just small fraction of the costume photo shoot. Enjoy!

Heather really pulled her tricks out of the bag this year. She was finally able to do a back handspring without a spot. Funny this is that for the last two years the only real spot she was getting was a couple of fingers placed on her back. She didn't have the confidence, even though she had the skill, to pull it off by herself.

Oddly enough, the thing that gave her that last boost of confidence was learning how to do an aerial cartwheel a week and a half before the show.

That's right, you heard me.

She had been having half an hour extra practice a week to get this back handspring down. One night, just a week and a half ago, her regular teacher wasn't there and a guy who sometimes fills in was helping her. Because she was getting so frustrated, he redirected her energies by taking her to the trampoline to begin to teach her an aerial and some other moves. She was really getting it on the trampoline that night. The next day she said, "Mommy, watch" and busts out an aerial on the ground. I got a little light headed watching her! The transfer of tricks from trampoline to terra firma is not always so smooth. But this time, she nailed it. At her dress rehearsal I told her teacher what happened and she excitedly exclaimed, "It's in the show!"

And doing that back handspring without a spot ~ piece of cake. Go figure.

Stephanie and Heather take their gymnastics class together, so they always have one costume in common.

Stephanie is a little jealous of Heather's aerial. That's ok ~ sometimes a little jealousy spurns the desire to do more. I'm wondering who might be doing an aerial next year!

I know I've said this before, but even though I watch them all throughout the year, I am always awestruck seeing their final performance. I can only imagine what it is like at recital time for the rest of the family and friends who don't the journey to their final product.

I will admit, though, that I don't always watch them very closely in gymnastics. I peek in here and there because it makes me kinda nervous when they are learning new tricks. It's just better if I don't see all the trips and almost falls on the way to a mastered trick.

Stephanie was in intermediate ballet this year. Ballet is her thing. Like last year, her class combined with the advanced class for the recital. They wear different costumes and do a dance that ends up reading like a conversation between to the two sets of girls. It's really sweet to watch.

Stephanie is one of the youngest in her class (one other girl is her age) and certainly the smallest in her class. Size and age doesn't stop this girl. She is equally matched in talent and skill with the older girls in class.

Heather took intermediate tap/jazz class again this year. Tap is her thing. She loves this class and loves her teacher. Normally, they do one number ~ either tap or jazz, but this year they did one of each for the show.

And her aerial was incorporated into the jazz number at the last minute instead of a different running trick. Her teacher tends to have one part of the dance where each girl is showcased doing something different. This year she showed off her backbend walkover, coffee grinder, and aerial.

At the end of the recital, they are always a little sad that it's over. They'd do it all again on stage tomorrow if they could. Don't worry girls, classes start up again in August.

After the recital and dinner out, the kids wanted to play with Greg's camera. He did *ghost* pictures with them.

Then it appears that Heather had another photo shoot. Earlier in the day we kept telling her to do another pose, not just stand there. She kept saying she didn't know what to do.

Apparently this was practice for next time.

I'm thinking that Stephanie hogged the camera, because there was only one post of Stephanie.

Me? Well I cozied up with a book while they goofed off.

What a good day!

lazy day in the sun

2011-06-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

The sun shines here all.the.time. Well, nearly. And it's hot. So, on a lazy Friday {did I mention we're on summer break? hee hee} what else can you do but make the best of it? Oh sure, you can save yourself the sweat and stay inside, but the kids need to get outside.

The other day, Heather found some skinny balloons and a balloon pump in the goodwill bag. Miss Nosey Pants demanded to know how they got there. {shoulder shrug from me} The pump lasted about two seconds before it broke, so they wanted to make water balloons.

I sat outside while they tried this and played around with Greg's camera. I was messing around with settings and practicing my steady hand with the telephoto lens.

The skinny balloons didn't work at all since they were likely destined for balloon animals. The kids found a few more balloons in the house {Where do they keep this crap?} and filled those. Greg took one look at this picture and asked them if the balloons popped. Yes, of course. He told them that the grass blades will pop the balloons and you can't fill them in the grass. Then he looked at me wondering why I didn't give them the proper balloon filling advice. {shoulder shrug again} Hey, what do I know about this?

Since they only had a few balloons, they didn't want to knot them because their fun wouldn't last very long. Their plan was to use them over and over again.

A split second after they proudly displayed their balloons for the paparazzi, Stephanie turned and dumped her balloon on Heather.

Then it was on and the screaming began. I apologize now to any neighbors who may have infants napping or swing shift occupants sleeping.

More shrieking and chasing.

The water balloons didn't last long and they moved to just playing with the hose. At one point they draped it over the swing set and twirled in and out of the water.

They pretended to be fountains as they posed and spit out water.

Good times. Good times.

I didn't last long outside. It was hot. But the kids had a ball.

Turns out that I need more practice with that camera (even though I use it all the time) because my photo session was tainted since one of the knobs on the top of the camera was inadvertently set to something funky. No wonder I was frustrated that I couldn't get any consistent shots.

I'm sure the kids will be willing to play outside again so I can practice with the settings.

what did you do this week?

2011-06-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

I have been completely enjoying my time off school this week (and I may gloat about it a little while longer). My expectations for this week were low. I wanted to just take it easy for a week. Plus the kids have had a few last practices for their dance recital coming up. We've slept in (just kidding, Greg), watched movies, and read books.

I did manage to make some more items for the shop.

I'm getting stocked up on zipper pouches for the Christmas in July show that I will be doing ~ in July.

I also photographed and listed a couple of things that have been ready for a while.

This paper bag scrapbook album turned out so fun and summery. It's been a while since I made one of these and I forgot how fun they turn out. I have more paper bags ready to go for more albums. What should their theme be? I'm taking suggestions.

It has 10 inside pages and 8 tags. Lots of spaces for pictures and journaling.

And last, but not least, I have another sign. This one is a grayish color and will go just about anywhere.

Be on the lookout for more stuff in the shop soon.

summer list

2011-06-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

Meg has made a summer list and posted it on her blog for several summers. Good idea, but with the shortness of our old track breaks, we never got around to it. Now that we are being reintroduced to a good old fashioned summer, I figured it was high time we ~~copy her~~ do one of our own.

I don't want the summer to whittle away with good intentions. Our list will help us be more purposeful with our days. Of course, a day (or several) of t.v. watching and just playing is just fine too. So the kids and I sat down to make our list.

Some of the items on the list will be recurring ~ like the movies & the library. One item in particular I've been putting off for a long time now ~ teaching them to sew. Hopefully this will be the summer! Our list isn't too specific either. Maybe we'll work on a second list showing more specifically what we did this summer.

