Friday, August 31, 2012

Friday Funny

yup, this is pretty much how I feel when you don't use a blinker...





Tuesday, August 28, 2012

very funny Universe.

today was quite a day.


it was my first day of my second year of teaching...I am so glad I got to go back :)  like overjoyed...what teacher ever said that they were glad to go back after the summer?

weirdo.  :)


but after all the weeks...well months really, of not knowing...it was such a relief to be back at school, setting up my room for the second time.



so the day started out great...in my classroom...with more work to do then there is possibly time before I have classes come in...but I'll get there...little by little...right now B's car is packed to the brim with my classroom stuff...yes the same stuff I carried all the way into the basement yesterday...


not my car mind you...because when I was driving home today, my car began smoking...yup, right out of the hood of the car, nice white puffy clouds of smoke...and the engine temperature gauge as high up as it goes...so a big thank you to my awesome neighbor for picking me up a few blocks away :)



not sure what the actual diagnosis is...thankfully I have another car to drive tomorrow...even if it's a bit too big for me :p





so one good thing balanced out with a not so good thing...okay, I do like when things are nice and even...typically...



then I got home, and the tv wouldn't work...and not that I need to watch tv...but it would be nice to know why it wasn't working...so after the suggestion of my Mom that I check the fuses (which wer being a GIANT wall of spider webs)...and found out nothing was wrong...I did a little "Mac-Gyvering" and found every extension cord that we own to rig the tv and the TiVo (which is in the basement) to outlets that they weren't originally plugged into...and wouldn't ya know.  they worked!!




feeling a little proud of myself...but seriously...that is just too much for one day.  also, I feel bad that no one was around today to witness my crazy...it was probably very humorous from an outside perspective ;)  just imagine me driving down the road with a smoking car...and a face full of spider web...you can't think about that without laughing...admit it ;)


tomorrow needs to be a little bit calmer, okay Universe?







Crazy, Stupid, Love

I am totally late to the party on this one...but I finally saw this movie!  and I loved it!!



I am always a fan of Steve Carell, and in this case, he did not disappoint!  honestly, this movie had an awesome cast- Emma Stone, another favorite of mine was adorable in this, Julianne Moore...and we can't leave that elephant in the room...Ryan Gosling...yum :)

 all images from the Google



and...for once, I was TOTALLY surprised by the ending.  that is unusual...if you have ever seen my parents watch a tv show or movie, they have it figured out before the opening credits roll :)  I won't spoil it, in case there are others of you who are under the movie rock like I am...but go watch it...you will like it :)  I promise.

and if you don't.  well then I guess we don't have the same taste in movies :p  oh well!



Monday, August 27, 2012

heck yeah Karma!

gimme a high five!


because today.  today good won!  boo to you evil principal!  I win.  you lose!  and most importantly...the kids win...because they get to have ART class this year...with MEEEEEEE!  :D

I just found out today...and it would figure, because today was the day I moved the mountain of stuff from my classroom, that had been taking over my couch/living room into the basement.



but you know what?  I don't mind :)  I'll get it back...little by little :)


all I know, is that I get to go back to the job I love tomorrow!!!


but now I have to go to bed...I have to get up tomorrow at 6...eek!!

a case of the Mondays

...so today I feel...a little blue.

as in sad...not the color :p



it should officially be the first day of my second year of teaching Art in Baltimore City Schools...but it is not.


and the fact that it is because of one singular person...and over 400 kids are going without Art right now that really makes me mad.



I will try not to dwell on it too much though, because I am a happy person- partly the reason why I am in my predicament I think...it's a shame some people just can't deal with the fact that not everyone is as miserable of a grump that they are...but I digress...



something good that has come out of all of it...is that I am officially enrolled in grad school...I know, I know...more classes...what am I, nuts?  but I am really excited to start, and actually get the education courses that I wasn't offered in my first 'program'...



so for the next year, I'll be in class pretty much every Saturday...which is the sucky part...I'll miss out on lots of fun stuff...but I also need my career back on track...



and hopefully this time, one vindictive grouch of a principal won't get in my way...



:)  okay, I feel better now...sometimes you just need to vent ;)



and ya know what...I'm going to finally work on my own Art...my jewelry...and get my house organized in the mean time...



so another *somewhat* win for me...and BCPSS is missing out I tell ya!



