Five Question Friday

I have been a little lazy when it comes to blogging this week.  I've been pretty busy, but just didn't have any ideas as to what to write about.  I'm going to try to get back in the swing of things next week.  I hope everyone has a super Halloween weekend.  We are going to be busy supporting our Hogs!!!  We are going to the volleyball tonight and then tomorrow head to the Homecoming game, where we will hopefully beat Vanderbilt!

Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then link up with Mama M. Come on. Join in. It’ll be fun!





1.  If you could be a fly on any wall, which would you choose? I can't pick just one wall.  I tend to be on the nosy side so I like to know what is going on.  But, I would probably want to be a fly on the wall at my students' home.  I always wonder what life is really like for my students.  I would want to know about their well-being and to know if there is anything I could do to help them more.  Are there basic needs being met?  If not, then school isn't really all that important in the grand scheme of things.


2.  Do you budget your Christmas shopping or just get it done without budgeting?  I am more of an impulse buyer.  If I see something I think someone would like, I buy it and give it to them for Christmas.  I am so proud of myself, I have already started picking up gifts for those on my Christmas list.  We also take vacations over Christmas.  That's a gift that everyone enjoys so some of our money goes toward that instead of buying gifts.  Vacations are the gift of FUN!

3. What is the craziest fad diet you have ever done? In college, I tried the Grapefruit Diet.  I hate anything grapefruit, so I don't know what I was thinking.  Obviously that little venture didn't last long and won't be repeated ever again.  I have come to the conclusion that I love food so have given up all aspirations of being Miss Skinny Minny.

4. Is there a TV show that you have seen every episode/season of? Hubby and I have watched every single episode of Frinds and Will & Grace together.  We didn't watch them while they were on TV, though.  We bought them on DVD.  I wasn't actually into those shows when they were on.  Apparently, I am the only person in my generation to not be into Friends.  I also conned hubby into buying me the boxed set of Sex and the City and watching that with me.  I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it way more than he did!

5. What one song always pulls at your heart?  I always get choked up when I hear patriotic songs.  I love my country.  Michael Buble songs also get to me, especially Home.  I love music so this list could go on and on, but I just put down a couple things that came to my mind first.  I didn't really want to bore anyone!

Two of My Favorite Things

Just wanted to take a minute and share two of my favorite things.

1.  Scentsy!!!  I just discovered Scentsy and I love it.  For those of you that don't know, Scentsy is a great way to have your home smelling yummy and fresh all year long.  The art teacher at my school has started selling Scentsy and I bought some to help her out.  I bought a combo pack which came with a full-size warmer, a plug-in warmer, and three sets of Scentsy bricks.  Now that I have started using this, I love it so much more than candles because I don't have to remember to blow them out.  I'll show you what I got.

I got this warmer for the bedroom.  I love it because I have a collection of crosses in our bedroom and out bed has a wrought iron headboard so I thought this would fit in perfectly.

I got this plug-in warmer to put in the dining room by the bar.  I just thought it was pretty and the red would go with the Razorback/red decor we have in there.

The combo pack I bought also came with three packs of bricks.  The scents I chose for fall/winter are: pumpkin roll (I have started using this and I can't get Thanksgiving out of my head.), cranberry muffin, and poinsettia pine.  The house smells good, but not overpowered with the scents which I love!!!  I'm hooked!

2.  The second thing I really like right now is Rachel's blog No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane.  I feel so refreshed everyday after I read her post.  I'm inspired to live my life the way God intended.  Rachel is always true to herself and to the person she is being led to be.  I highly recommend you check it out.  I always look forward to ready what she has to say.  Plus, she has the most precious little girl, Kensington, and has another little girl on the way.

Five Question Friday

Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then link up with Mama M. Come on. Join in. It’ll be fun!

1. Who is the better cook, you or your spouse? I don't think either one of us is the better cook.  I cook more, but when hubby cooks it always turns out very yummy.  I have started getting into cooking lately and am trying out some new recipes.  Some are worth the work, some not so much! 
2. How often do you talk to your mom? I talk to my mom everyday; most days twice.  She is my best friend and I miss not living in the same town as she does!  She's coming to visit tomorrow to go with us to the big Razorback game.
3. Are you adventurous in the kitchen or stick to the recipe? Most of the time I stick pretty close to the recipe.  I do leave leave out things I don't like such as olives, coffee, and nuts.  My current favorite places to find recipes are The Pioneer Woman and Kelly from Kelly's Korner.
4. Is your second toe longer than your big toe? Yes and it always kinda creeps me out to look at my feet and see that.  I know it's supposedly genetic, but I don't like it.
5. Do you dress up for Halloween? (Bonus question: What will you be this year?) No I don't dress up.  I never have, really.  I lived in the country when I was growing up, so there really wasn't anywhere to trick-or-treat.  I do look forward to having kids so that I can dress them up.  I think there are countless cute costumes for the little ones.  I will probably have more fun than they do. 

Technology Dependent

This morning I had a little incident with my iPhone.  For some reason it decided not to work.  The screen wouldn't come on.  Then it would come on and flicker for a minute and decide to go off again and not come back on.

This all started about five minutes before I had to leave to get to my inservice meeting.  Great!!  I needed to leave and all I felt inside was panic.  I couldn't tell anyone my phone didn't work.  What if something happened at school and they needed me?  What if there was an emergency and hubby needed to get in touch with me?  He didn't even know my phone was broken so he would think I was ignoring him!  Mom couldn't get a hold of me.  Oh No!!!!  The world was coming to an end.