See you in the heat wave!

tales from the schoolyard

2011-06-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

This will be the last installment of Tales From the Schoolyard for a little while cuz we're out for SUMMER! Whew! This day was long anticipated. Coming into this 9-month school year from several years of a year-round schedule, teachers and students alike were craving the regular breaks we were not getting. Now, we have the long, hot, beautiful summer to recuperate & recharge. Since the summer is hotter than snot here, the majority of the recharging will occur indoors. No sense getting crazy.

I have so many plans swirling around in my head for the summer. I am thinking there may not be enough weeks! Some plans include some reorganization and a Christmas in July craft show. I also plan on chatting a little more often here too.

Oh, and next year will bring a whole new variety of Tales for you. I will be teaching 4th grade in the fall. The Tales are likely to get wild.

My return to 4th grade was a last minute thing ~ I've known less than two weeks. Some circumstances left a 4th grade position open and my principal asked if I'd consider moving. So I've spent the last week and a half packing up my 2nd grade stuff and resurrecting my 4th grade stuff from it's sleepy storage in the garage. I've packed up my classroom and moved to a larger room (more students in 4th grade). I'm pooped!

I'm excited about this new adventure (even if I am a little scared to go back to 4th grade) and I'm looking forward to working with my new teammates ~ Alana and Angela. Today at lunch Angela said we are the Triple As. Hmmm. We might just be a force to be reckoned with.

Better watch out!

tales from the schoolyard

2011-05-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

Today as we were leaving the classroom, I saw Mr. Carrots with a long face. I asked him what was wrong:

Mr. Carrots: (dramatically) Everyone in the class can speak Spanish except me.

Me: I can't speak Spanish.

Mr. C: (indignant) I mean KIDS.

I told him there were also at least two or three kids who don't speak Spanish either and that he could learn Spanish in jr. high or high school.

That seemed to be of little consolation to him.

special delivery

2011-05-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

Four and a half more weeks of school. Twenty-two more days, to be exact, until my summer break starts. Should I count the hours? I might be a just little bit ready for it to come. I have big, big plans for the summer and I need some time to get them done. Stephanie is sick and tired of waking up at the crack of dawn. Needless to say, she is more than anxious for summer break and sleeping in until I make her get up unnecessarily at 10 a.m. Heather is just wants more time to play outside.

To help ease the pain, the second grade teachers are hosting a two-week career extravaganza. This spells m.a.n.y. a.s.s.e.m.b.l.i.e.s! We invited the parents of our students to come share their careers with the second graders. Not so many responded, so we supplemented with some of our own peeps.

Today, Greg was our guest speaker. He was awesome! He prepared an outline of what he planned to talk about. He also prepared a timeline to make sure everything fit in his time slot. He captivated the kids. They were mostly all attentive, which is a feat of skills itself the last hour of the day sometimes. They remembered their manners and asked only appropriate questions ~ you just never know what they will ask!

To end his talk, the kids participated in a demonstration of the hub & spoke delivery system and they all got a letter from the principal addressed to and delivered to them.

We've invited him to speak again next year!

These pictures have nothing to do with the topic of this post. I forgot to take pictures of Greg's presentation, but thought these were fun. This one? Of Stephanie driving? Let's just say the future scares the snot out of me!

I might need a valium!

in my backyard

2011-04-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

There are so many pretty sights and smells going on in the backyard right now. Let's take a little walk around the yard.

In the island we have this. We don't know what this is. When the shoots first started, Greg thought it was the garlic he planted after it started sprouting in the kitchen.

When it first started to bloom, I told him that I didn't know garlic had such pretty flowers. And I'm thinking these are too big now to be garlic. But, what do I know, right?

Then I remembered that on impulse he bought some bulbs one day while he was shopping for other yard stuff. Was that last year? Or the year before? He usually keeps careful record of what we plant. But this impulse was left unrecorded.

Regardless, we have a few of these pretty little plants in the island that smell good too. I'm thinking maybe it's some sort of iris.

Last year we planted vines around the posts of the pergola. One of them is a honeysuckle vine. Oh, sweet honeysuckle. The smell reminds me of being a child and living in Texas for a few years. Our neighbors had these trailing all over the fence that separated our yards. We used to spend idle time sucking the nectar out of the flower.

Apparently, Greg used to do the same thing as a child.

So we stood out there the other night, trying to relive the past & find that elusive nectar. Nothing. We tried several different ways only to be left unrewarded.

Huh.

Oh well, they still smell reminiscently beautiful.

We also have jasmine vines working their way up the posts. These have a different olfactory memory for us.

Greg and I were married outdoors in the month of May. All around the gazebo, jasmine bushes were abundant and in full bloom. When I smell them I am reminded of that sweet day I married the love of my life!

The daisy bushes are working on being fully covered in flowers. Such a simple, easy to take care of bush with a very pretty result!

here's a sign

2011-04-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

Greg's cousin, Kayla, got married last Saturday. It was such a gorgeous wedding. We had a nice time catching up with family members we don't get to see very often and those we do see more often. Everyone was dressed up with somewhere to go!

For their wedding gift, I wanted to make something just for them. I wanted it to be personal. I thought this sign would be a perfect addition to the new house they bought and are fixing up.

I do have to confess ~ I totally copied this idea from Sasha at Lemonade Makin' Mama. I wasn't sure what colors they used to decorate their house, so I picked colors that I think will go with just about anything. Pretty neutral.

I love the soft blue of the background and how it takes on a subtle & worn look when I antiqued it.

We had a chance to visit Kayla's new house this week. The colors of the sign are just right and will look awesome in their new home.

I pretty much love how the sign turned out!

So, why stop there! I'm on a roll. While Greg was cutting the length of the wood down for me, I had him cut a few other lengths as well.

For this sign I used the same colors again. I added more of the scroll work behind the letters.

This sign will be perfect for a kitchen, dining room, or anywhere else people eat. I distressed and antiqued it. It's a little bit shabby and a whole lot of chic!

I already started another one with a different (yet equally neutral) background color. What should it say? Any ideas? Leave your ideas in the comments!

because we are classy like that

2011-04-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

You know that I am all about being a little more green and doing what we can to be nicer to the planet, right? The kids and I usually take cloth napkins in our lunch. We try to use containers in our lunches rather than plastic baggies. We do what we can.

I am especially all for being a little more green when it requires little or no work on my part. For a while now, the kids have been saving soda cans and redeeming them at the recycling center for cash for the ice cream man. They are learning about recycling, responsibility, and that hard work can sometimes be rewarded with monetary gains. Plus we don't have to shell out money for the ice cream man! Little is required of me except to ~~nag~~ remind them to take the cans to the big bins in the garage on a regular basis. Once we have several trash bags full of cans, the kids crush them to take them to the recycling center.

To crush them, the kids set them up on the driveway. Um, yeah, we might drink a lot of soda. Then the crushing can begin.

