Up in the air

Currently flying over some southern state... I can already feel the humidity rescuing my winter skin. No Internet on the ship ( at least that I'm willing to pay for) so this may be the last time I can post until after New Year's. I promise to bring back some sunshine...

Let it Snow (but also let us get home)

Praying for clear roads tomorrow morning! Nothing a little slow driving and a stop at starbucks beforehand won't fix.

Off to bed.

6 am will come early.

Thrifty finds

Some friends and I "discovered" a thrift store downtown this last weekend, and after completing some everyday errands (post office, getting finger printed*, getting substitute applications, a stop for some coffee, etc.) we did some more thrifting.

*We had to get finger printed for teacher licensing...not as intriguing as you thought, ha.

Here are some of my finds:

I am currently working on last minute packing for our Christmas/New Year's Vacation. For some reason I seem to stretch this process out so it takes as long as possible. My suitcase is getting fuller and fuller ;) Ben and I have this lovely deal where I use the large suitcase to pack and he uses the smaller one....and here is the lovely part. He pulls around my large suitcase and I get to handle his through the airport. Such a sweet husband I have, don't you agree?  :)

Monday Music

Two songs for you today...


1

It Hasn't Been Long Enough

Eric Hutchinson

Listen Here

2

Riverside

Agnes Obel
Listen here

Margherita Panini Bites

These are delicious people! Get ready for an appetizer that is actually refreshing. Mmmm I wish I had some right now. In all seriousness you should try making these at your next party/get together. They hardly require any prep and are fairly inexpensive as well.

What you Need:

A loaf of ciabatta bread (or crusty Italian bread)

Pesto sauce (we bought it premade but you could make your own I suppose)

Fresh basil leaves

Mozzarella slices

Roma tomatoes

Olive Oil


How to Make it:

We had a loaf of ciabatta bread that we cut in half  to create a top and bottom of our sandwich, and then we cut the big sandwich in half so that you have two large sandwiches with a top and bottom. You can really make them however you want depending on the size and type of bread you buy.

Next,  spread a thin layer of pesto sauce on the bottoms piece of both sandwiches, next a layer of basil leaves, slices of mozzarella, and lastly tomato slices. Place top of sandwich on.

Brush both sides of the sandwich lightly with olive oil and then grill in stove top grill pan, indoor grill ( a george forman grill would work well), a skillet, or a panini press (that's what we used).

When they are toasted and the cheese is melted remove and then cut into smaller individual triangles. The bread was very crusty so we had to use a butcher knife to get through all the layers since a bread knife seemed to just tear it apart.

Serve warm.

If you have leftovers you can heat them up later by throwing them in the oven for a few minutes too.

The End of College

Graduating today....

whoop.

I don't really have time to say more so I will instead direct you to Ellie's blog where she eloquently describes her feelings on graduation.

Here's to not tripping on stage :)

DIY Felt Bookmarks

DIY Felt Bookmarks

What you need:

• different colors of Stiffened felt ( Not the flimsy felt, but the felt that comes pre-stiffened...I found it at a Hobby Lobby at 79 cents a sheet)
• Thread
• Sewing Machine
• Scissors

(pretty simple so far, right?)

Step One

trace circles with a small round object

 

Step Two

cut out circles 

Step Three

arrange circles how you want to sew them 

Step Four

Choose an interesting stitch

Step Five

start stitching at one end of the first circle 

Step six

Before you get to the end of the first circle slip the second circle underneath so that they overlap.

Step Seven

keep stitching over overlap 

Step Eight

Add third circle 

Step Nine

Add fourth circle and then stop at edge. Make sure you leave the thread long enough at the beginning and end so that you can tie a little knot at each end. 

Step Ten

Wala! You are done! 



Monday Music

Christina Perri

"Jar of Hearts"

(kind of a sad song but I heard her perform it live the other day and it was impressive)

A good day to celebrate

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mother's birthday

if the Happy Birthday didn't give it away, ha.

Meet my amazing mother: wife, a wonderful cook (friends in school were always jealous over how many home cooked meals I got, and only now do I realize all the work/time that requires), avid scrapbooker, animal lover ( just ask our spoiled dogs), gardener, and most importantly my friend. She has shown me how to love Jesus since the day I was born, and for that I am truly blessed. Thank you mom for putting up with my stubbornness and loving me along the way.


Who can find a virtuous woman? She is far more precious than jewels...
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come.



She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. 
She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.
Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.

Proverbs 31:10, 25-30

Have a wonderful day...I am going to go call my mom now :)

What 1:00am feels like.

I haven't been up this late in awhile. This is what happens, however, when you take a long afternoon and drink coffee with a friend at 9:00pm.

I feel like I accomplished quite a bit...

Besides my nap....

I had my exit interview for the teaching program at 8:30

Heated up leftover pasta for lunch with Ben

Took a nap on the couch

Cleaned up the apartment (well half of it)

Made a trip to walmart before the winter storm swept in

Finally hooked up my Christmas lights outside

Made some rustic cake truffles with Ellie....we had quite the time with them. Not too pretty, but if you had the "rustic" title in front it makes you think the rough look is intentional. Let's just say we are novice almond bark users. Bekah we needed you.

Next, I wrote out a few Christmas cards

and now I am going to bed after I read for a bit.

Goodnight!

Melted.