Monday Inspiration




a little motivation to get you going on Monday...you gotta believe in yourself and you can do anything!!  positive energy...and a can-do attitude...


happy first day of school too...wish I was there with all of you...but I'm not far behind...keeping that positive mojo going so I can get back in my classroom with the kiddos!


Sunday, August 26, 2012

Sunday Social - All About the Internet!



these questions come from Neely, on her blog, A Complete Waste of Makeup :)


All About the Internet!

1.  What is the first website you log onto each day?
I leave Gmail open all the time...so by default that is the first...but besides that it's probably weather.com


2.  Give us some funny websites you visit that we need to know about:
They aren't super original, but these are a few that make me giggle :)





3.  Pinterest or Facebook?  Why?
oh, definitely Pinterest...I use both...but Facebook has the tendency to make me go "uhhhhhhhhhhh too much over-sharing!!"  I used to like to see what people were up to...but now it just feels like I'm sort of stalking people I wouldn't naturally know things about...

but Pinterest...oh, that is one of my biggest time wasters these days :)  the recipes, the DIY projects, the decorating ideas and the lesson plans!  now if only there were time to do all the things...


4.  Twitter or Instagram?  Why?
again, I use both of these...I really like Instagram, but I tend to forget to check it...while Twitter is always open via TweetDeck on my computer screen, so I just scroll through it every once and a while...I think I post more to Twitter...but now I'm linking the two


5.  Favorite youtube video...post it!

wow, this was tougher than I thought...to pick a favorite..but I've always liked this one...if you have a cat like mine...this is how every morning goes :)



6.  Biggest online pet peeve?
again, I guess it goes back to Facebook...just too much information being shared and oh, don't get me started when there are big political debates on Facebook...it's just weird, having an argument for everyone to see?  I like to keep that stuff to myself :p

oh, also...when I click on a Pin, and it doesn't go back to the actual source...if you're going to pin something...take the time to make sure it works!



:)  okay, enough ranting...but that was fun!

Happy Sunday peeps!






BBQing with the BEST

sometimes I laugh when I say our team's acronym...BEST...sounds a little like we are full of ourselves, no?  just kidding of course...but yesterday we had our annual BBQ for the Baltimore Etsy Street Team (ahh, BEST) at the lovely home of Jill :)



and no pun intended...it was really the BEST time ;)  especially the pudding shots that Kolleen made...sugar free too!






okay, enough of that word...but seriously, the food was endless and delish...so many fun and crafty conversations going on...and a HUGE fire pit and some roasted marshmallows...


all in all...a great night :)


oh Summer.

I can't believe that summer is...O.V.E.R.

it went by literally in the blink of an eye...and my summer 'to-do' list is still pretty long...but never the less...it was a great summer...full of friends, fun, travel, surprises...so I thought I'd make a fun little list...the ABC's of my summer 8-)




A is for awesome...I know, that's sort of a stretch...but having a summer off from work...awesome is really the only word there is for it...well it's actually freakin' awesome...but I needed an "A"


B is for babysitting...spent lots of time with a bundle of curls and his friend "Nase"...and Deet...and of course the many times we watched Simba...and sang and danced to the same song...oh E...quite the summer time companion :D


C is for camping...our annual trip where I almost broke my leg...but experienced white water rafting for the first time (hint...those two things are related...)



D is for DIY...while I had a LOOOONG list of things I wanted to try...I didn't get to nearly all of them...but I did try my hand at spray painted votive candles, wooden beaded necklaces, and glitter keys



E is for eggs...I perfected a few awesome breakfast options that were all easy to make, healthy and had eggs in them...probably the food I ate most this summer


F is for friends :)  lots of visits to and from friends this summer...lunches, coffee dates, road trips...definitely spent much of my time laughing and making summer memories :)




G is for gloves...softball gloves...yup, I got back in the game, literally...I played on a co-ed team my friend Noah coached...and it reminded me so much of why I loved playing all those years ago!  I even got the game ball for being MVP of our last game :)  I spy a new summer tradition!


H is for heat...it was toasty this summer...and after a winter with no snow...I was not super happy about the temperatures...we had days that were well over 100 even before the mysterious heat index...ugh



I is for iced coffee...had at least one, every day...