This time, their buddy, Austin helped out. After the cans are set up, the kids sit in the grass and watch the show. (Oh my! Check out those filthy knees!)

Daddy does the crushing! He drives up the driveway and back, crushing the cans with his truck. The kids scream in delight as the truck comes closer. I'm the lookout. I make sure the kids stay where they are supposed to.

This time we had a little audience because Greg's mom, his grandma, and Danny happened to be at our house. They were alternately amazed and amused. Greg told his mom how his dad used to do this to help him and his sister crush cans when they were little. She had no recollection of this event taking place in her driveway. Danny? He just thinks we are all nuts!

After the truck was done, the kids finished off the job with their scooters. Really, no additional cans were crushed, but they had a good time screaming their way through the pile.

Me? I just kept taking pictures and more pictures. I'm about to get that look from Greg because I keep getting closer and he knows that all photos may potentially end up all over the internet. Here he's still amused by me, but I'm pushing my luck. Hee hee.

Since the cans now have sharp edges, Greg shovels them in the bag while the kids hold it open. Five or six big trash bags of cans were crushed and fit back into just one trash bag. The kids made out with $17.55 for their efforts these past few months. I think I hear the ice cream man.

And yes, the irony that we are using up perfectly good diesel fuel to crush cans to be kinder to the environment is not lost on me. Maybe one day we will invest in one of those crushers that hangs on the wall. But for now, this is fun that can't be missed.

tales from the schoolyard

2011-04-18T10:11:00.000-07:00

Here I am in my much anticipated return to blogging (hmpf). I thought I'd kick off our spring break week with a few tales from the schoolyard. With moving from a year-round schedule back to a nine-month schedule and Easter being so late this year ~ the students and teachers are very much in need of a break. We spent the last few weeks in survival mode ~ counting the days ~ and there may have been just a few testy moments.

However, this particular moment is one for sharing:

At the end of the day, during clean up time, a student comes up to me to share something.

Student: Mrs. Robinson, I eat carrots like junk food.

Me: Oh yeah? Do you know what carrots are good for?

Student: Uh-huh, your eyes. (pause) So I usually make sure I eat an even number of carrots ~ for each eye.

I had a good belly laugh from that little guy. He made my day.

Our weather has been unseasonably cold and unseasonably warm ~ sometimes in the same week for the past month or so. I have worn capris and sandals in the same week as my winter coat and gloves! The air conditioning and heater at school is controlled by our central school district office. {They don't trust us?}

Getting the right type of air flow through the vents is apparently pretty tricky because one particular afternoon the air should have been on. It wasn't. During math in the afternoon I started getting that dizzy, nauseous feeling. I was being bugged by the fact that my hair was touching me! I needed a ponytail holder.

I rummaged through my purse. Nothing.

I rummaged through my desk. Nothing.

I am usually better prepared for these sorts of things. I sent one of my students to Heather's room to see if she had one in her backpack. {My students are no longer phased by my unusual requests!} Nothing. I was forced to use an office supply rubber band. Boys, ask any girl and they will tell you this is a hair no-no and painful to remove.

The next morning after a meeting, I found this pony and note on my desk. Heather made sure to bring one to school just for me in case I needed it later. It's now sitting in my desk for the day I have emergency pony needs. I'm willing to bet she has a spare in her backpack too.

One of my students is absent a.l.o.t. Her parents claim she is sick every time, complete with a fever.

Right.

I think she has an acute case of I'm-spoiled-and-don't-want-to-go-to-school-itis. She was absent twice last week. After the first absence, I got this note.

Please excuse {Absent Allthetime} from school Tue. 12th She stubbed her big toe and counldnt put pressure on it.

First off, maybe mom needs to come in for a little lesson in punctuation. Secondly, really? That's funny ~ she was walking just fine on Wednesday even with closed toe shoes.

Here's to a great spring break! I promise not to stay away so long this time.

tales from the schoolyard

2011-03-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

The clock in my classroom has been wonky off and on for a while now. Usually it speeds ahead exactly one hour. We deal with it.

But last week it was turning in warp speed and the minute hand was not even correct. We could not deal. I asked the custodian to help me. He put in a work order for me. Sure enough, the clock fixed itself and went back to normal. Of course.

I have no idea how these things happen. It's hooked up to something and syncs. Sort of. Apparently not very well, though.

Yesterday afternoon I looked at the clock and panicked. How had a complete hour gone by without me noticing?! We still had so much more to do today! For someone with passage of time issues, this was not good news.

Until I looked at my watch and realized the clocked had shimmied ahead an hour again.

Coincidentally, the school district guy came to fix my clock yesterday just after my mini-panic. He replaced it with a clock that has a yellower face. It doesn't look right.

Yes, I noticed.

Starting our wants & needs unit, I asked the kids to make a list of everything they cannot live without. I told them to write down everything they must have to live.

The first item on one boy's list was glue.

I hear ya, buddy!

If you've been reading along, you know that I had finally found my joy again this year only to have it ripped out from under me. (Read here if you need to.)

Last Monday I came home in a super pissy mood and was boo hooing about lots of stuff. Considering we had staff development (with no kids) that day, this was not a good sign. While sharing my misery with Greg, he shared some wisdom with me. He told me that I let one seven year-old kid single-handedly rob me of my joy. I let him be in charge. I had given him my power.

There he goes being right again!

So, while crying at the kitchen sink, I made a decision right then and there that this joy thief would no longer be able to steal my joy. If he cannot follow the directions then he will be asked to leave the room. If he wants to be part of our class, he will play by my rules. He is becoming very familiar with the tile spot outside my doorway. This way he is not part of the room, but can still hear every word I utter because the door is always open. He will not ruin this year for the students and me. One child will not dictate how this classroom is run, especially to the demise of the other twenty students. I'm in charge here. The end.

Since then, things have been much better. The joy is coming back. Of course, yesterday was a super-sweet day because he got in trouble for fighting last week and had in-school suspension all day. That's too bad.

potpourri

2011-03-07T05:21:00.000-08:00

No, not the aromatic kind of potpourri ~ just a mish mash of stuff. I'm working on some new items for the upcoming holidays.

The kids were glad to get packed lunches three days last week. That's a miracle these days because I seem to be pushing the time envelope in the morning closer and closer.

Friday night I stayed late at work to write report card comments. This can take a while because I want to make sure to say just the right thing for each child. There are some global statements, like reading levels, that go in every comment. But I also try to mention specific praises or areas of concern/suggestions for improvement.

I came home to this message. It says, "Reserved for Mommy!!" in case you can't tell.

Greg and the kids were watching a movie with popcorn, of course. Heather insisted on saving me some. How sweet!

I spent most of the day Saturday and Sunday at the computer working on my third of the yearbook. I may or may not have waited until the 11th hour to start this. I have one more weekend to work on it and I'm about 33% done.