Some advice for you. If you are rushing around the kitchen making dinner and pop a stick of butter in the microwave to "soften" it, DON'T press auto minute thinking you will remember to stop it early.
You won't. Trust me...
because as soon as you think about one of the other five things yo are doing "oh I should cut the onions..." YOU WILL FORGET ABOUT YOUR BUTTER
ha.

Thankfully I have a sweet husband who cleaned up the my mess for me.

Happy Thursday!

A Sister Date.

My sister and I had a date tonight.

We planned on perhaps a little Spicy Pie...and coffee.  make that a pastry shop for sandwiches and coffee/tea.
(Spicy Pie is a pizza place fyi)

Then a stop at Hobby Lobby and where ever else the crisp wind blows us.

My to do list is stacking up before Christmas gets here. I am almost done with my Christmas shopping, but there are still a few things I need to pick up and wrap.

There are also a few sewing projects I would like to work on as well.

I also have plans for creating bookmarks for my students as a little good-bye gift.

I will miss them. More than I was expecting to in the beginning. It's easy to get attached to charismatic and gregarious fifth graders.

I am excited about my bookmark project. It is simple...which is completely necessary when it requires me to make 22 of them.

Again pictures soon when the lighting cooperates. (It is hard to get my photos taken before the sun goes below the horizon.

So for now, ONE photo of my lovely evening.

Here I Am!

Wow. Where did the week go?

I was just watching a news story this morning that showed how this woman had decorated her entire house for Christmas. I am not talking about the usual stockings, Christmas tree, and wreath...every single inch was covered with Christmas decor. They start decorating in October, and after Christmas is takes five weeks to put everything away. Just thinking about this story has caused me to realize two things.

1.) I would feel claustrophobic in that house. Seriously, I can handle a little clutter, but all those Christmas figurines would smoother me.

2.) It is amazing how Christmas decorations (in moderation) suddenly make any room feel more cozy.

I was browsing through blogs and etsy to get a little inspiration for my own Christmas decorating...

I will put up some photographs of my own Christmas Decorating as soon as I get my camera back...I didn't realize I feel so helpless without it.

So my promises are the following...

more photographs

more posts

as long as I have....

more time ;)

Hurried Thoughts

Okay a few random thoughts on my mind...

Tazo Orange Tea is saving my throat....

I have rediscovered raisins. So good.

I need to survive tomorrow and then the rest of the week will allow for breathing time.

Christmas Cards ordered. check.

Does malt o'meal qualify as a dinner? hope so.

It is snowing right now...and blowing....brrr.

Homemade chocolate croissants are difficult to make and overrated. (sorry ladies...I threw the rest of them away this morning)

I am convinced some students don't want to understand fractions and yet are fascinated by the origins of the name of the country Hungary and how the liberty bell was cracked. I can't blame them. I'd rather learn about history too. Oh but just...tomorrow fractions are getting FUN! ;)

I will get to bed before ten.

So Goodnight.

Belated Thankfulness

I realize that Thanksgiving was yesterday, but it is never too late to say what you are thankful for. Here goes...

I am thankful for my wonderful sweet Husband, and that we were able to celebrate our first married Thanksgiving together for at least half a day.

I am thankful for friends that make you feel at home in their homes, and Christ's love that seems to overflow through their doors.

I am thankful for a family that makes me feel loved even when we are hours apart.

I am thankful for a warm apartment as the temperature drops.

AND...I am thankful to have survived Target at 4am ;)

Here are a few Photos taken from my day. (Not the best quality...still without my Nikon and not feeling like doing any editing)

Meal #1 (Ham) Turkey came later...

Late night baking before heading out to shop

Old Navy...at Midnight.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Preview

Rumor (and the news) has it that we are expecting a blizzard starting tomorrow into Thanksgiving. I feel out of the loop since I have not been watching the local news lately...

So I perused the weather report and discovered that a winter storm is expected, but for some reason I doubt that it is really going to be that severe (and trust me I will freely admit if I am proven incorrect). I guess I will just have to wait and see. I do not have to drive anywhere too far so the snow can come if it so chooses.

A local campus even canceled classes tomorrow, but not my school.... still going strong ;)

On other notes I have begun to think of Christmas Gifts...making Christmas gifts to be exact. There are so many things I wish I could make but I have a feeling time will not allow for too many projects.

At this time I don't want to share too many specifics, but I have a feeling some hot chocolate will make things progress much faster.




Now if only I had the time/patience to make these little gingerbread houses

Practical? Of course not! Cute....yes.

Let it Snow...and snow....and SNOW

It's finally here.

Welcome Winter.

I guess we couldn't put it off any longer.

At least there is Christmas to look forward to....

and YES...our Christmas Tree is already up.

We arrived home last night without sliding off the slippery interstate thinking we had outwitted winter for the time being. Upon waking however I saw the blanket of white outside, and I must admit I was not disappointed. It was beautiful snow that fell slowly to the ground. As the school day progressed the flakes became bigger and continued to fall and fall. Now I am currently curled up with some hot chocolate. Mmmmm. I hope everyone else is staying warm and cozy tonight as well :)

Sharing Secrets

I wanted to post much earlier in the weekend to share this news...but I had to keep it off the Internet for a few days so that calls and visits could be made.

The BIG news is.............

My little sister....Bethany Jo......is getting married!!!

I don't have any pictures to share of their engagement...(I forgot my camera at home) but I rounded up some photos I have of them.

So Congratulations you two! I am so happy for you and love you both!