J is for judo...a really weird sport I watched during the Olympics...I still really don't get how it worked...but I did watch lots of swimming, volleyball, diving, and cycling...I usually get more into the winter Olympics- I like watching people ski, since I'm still not so good at it...but the summer ones were pretty cool- watched our hometown boy Michael Phelps swim like a fish and win tons o medals

K is for kitties...my pets are super excited that it's summer and that I spend a lot more time at home with them...they typically figure out where I am working for the day and sleep as close to me and my papers/notebook/laptop as possible




L is for lab...as in labrador retriever...and Bonnie and Andy's new puppy Dunkin!  he is as mischievous as he is fun...and he's going to be a bigggggggg boy!



M is for manicures..I have become addicted to painting my nails...and my nail polish collection has grown by leaps and bounds...and especially since in the summer I don't have as many teacher duties, the polish lasts a LOT longer :)

N is for North Carolina...where I went twice!  a state I'd never actually been to- driven through, but never been to- in my life, and this summer I was there twice- and I'll be again in October :)



O is for organization...the office, my closet...just two of the rooms I got organized this summer...even though I was hoping to get the whole house organized...oh well...but you have to start somewhere, and this is a good start..



P is for Pinterest...ob. sessed.  I actually have to limit the times I log in to three times a day...as of now I have over 800 pins...and counting...if you have not checked it out yet...what are you waiting for?!?!?!?



Q is for quiet...I have to say, the nice quiet afternoons I've spent doing work at home...were glorious...I never realized how much I appreciate quiet times until I started teaching ;)

R is for recipes...new ones that is...since I had more free time then during the school year...I tried many many new recipes!  most of them turned out well and have made their way into our meal rotation...see also *Pinterest obsession*


S is for Surprise Parties...two to be exact!  that I planned...whew!  planning two parties, two weeks in a row is no easy task...but both went off without a hitch :)  of course I had help...but I am quite ready to hang up my party planning shoes for a bit...I will gladly be a guest though :) 




T is for tan...or at least trying to get one...lots of time lounging by the pool at home and at the gym...but always with lots of sunscreen on :)  safety first!



U is for umbrella...along with being really hot...it rained a TON this summer!  which is okay for me...I actually really like rain...and when I have lots to do inside, because then I don't feel like I'm missing out on quality outdoors time...it seemed like every day this summer they put rain in the forecast...at like a 40% chance...sometimes I think they do that just so they technically aren't "wrong"



V is for veggies...I ate TONS of vegetables this summer...made some pretty amazing salads, learned how to steam and roast them to be super delish!  the last new veggie on my list to try: spaghetti squash!


W is for wine :)  winery tours, parties at wineries...and of course, just having a glass (or two...) with friends



X is for X-rays...which I thankfully didn't need after the white water rafting debacle...yup, couldn't think of anything better for X...

Y is for yogurt...frozen yogurt...there are about 49798739465 frozen yogurt stores in Baltimore...okay, maybe not *quite* that many...but it certainly feels like it...but it also feels like that is the number of trips I made to these stores...I just love pouring the yogurt in...just as much as I want...and then picking out the toppings...I even had it in place of dinner last week...oops!



Z is for zzzzzzz's....or lack there of...I still got up pretty early each day...of course it's hard to sleep when someone else is up getting ready for work around you in a small house...and honestly, I did not take one nap all summer...something I will remedy next year ;)





now bring on fall!  football, cooler weather, pumpkin EVERYTHING...yesssss!





Saturday, August 25, 2012

photo saturday




driving home and realized the started putting up the track for the Grand Prix which happens in Baltimore on Labor Day weekend


Friday, August 24, 2012

Thursday, August 23, 2012

can bats talk?

so that's a pretty random name for a post right?

right.



well it was inspired by my day today :)  since some school district that shall not be named...ahem...has yet to make a decision and wants the students to sit and wait for an art teacher...sigh...I decided to do something nice for myself and drove myself up to NJ to see the family :)

that has done wonders to fix my mood...and it's just nice to have a change of scenery...and when it's the familiar rooms and people that I love so much :)  it's good scenery




so what about the bats?


a typical activity when I go home is getting mah hair did...yeah, I know...I can't pull that off...so we went over to my cousin Melissa's house, and she gave me the highlight/cut my hair definitely needed...I was feeling a little blonde...so it's nice and light- perfect for summer :)


while I was sitting waiting for the color to process, we started talking about weird things kids say, or odd questions they ask...and she tells me that Peyton, her 6 year old daughter asked a doozy of a question the other day



apparently they saw a bat, which led her to ask:  "are bats real?"  with the follow up question of "can they talk?"


you've got to love the mind of a creative kid :)




oh, and here's my new hair do :)





and a super cool picture that they had up in their house- I guess it's our family crest?  is that what you call it?