I relearned a lesson the hard way on Saturday. I was clipping along working on two collage pages at once. I had the layout done and about half the photos selected and cropped. All I had to finish was the rest of the selecting and cropping then finalize placement. All of a sudden my application "unexpectedly quit." Those are the computer's words, not mine. When I reopened the files I was met with the unpleasant realization that I had worked for over an hour without saving.

I know better than that!

That's when my migraine started.

Sunday went much more smoothly.

I am thankful for Greg for going grocery shopping for us. I am not thankful for the rising prices of food.

daddy's little helper

2011-03-01T19:05:00.000-08:00

Greg has been working on some problem with the sprinklers all.the.dang.day ~ that is after he went grocery shopping this morning after dropping me off at work. I know. Spoiled! He's all mine, girls. You can't have him! Anyway, after he picked Heather and me up from school after her drama practice and went to yet another store with us for some value priced hamburger meat, Heather was excited to hear he wasn't done with the ~~project that never ends~~ sprinkler repair so she can help. Greg was not so enthusiastic about having to work on it now that the sun has gone down and there is the possibility of getting wet.

Greg is always super thrilled when I pull out the camera in the middle of a frustrating job and take pictures of him endlessly. He's filled with an extra measure of joy when he finds out these pictures get plastered on the net for the whole world to see. {Please read with a sarcastic voice.}

Apparently Heather is the hold-this-glued-up-piece-so-dirt-doesn't-get-on-it girl. It's a small, but crucial job.

She, on the other hand, really was super thrilled for me to be messing around with the camera during her helping job. And of course, she wanted to know if these pictures were destined for blogland. Hello? Do you know me at all?

from february into march

2011-02-28T16:57:00.000-08:00

Can February really be over? Time for the February goal recap!

Read 2 books. Nope. Read one. I'm a little behind here.

List 5 new items in the shop. Nope. Listed three.

Clean out and organize the 4 drawers in the kitchen island which have inadvertently become semi junk drawers. Nope. Maybe I'll move this task to spring break.

Make a bread recipe at least once. Nope ~ well, only if you count the cinnamon rolls I helped Heather make on President's Day.

Iron our school clothes the night before to help alleviate morning ~~screaming~~ stress. Yes, but only a few times.

Complete my February photo project. Yes. I might have cheated a little. Like, I meant to take the photo above yesterday, but got busy and forgot. So I took it this morning. This might have happened another time or two, but I'm not saying for sure!

So, I'm thinking I wasn't so successful on the actual goals this month. But I did finish two big projects that were a challenge for me.

And there's always March ~ so let's try this again. Let's start fresh. But I'm going to keep it simple. Maybe we can shake it up a little more in April.

Read 2 books.
List 5 items in the shop.
Iron our school clothes the night before.
Make a bread recipe at least once. If I keep saying it maybe it will actually happen.
Complete the March photo project ~ same as February, different month. I hope you are ready for more pictures of fun stuff plus some very random things thrown in.

Our flowering plum has already begun to flower. I love it when it is covered in the delicate pinkish white blossoms. It's like a beautiful promise.

coloring outside the lines

2011-02-28T06:08:00.000-08:00

I'm a hard one to live with. I'll admit it.

I'm full of crazy contradictions.

I am a rule follower.

But don't tell me what to do.

Sometimes those rule following tendencies follow me into the creative world. There must certainly a right way and a wrong way to do things. Right?

As I grow older and more mature (ha!) I am finding out that there are many ways to do things, all of which are not necessarily right or wrong.

I've been wanting to try a mixed media art piece for a while, but it took a long time to find the courage to do it.

There are no rules! You can color outside the lines and it will still be right.

So here we have my first mixed media piece. After letting it sit for a little while and looking at it a lot, I decided it was done. I really could have fussed with it a lot more, but then it might have become too muddled.

Some of my favorite parts are the details that I didn't plan. I love how the piece of magazine with the roses crinkled with the moisture, making it look very vintage and cracked.

There are a few spontaneous swipes of paint here and there that I find quite lovely. I couldn't have planned such loveliness. It had to just happen. This is so true of life, as well. We cannot always plan the lovely moments. Rather they happen spontaneously, sometimes when we are not quite paying attention even.

I've already started another one ~ or two. Everywhere I look I see things that I can incorporate into a piece ~ papers and textures and such. Kim sent me a note in the mail and the front of the card is gorgeous and has a great embossed texture. That will be become part of a painting at some point. I found a library card (where it came from I have no clue) on the floor the other day. Like a bird gathering for her nest, I swiped that baby and put it in my stack of findings.

Oh, don't worry. This girl will remain very much a rule follower. Rules are safe. It gives life a certain needed order. But I won't be so afraid to color outside the lines from time to time.

Linked to Show and Share Day with Just a Girl and Sew Many Ways - Sew Darn Crafty Party.

something sweet adds up to a lot of hairspray

2011-02-27T08:22:00.000-08:00

Spice cake with cream cheese frosting is one of Greg's favorites! On Valentine's Day I tried a from-scratch recipe. Fail. The taste was good, but the cake was crumbly and stuck to the paper. He did praise the frosting over and over and asked what else we could put the frosting on.

This was on the heels of an even bigger fail from a from-scratch cupcake recipe that I tried to make for my class. Those went in the trash unfrosted! I bought Little Debbies instead.

I gave in and used a mix for the cake with the original cream cheese frosting. Success.

I am keeping up with my 6th grade math skills by helping Stephanie with her homework. I wonder when she will reach the point where I can no longer be helpful. I took Algebra II/Trig in high school and did well...but now?

This reminds me of a funny story. Last year a substitute didn't show up for one of the 5th grade teachers. So I sold my prep time to take over the class for an hour. It happened to be math. I came in and told the kids to hold on a minute while I took a glance at their math lesson for the day. One of the kids raised his hand and asked if I was going to be able to teach them the math because I was, after all, only a 2nd grade teacher.

He got the classic raised eyebrow from me as I told him that I am more than capable of teaching 5th grade math.

Hoodlum.

Here's a look at the electronics that I have been wearing on a daily basis at school. On the right is the new microphone we got this year. It's works wonders, I tell you.

On the left is a timer that vibrates. I have been wearing it to monitor the behavior of my new student. It vibrates at the interval whatever interval you set it. I was monitoring him every.ten.minutes. After two weeks of this, I decided this was not the answer. I was being held hostage every ten minutes. Every ten minutes I was getting resentful all over again of him coming to our class. I was starting to go nuts! {Ask Greg & the kids!} Thursday I decided that I was going to another monitoring system ~ every hour. Much more manageable and no more nutso...much.

Wendy took the kids and me to dinner and a production of Hairspray put on by the arts high school. It was amazing! I was so impressed by the talent and caliber of production. Wendy knows one of the girls in the musical. When she met the kids after the show, she invited them to come to her senior dance choreography show. The girls are excited about that.

We had a great time. Thanks, Wendy!

it's been a long time coming

2011-02-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

So one day, Kaylene shows me a purse that she bought. She loved the look of it, but didn't like that it didn't have pockets inside or a zipper. But what sold her was the ruffled flower on the front. She told me she thought I should make a purse similar to it.

Some of the other ladies at school oohed and aahed over the purse, telling me they'd love one like that.

The gauntlet had been thrown.

Challenge accepted.

But before I could get started, I had to mull over how the construction would work. Zippers in a pouch ~ sure, I've done that. In a purse? Uh, no. I'd have to research that one. I worked and reworked making this purse in my head before the scissors or needle ever touched fabric.

I decided to practice on a pair of Heather's old jeans with some really pretty new fabrics. I'm loving the contrast of the black, white, and red with the softness of the jeans.

I decided to go all out and learn how to sew a zippered inside pocket as well. There's a fun polka dot surprise inside that pocket.

I added three pockets along the other side of the purse.

I practiced an inset zipper on a purse I made for one of Stephanie's friends for her birthday. I ran into a problem, though because the tutorial called for four separate panel pieces ~ two for the outer and two for the inner. With the jeans, the outer panels are already sewn together. I didn't want to lose that outside seam with the classic copper top stitching.

So I found another tutorial I could manipulate to fit my needs. The tutorial required taking the zipper completely apart, then reassembling it. No, thanks. I made it work without the disassembly.

I'm pretty pleased with how this cute purse turned out. I have a few ideas how to make the next one easier to sew. I even have an idea or two about different variations for the front.

I'm with Kaylene, I love the ruffly flower on the front!

a very temporary solution

2011-02-24T18:31:00.000-08:00

Holy ribbon, Batman!

I have these cute rainbow cubby drawers for my scrapbook & paint supplies in the craft room. One set for paint and one set for scrapbooking. In the scrapbooking set there are two drawers designated for ribbon. And then I have more ribbon elsewhere. There's no such thing as too much ribbon in my opinion.

This drawer housed the unspooled ribbon. It was so out of control that I ended up pulling it out and setting it on my paint table. And there it sat. For months. And months. Things piling up around it. Our life tends to get like that.

And then I wanted to use the paint side of the table again. Time to clean up.

But what is a girl with a lot of ribbon and inadequate drawer space to do?

About a month ago oatmeal was on a very killer sale. The kids dig this kind, so we bought several boxes. Like a ~~pack rat~~ thrifty gal, I cut apart the boxes and saved them for repurposing. Do not report me to that hoarders show! I had three very specific uses for these in mind when I cut them. This is one of them.

I cut the panels in half, then wrapped my unspooled ribbon around them ~ tidy storage and it's easy to see what I have.

First, I taped one end to the cardboard. Then wound and wound.

Then I pinned the ends to keep them from going every which way.

Oooo ~ look at this handy dandy sock sorter I took out of Stephanie's drawers a few months ago. It's the perfect size for my cardboard. I sorted the rolls by color.

This tote already had the blacks and browns.

Much better.

Oh. Before you go thinking I did an amazing organizing job. Here's what's left in the drawer that now fits back in the rack. There's still another drawer of spooled-but-seldom-used-but-I-still-might-need-it ribbon. In the middle of this project I realized it really wasn't going to work for my space. I don't really have a good spot for the sock organizer and yellow tote. I have another solution in mind, but it will have to wait a little bit. This is good enough for now.

So why am I telling you about this solution that's not really a solution? Well, it could easily be a solution for someone who has a reasonable amount of ribbon. Maybe you? I got the idea from this Just a Girl post and it seems to work well for her.

keeping up is hard to do

2011-02-23T05:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the former presidents, I had a nice long weekend. I got a lot done, yet I got nothing done.

I spent part of my weekend with this.

And working on this. I think it is done. Maybe. I have to wait and see. I'll show you when I know for sure.

Sister secrets ~ getting along sometimes means plotting against their neighbor buddies they were playing some game with. Hey, at least they aren't plotting against their parents. Right?

Other projects were finished and there was some cooking fun in the kitchen. We'll have to catch up later.

quickest.dinner.ever

2011-02-17T04:58:00.001-08:00

Y'all know I like to provide my family with a home-cooked meal ~ the more from scratch, the better. But there are some days that they are lucky I stay awake for dinner! Last night when we got home from dance class the only thing I was interested in doing was counting sheep. But Stephanie still had homework. Instead of telling everyone to have cereal, I busted out the quickest.dinner.ever!

I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Mr. Frozen Taquito. Of course they are far more crispy and delicious if you actually cook them in the oven. But on a night like last night, that 8 minutes is far too long. The microwave instructions are for 2.5 minutes.

Fancy them up with shredded ice berg lettuce (cut while the first batch was cooking), shredded cheese, and salsa. There you have dinner in a flash that looks fancier than it sounds. This method of serving them is actually a copycat of how a local fast food place serves them.

Nothing says, "I love you" like dressed up frozen Mexican food.

Kitchen tip: Don't want to get out the grater for cheese every time you want some? Don't. And don't buy those too expensive bags of cheese that have ingredients added to them that are tricky to pronounce. I use my food processor to grate the whole pound (or two) brick of cheese at once and store it in a Tupperware in the fridge. Cheese all the time.

tales from the schoolyard

2011-02-16T04:55:00.000-08:00

The other day I was explaining something to my students (don't remember the topic) and I said, "unless you are a freak of nature...."

A very sweet boy innocently raised his hand and said, "What is a freak of nature?" All of a sudden I couldn't think of a delicate way to explain it. Everything that came to mind sounded ~ well, freakish.

I should really think before I speak sometimes!

Before the beginning of the year all of our classrooms were equipped with receivers and speakers. We were given microphones on lanyards to use during class. Apparently there's research about using them saving teachers' voices and us being less tired (ha!) and the kids being able to focus and learn better. I have noticed a difference in them between when I am wearing it and when I'm not.

But sometimes I feel like a lounge singer.

Requests anyone?

I'm here all week.

These pictures have nothing to do with my schoolyard stories ~ they are to tease Sharon. Almost done, Sharon, almost done. I don't know what's taking me so long besides the fact that I try to do 57 crafts & home management items at once!

heart day

2011-02-14T17:43:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lots of love from our house to yours.

menu plan monday ~ february 14

2011-02-14T17:32:00.000-08:00

I think someone really wanted us to buy Frosted Flakes at the grocery store. Luckily for them, a box found its way into the shopping cart when Greg went shopping yesterday.