** I was totally going to say happy weekend...but I realized it's Thursday...oops!


Illustration Friday - Lonely

so this topic was from 2 weeks ago I think...and wouldn't ya know...I sketched it...but never finished it...and subsequently (ooh big word!) never posted it.


but I didn't want to deprive your lovely eyes from seeing it ;)  so here you go!!




not sure how exactly my mind works...but this was my first brainstorm for Lonely...so I went with it...debating whether the peanut butter jar should look more empty...like with "x's" for eyes...or is that too morbid?

guess I should start watermarking these gems of ideas I have ;)


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

the great closet clean-out of 2012

I like clothes...it is no secret.  Take a look inside my closet and you will see the evidence...

I have always been sort of a clothes hoarder...not really willing to get rid of stuff even when I can't remember when I last wore them...and since I have the luxury of a summer off...I needed to get my closet under control once and for all...I mean, I have a pretty sizable closet and two dressers...so in my mind, if it didn't fit, it was too much.

so B left for his two week trip to Brazil, and I figured what better time to pull out every last piece of clothing I own and go through them...one...by...one.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥



skip to four hours later...ALL the clothes are out on the bed.  ALL.  

I lovingly called it clothes mountain. 

and then the sorting process began.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

and then it was midnight...everything had been put away...including my 25 pairs of jeans- it seemed like a lot, but I had help from a fellow Lauren who assured me that 25 was not too many...love the rationalizing...thanks girl ;)

want to know what 25 pair of jeans looks like?


 the cats were happy to have their bed back...yup...their bed...everything in the house is theirs ;)

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


so there you go...my closet was organized...I got rid of  some things- not as much as I'd like to...but for now, everything has a place, and my room feels SO much cleaner :)  


now I just have to keep it that way.


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Recipe Box- Chicken Marsala Pasta

one of B's favorite dishes whenever we go out to dinner, is Chicken Marsala.

so the good girlfriend that I am, I wanted to try and make it for him at home.  now my love for pasta is equal if not greater to B's love of Chicken Marsala...

so I was excited to give it a try...new recipes are always exciting!  and scary...I always seem to overlook one tiny detail- but it seems to be one that changes the entire flavor of the recipe...

like a tablespoon of pepper rather then a teaspoon...

anyway...it was time to try this one!



and it was Ahhhh-mazing!  we loved it, and it is now in the official rotation of meals!  I am not a huge fan of mushrooms, but I scooted mine onto B's plate...so it was all good :)


this recipe is from the blog: What's Cookin' Chicago
(the photos are from my own cooking experience!)

 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts; cut into bite sized pieces
10-12 ounces sliced mushrooms
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup Marsala cooking wine
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 pound dry pasta + water for cooking (I used penne, rigatoni is also good)
1 cup Parmesan cheese + more for serving
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
salt and pepper to taste
minced, chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Makes: 4-6 servings

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet until foaming. Cook chicken until lightly browned. Transfer to plate when done.






Boil water and cook pasta according to the directions.





Melt additional 1 tablespoon of butter in skillet, add garlic, mushrooms and onion and cook for about 6 minutes. Add cooked chicken back into the skillet. Add the Marsala, chicken broth and cream and bring to a boil. Simmer until sauce is is slightly thickened.




Drain pasta and reserve 1/2 cup cooking water. Return the pasta  to the pot with the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the mushrooms and chicken mixture and 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and cook until the pasta has absorbed some of the sauce, about 1 minute, adding the reserved cooking water as needed.


Season with salt and pepper and serve with additional Parmesan cheese and a garnish of chopped parsley.  (I forgot parsley!)




happy eating!!