This week we will be having:

teriyaki chicken
chicken marsala
steak & noodles
spaghetti & meatballs
alfredo chicken bake
pork chops & mashed potatoes
chicken pot pie

What's cookin' in your kitchen?

Visit orgjunkie.com for more menu ideas.

this week

2011-02-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

What have you been up to this week? Our computer was out of commission for a few days while Greg did some rearranging of files, disc repair, blah, blah, blah on it. During the school year it's not unusual for me to go a few days without sitting at the computer. But as soon as it's not available, let me tell you, it seemed like everything I needed or wanted to do was on the computer.

I have had an idea in my head for a little while of something I want to try. I used to paint all the time, but haven't for a while. The kind of painting I want to try is different than anything else I've done. I'm a little nervous about it, but have decided to take the risk.

When Greg saw what I bought with my gift card, he got a pretty scared look on his face. The look that said, "Oh, no. Another thing." All I can say is he's lucky I haven't ever decided to knit or crochet! Ha!

Monday before dance, Heather wanted a snack with protein. We were out of the fiber bars she usually eats so I told her to have some peanut butter and crackers. Tuesday she brought the ingredients to school to recreate the snack for her breakfast ~ Ritz crackers, peanut butter, and almond pieces.

This is sometimes how I use my dance-studio-bench-warming time. That's right ~ I know how to spice up a party!

Little cutie at the roller rink! The PTA sponsored a skate night. Stephanie was MIA for this event because she was at a play at her school.

I stayed at work a little bit late on Friday night getting my lesson plans and other stuff ready for next week. The killer is that I still have so much to do! My room is a disaster area.

Sneak peak ~ I took that chance and stepped out of my comfort zone. Even though I kinda don't know what I'm doing, it seems to be working out so far and hopefully won't be totally ridiculous when I'm finished. I'm hoping it works out, because I've got ideas for other ones already lined up.

what's another word for random?

2011-02-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

Chronicling my February days in pictures is leaving me with some really random pictures...which leads to pretty random posts...which leaves you shaking your head wondering why I seem so...well...random.

Friday it was my turn to bring lunch for the 2nd grade teachers. I made this cute little dessert in honor of the Month of Love. They turned out pretty cute. They were easy too!

Happiness is getting a full session of hairapy. I was considering going short. Luckily, Greg talked me down from that ledge of destruction. I did get some of the length taken off in an effort to get rid of some of the wispy layers on the ends. It turns it was enough of a difference to matter, but not enough of a difference to deter me from my ultimate goal. I am easily bored with my hair and need something different. This can make a goal of a longer do seem unbearable at times. No need to be rash about it, though. Right?

I know, you're probably thinking it's no different at all and I am completely cuckoo. It's different enough for me.

When I picked Stephanie up from her sleepover and announced that we were going to the craft store she was m.a.d. But her friend's house if already half way to the store, so why not take advantage of that and the gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket. I've got some fun ideas up my sleeve. I need to get busy on them cuz the space up my sleeve is getting a little crowded.

She was convinced she would be imprisoned at the store for a miserable two hours. Surprise, surprise. It was only one hour and she managed to have a little fun in the meantime.

Ha!

february in photos

2011-02-03T18:20:00.000-08:00

For the month of February, I will chronicle a photo every day. Notice I didn't say I'd post every day, just take a photo. And because I'm such a generous soul who tells everybody too much of my beeswax, I'm going to share those photos with you.

Remember I said I didn't "big pink puffy heart" decorate for Valentine's? I need to take part of that back because I made a puffy heart for decoration. I was going to put this in the shop, but she sat on the shelf for a while before I could get a picture. I think I'm keeping her.

Unless, of course, you've got to have her. Then let me know. We'll talk.

I found my reading mojo again.

Big sigh.

Here's a little back story ~ Last school year I was having a really hard time with this teaching profession I have chosen for myself. If I could have quit and found another job (or stayed home) with the same days off, same contract hours, the same ability to ~~meddle~~ be involved in the girls' school life, and at least the same pay I would have quit in a heartbeat. I actually muttered the words, "I hate my job" to my principal behind a veil of tears. There was a lot involved in those feelings that I won't bore you with. One day after listening to me complain endlessly, Greg told me that he thought it boiled down to one thing ~ I needed to find my passion for teaching again. I need to find the joy. Gosh, that man is so smart!

This year? I started with a seriously anxious soul, but still with high hopes. It wasn't until a few weeks into school that I realized I was feeling joyful about being in the classroom. The students and I were just getting along so well. Teaching clicked again for me. I was rocking it! My students and I were thriving off each other. They were getting compliments from various staff members. I felt like I was doing the best job I ever have in all these years. Reading levels were moving up and up. I had found the joy again and it was feeling good.

Then.

A week ago I got a new student. Any teacher will tell you that getting a new student rocks the boat a little. It takes some time to get that little person acclimated into your classroom family.

On the first day, this boy not only rocked the boat, but he sunk my ship! He drew the very breath out of me. For the past week, I have dreaded going to work. I sit in the parking lot and pray his family will move back to from where they came. My heart skips a beat when I don't see him in line, only to drop later to see him saunter into the classroom.

It breaks my heart to feel this way about a child, but he's robbing my of my joy. He's screwed up the lovely balance of what the other kids and I have established together. I am mad at him. And so are they. I can see it in the looks they give me when he's acting out.

Apparently, we have lessons to learn ~ those kids and me. Apparently, my quest for the joy in teaching is not over. Because today if I were given the offer of same days off, same hours, same meddling privileges, and at least the same pay doing something else, I'd take it.

homemade rice-a-roni

2011-02-01T19:37:00.000-08:00

I have a been a fan of Rice-a-Roni for a long time. We used to have it with many a meal. But I got out of the habit of cooking it for some reason.

A few months ago, I wanted to make some for dinner, but not a box of it was to be found in my pantry. So I searched the what-would-I-do-without-it web for a homemade version of the recipe. I combined a few difference recipes I found and this is the end result. It is just as easy ~ I swear! ~ as the box but without any the preservatives and added salt. I think it just might even be cheaper. And these are ingredients that commonly lurk in my cupboards.

Ingredients

3/4 cup long grain rice (not the 5-minute stuff)

1/2 cup vermicelli or thin spaghetti ~ in pieces

2 2/3 cup liquid ~ I use a 14.5 oz. can of broth + water

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon thyme

1/4 cup parsley

The first time I made it I broke up little pieces of thin spaghetti. About half of it landed in my measuring cup and the other half flew all over the kitchen. Then I happened upon this little bag of time-saving goodness when I wasn't even looking for it. I think it was nestled in the Mexican food section of the store. I can't remember the exact cost, but I'm thinking it was 50 cents. Wha? Meet my new best friend.

Saute the rice and pasta in a skillet with about 2 tablespoons of butter until the pasta pieces are browned. Watch this carefully because it goes from not brown to oh-crap! in a matter of seconds it seems. My picture is just the beginning of brown because I didn't want to miss the right time with my face behind the camera.

When the pasta pieces are brown, add the liquid. If you want a beef flavor, use beef broth instead of chicken.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes until the rice is done.

Ta-da! Homemade in the same amount of time and the same amount of effort really. As I was typing the list of ingredients, it occurred to me that the night I made this I used a quarter teaspoon of parsley instead of a quarter cup. Ooops. It was still good.

This is such a simple, basic recipe that can be altered to fit your taste or the meal it will be served with. Play around with the spices a little and see what you can come up with.

Hop over to 33 Shades of Green for the Tasty Tuesday bloghop. There are some amazing recipes posted.

What are you cooking today?

menu plan monday - january 31

2011-01-31T16:54:00.000-08:00

Here we are at the dawn of a new month. Yesterday I posted my January goal recap and my new February goals. But I left the one about the food budget out. In January we went over my lofty $400 goal.

But!

We came in about $30 under our normal monthly goal. So, my challenge for February is to come in at least that same $30 under. That, of course, means careful planning.

Cooking in the kitchen this week:

teriyaki chicken (I'm going to make this one more time with a tweak, then I'll share the recipe with you.)
meatloaf & mashed potatoes
tater tot casserole
hamburgers
chicken quesadillas
taco soup

Later this week (hopefully), I have a recipe to share with you. Here's a hint ~ you usually make it from a box, but from scratch is just as easy, healthier, and possibly cheaper.

As always, check out the other menu plans at orgjunkie.com.

i jumped all over those goals

2011-01-30T19:28:00.000-08:00

Sort of.

At the beginning of January, I shared my goals for the month with you. It's time to check in with those and determine February goals. Today is not the last day of the month, but if it hasn't happened by today, it's not going to happen.

Read 2 books. (This is a small step to accomplish my year-long goal of 35 books.) I read one book. I have been stuck the last few weeks. I haven't even read much while the kids were at dance. I think I need to abandon my current book and move on. There's no shame in that.

Make a bread recipe at least once. Nope.

List 5 new items in the shop. Accomplished! They are pretty cute too! Two of them even sold already.

Hang up and fold our laundry instead of letting it pile up. Success! Not only did I clean up the big pile that was already on our bedroom floor (so what if I just finished the socks today), but I managed to take care of the folding and hanging of the laundry as it happened. Awesome and shocking all at the same time. Since laundry is an ongoing chore, I'm planning on keeping up this good habit.

And now for February ~

Read 2 books. (Do you sense a recurring theme here?)
List 5 new items in the shop.
Clean out and organize the 4 drawers in the kitchen island which have inadvertently become semi junk drawers.
Make a bread recipe at least once.
Iron our school clothes the night before to help alleviate morning ~~screaming~~ stress.
Complete my February photo project. (More on this later this week.)

So far I'm liking the idea of monthly goals. So much more of an easier bite to chew than constantly thinking about an entire year and feeling awful if you mess up in the first month.

Did you make January goals? How did you do? Let's hear about it!

tales of middle school

2011-01-28T18:54:00.000-08:00

Last night, Stephanie was ranting to us about a girl in her band class who apparently annoys her.

Just a little.

First, she started describing her appearance. From the sounds of it, this chick has what amounts to hair sculpture. Her parents must buy hairspray by the vat.

Just sayin'.

As her voice got a little louder with excitement, Stephanie told us how Girl-with-Sculptured-Hair is disrespectful and rude to the band teacher in both mannerisms and sassy mouth. Stephanie provided us with a full demonstration of this unsavory behavior for our amusement.

Then, as if that weren't enough, she seemed most appalled that the girl can't bother to use "proper verb tense"!

That's right ~ that's what she said.

This grammar snobbery just came from the tween who still tries to use the word brang. {shudder!}

I have never been more proud!

menu plan monday - january 24

2011-01-24T16:55:00.000-08:00

A lot of weeks, I make a carefully (or haphazardly) thought out menu plan then for one reason or another I end up only cooking part of what's on that plan. Most of the time I just don't feel like making what I had planned, so I improvise and choose something else. Sometime I wonder if I make a plan just so I can deviate from it! Last week, I made everything on my plan (except that dang stir-fry). I shocked myself.

Cooking in our kitchen this week:

Chinese chicken salad
crunchy garlic chicken (new)
barbeque beef biscuits (new)
taco casserole
chili
steak & noodles

I'm going to try a couple of new items this week. Hopefully they will be good enough to appear again on a menu plan.

Go see what everyone else is having for dinner at orgjunkie.com.

nine

2011-01-23T17:50:00.000-08:00

Nine years! It sounds like such a long time ~ yet it seems like it was just yesterday. How is it possible?

{crazy sock day at school}

Nine years ago, we were ready for you ~ and Papa was worried that you'd decide to make your grand entrance into this world on Super Bowl Sunday. Luckily for him, the doctor decided you should come a little early and he didn't have to miss his game.

Nine years ago, you completed our little family. You made us whole.

Nine years ago, we wondered about the kind of girl you would be.

Nine years ago, you stole our hearts with just one glance.

Nine years ago, you made a sweet two-year old happy to have a baby sister.

Today, you still steal our hearts with your witty charm & your cute little smile.

Today, you are amazingly brilliant. You constantly keep us on our toes.

Today, we delight in having a conversation with you. You are insightful and use a vocabulary beyond your years.

Today, you are already a talented artist. We are anxious to see where this gift takes you.

Today, you are bold mixed with a little bit of shy.

Today, you have a heart for others. It bothers you greatly to see anyone sad or hurting.

Today, you are nine. We feel so lucky to have you. We love you with all of our hearts.

he loves me, he loves me not

2011-01-23T17:27:00.000-08:00

He loves me.

He loves me not.

Of course he loves you, silly.

I had this idea in my head for a pillow and when I saw that Stitched in Color was having a Blogger's Pillow Party, I wanted to get this done in time. I also stitched up another one that I think I will put in a frame.

I'm pleased with how it turned out. I used red fabrics for the border and back of the pillow so it can easily be for Valentine's Day. But the fabrics aren't so obviously Valentine ~ so it can stick around a little while longer.

Head on over to the Pillow Party to see all the other adorable pillows.

tales from the schoolyard

2011-01-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

Apparently this little monkey had a little too much fun over the weekend because I found her like this about 10 minutes after we got to school on Tuesday morning. She has always had the freakish ability to completely fold herself in half.

Good news! It's looking like the 80s are coming back!

Awesome!

Turquoise jeans and Vans? I always liked the ones that tie better than the slip-on version. Turquoise and fuchsia paired together was one of my favorite color combinations back in the day. Hmm. Still might be. When I saw this little guy saunter into the room with this outfit, I knew that the time for the rebirth of the 80s is nigh.

I need to buy some Aqua Net.

menu plan monday - january 17

2011-01-17T09:34:00.000-08:00

Eat from the Pantry-schmantry.

Right.

Ugh! This concept isn't exactly working out for us this month. Our grocery bill has defiantly risen above my $400 goal for the month ~ and we still have one more shopping trip in this month left. Part of the problem is that our grocery store is having case sales and other good deals. Greg says it's a ploy because they read blogs too and know that we are all trying to cut back in January after a spendalicious December. But good stock up deals are hard to resist when it means saving money in the long run. We are, however, still within the limits of our regular grocery budget. So maybe February will be the actual Eat from the Pantry month for us.

On our plates this week will be:

chicken marsala
sloppy joes
alfredo chicken bake
grilled cheese & soup
bean & rice burritos
grilled chicken, broccoli, and roasted potatoes
beef stir fry (One of these days I'm actually going to make this!)

For other meal planning ideas, be sure to visit orgjunkie.com.

watch this

2011-01-12T05:04:00.000-08:00

Watch this. You'll be glad you did.

menu plan monday ~ january 10

2011-01-10T20:20:00.000-08:00

We survived last week! The first week going back to work/school is always a tough week. I didn't get to everything on my menu planning list, which makes this week even easier because there are some repeats. There were a couple of fend for yourself nights at the end of the week. On Friday, Greg and Heather were so tired they went to bed without dinner. Stephanie had cereal and I ate the last crumbs out of the Doritos bag. Classy.

During last week's grocery trip, we went over my original plan of $100, but stayed under our weekly average of $132. There were some good P & G deals paired with coupons that couldn't be passed up. This week our normal store is having a case sale. I plan on taking advantage of that sale, while planning most of our meal items from what is already on hand in the pantry and freezer. Even with a little stocking up, I am confident that we can stay under $400 for the month.

On the menu this week:

shredded beef enchiladas
mac 'n cheese 'n burger
beef stir fry
cream cheese chicken
teriyaki chicken
chicken alfredo bake
potato cheese soup

What's on your plate? See what others are having at orgjunkie.com.

be mine, valentine

2011-01-09T09:37:00.000-08:00

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? We do. Since our stash of Valentine's decorations is small, I am always looking for some new items to add to it. But I don't want our house to be a giant, pink, puffy heart either. I made these banners for the shop and I think they add the perfect touch without going over the top.

I think I need to make another one for me.

he gets me

2011-01-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

My relationship with bananas is not an unconditional one. I l.o.v.e. banana cream pie. I enjoy a banana split very much. Banana bread? Yum! (Hmm...I see sugar as a recurring theme here.)

And in the past even though it always seemed like a good idea, actually eating one by itself just about never happened. Somehow they creeped me out a little. Then a few years ago at a staff development, the bananas on the fruit tray beckoned to me and I gave in. I started eating bananas on a semi-regular basis.

But!

Remember, I love only conditionally where the banana is concerned. I can only eat them if they have just barely turned yellow. A little green on the ends is a good thing. If they are smooshy or the least bit brown, forget it. The smell of a very ripe banana (unless it's about to go into banana bread batter) turns my stomach. When I eat them at school I don't throw the peel away in my trash can ~ I take it somewhere else.

I know. I have issues!

Bananas were on the grocery list this week. Greg brought home these nearly all green ones. They were a little too green to eat on Tuesday. But today, so perfect. By Saturday, I will have little to nothing to do with them, probably. Fortunately, the kids never let a few brown spots get in their way and will still eat them.

He totally gets me.

january goals ~ or call me fickle

2011-01-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

(Stephanie took this picture for part of her upcoming science project.)

While talking with Greg the other day, he mentioned that my New Year's Resolution was pretty vague. At the end of the year, there is no real measure of whether I had achieved my goal or not.

He's right.

So I've been thinking about that a little bit. I like the idea of a theme for the year, so Be Consistent will continue to be my theme. Then, for each month, I will make a list of concrete goals ~ ones that can be measured. I think a series of smaller goals will be easier to handle and help me focus on the positive aspects of goal setting. Thinking about the whole year at once was leading me to some really dark places of failure and self-degrading in my mind. That's such an ugly place to go and I'm really trying to avoid it.

So, before January gets away from me completely, I plan to accomplish the following:

Read 2 books. (This is a small step to accomplish my year-long goal of 35 books.)
Make a bread recipe at least once.
List 5 new items in the shop.
Hang up and fold our laundry instead of letting it pile up ~ there may be a big pile right as we speak. (The kids hang up and fold their own now.)

I'll report back to you at the end of the month.

menu plan monday - january 3

2011-01-03T06:28:00.000-08:00

It's January, people! Because it was pretty successful last year, that means it's time to Eat from the Pantry again. This is a two-fold money saving experience. First, we can save money by eating items we bought on sale to stock the pantry/freezer before they are no longer desirable to eat (freezer burn, expiration dates, etc). We won't be forced to throw something away in the future because we can't eat it. That is the same as throwing money in the trash! Secondly, it means smaller bills at the grocery store this month. After Christmas, we can use some smaller bills at the grocery store. Can't you? As an added bonus, clearing the pantry by eating it, makes it easier to reorganize or tidy up the pantry if it should need it. And it might ~ there's been a little bit of hasty shoving going on lately.

If we eat from the pantry, we will eventually have to restock it, right? Yes, but this will be done as there are sales, hopefully paired with coupons ~ just as we did this year. Whether or not we eat from the pantry this month, we would still take advantage of stocking up opportunities. So really this is a clear money saving event.

We will still buy things that we need, of course, especially fresh fruits, vegetables, and milk. And I get to make my own rules for this challenge. My goal is to keep our grocery bill under $400 for the month (we typically spend an average of about $530 a month).

This week we are going back to school from our winter break. After having a crazy sleep schedule and no actual schedule during the day for the last two weeks, I will be t.i.r.e.d. at the end of the day. Getting back on the meal planning wagon will be helpful.

This week we will have:

beef stir fry
shredded beef enchiladas (shredded beef left over from the roast we had on Sunday)
tacos
mac 'n cheese 'n burger
swedish meatballs (I tried a new recipe last time from the internet & forgot to print it out. I hope I can find it again because it was soooo good!)
grilled cheese & soup

What's for dinner at your house this week? See what other people are eating at orgjunkie.com.

silhouette giveaway

2011-01-01T13:42:00.000-08:00

Do you have a Silhouette? Do you want one?

Brown Paper Packages is sponsoring a giveaway. Head on over to win ~ but you gotta hurry because the deadline to enter is tonight.