All this made me realize I am entirely too dependent on technology.  I totally found out that the world keeps on spinning even when my cell phone doesn't work.

Fortunately, my phone came out of its funk and started working properly this afternoon.  We'll have to see how long it will last!

The Lion King

I am so excited!!  We just got tickets to see the Broadway production of The Lion King when we go to Chicago next month.  This combines two of my favorite things: 1.  Broadway musicals, and 2. Disney.  I will be in heaven.  We got lucky, too, because we are seeing it the next to last day it will be there.  How nice that it just happened to coincide with our trip.  We are lucky to have found out about it, too.  My aunt, who lives in Michigan, told my mom she was going down to see it.  So, I go online to see if we would be able to go.  Yay!!  It all worked out and this will round out our trip!  It's so fun to get the chance to see these shows.

At the beginning of the month we will be seeing Wicked in Little Rock.

We saw this show a couple years ago in Chicago and really enjoyed it, so we're going back.  I feel so lucky to be able to access these events.  Just for a couple hours I can pretend that I am a carefree girl living in New York whose life is to see musicals and eat at good restaurants.  By the time the shows are over, I'm ready to head back to my reality after having a break in another world.

Race for the Cure

This weekend I headed back to Central Arkansas to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  It was an amazing time.  I joined a team with my mom and her school, which used to be my school (for my first 5 years of teaching).  I miss those lovely ladies.  They were so great to teach with and I truly enjoyed getting to see and catch up with them for a couple of hours, especially for such a worthy cause.  There were more than 45,000 of us running/walking through downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock.  This was my second time to participate and look forward to making it a yearly tradition.  I came away feeling refreshed, inspired, and like we can make a difference in the fight against Breast Cancer.

Mom and me in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel pre-race.

The Eastside Elementary team I raced with.

The Little Rock firemen dancing and throwing beads on top of their firetruck!

Five Question Friday

Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then link up with Mama M. Come on. Join in. It’ll be fun!

1. What is your favorite Halloween candy? Anything Reese's.  I love the regular peanut butter cups, the miniature peanut butter cups, and Reese's Pieces.  Yum!!  But, I'll pretty much eat any Halloween candy, especially if it's chocolate.
2. Do you fold your socks? Yes, I always fold them.  My habit is that I don't take them out of the dryer until I have time to find the match, fold them, and put them in the drawer.  I never thought matching socks was difficult until I got married.  I'm telling you hubby has about a million pairs of white socks that it seems impossible to find the match to.  Who new they could make that many different white socks for men!
3. What is something that you wish you had been warned about? I wish I had been warned to not stress so much about finding a husband when I was younger.  I spent way too much time worrying about being alone forever instead of enjoying the moment.  All things happen in due time (i.e. God's time), not my time.
4. What is the most significant difference between you and your significant other? I like things to be neat and organized.  Clutter doesn't bother hubby in the least.  That probably causes more friction than anything else.  But, after 3 years, we are starting to work through it.  Ha!
5. What are three words you would use to describe yourself? (And, just for fun...if your significant other is around, ask him/her what 3 words they would use to describe you!!) 

          My words: caring, sensitive, impatient
          Hubby's words: smart, planned/organized, entertaining

Let Me Explain

Yesterday, I posted this picture for Wordless Wednesday with the the Title, "Wishing For This Scene."

I know that some of you think I must be off my rocker to want it to be cold and wintery.  But, I love snow and cold weather.  I know I will especially love it after the long, hot summer we just had.  Plus, it's still awful warm for it to be the middle of October.

One of the best things about moving from Central Arkansas to Northwest Arkansas is that we get a lot more winter weather here.  I saw real snow on multiple occasions instead of just ice.  I think snow is so beautiful and peaceful, particularly on the mountains we have around here!

I love winter because I love wearing sweaters and lighting yummy candles.  I love those surprise days off of school and getting to hang out at home to watch TV and movies.  But, I know that come next March and April I will be thoroughly excited about spring and summer and will then be complaining about what a long, cold winter we just had!

Wordless Wednesday-Wishing For This Scene

Cooking and a Giveaway

Well, I've done it.  I've actually cooked three nights in a row.  It's been nice to get home and have a nice cooked meal and not having to go out.  Hubby has seemed to like it, too.  I think he just likes having the leftovers for lunch the next day.  I have to admit, I like that, too.

Last night I made Sesame Noodles with Teriyaki Chicken.

To get the recipe for the noodles, check out The Pioneer Woman.  After I made the noodles, I just topped them with some Teriyaki chicken I had in the freezer.  It was yummy.

Tonight, I made Angel Chicken, which was also really yummy.

Angel Chicken

Ingredients:
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 c. Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing
1/4 c. white wine OR chicken broth OR water
1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 lb. angel hair pasta, uncooked
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Beat cream cheese, soup, dressing, and wine (chicken broth or water) with whisk until blended; pour over chicken in crock pot.  Cook on low 4-5 hours (or on high 2-3 hours).  Cook pasta as directed on package before chicken is done; drain.  Serve topped with chicken mixture and parsley.

I also cooked on Sunday night, but forgot to get pictures.  I'll post about that later in the week when we have it again.

Now, about the giveaway.  Whitney over at The Glamorous Life of a Housewife  is having a super awesome giveaway.  I definitely recommend you check it out.  For information about entering, go here.

Branson Recap

Saturday morning we got up early and headed to Branson to meet my mom.  We had a nice time.  We spent most of the day Saturday at Silver Dollar City, the theme park there, and then headed to Branson Landing that even for some shopping and dinner.  Sunday morning we heading back to Silver Dollar City for the church service they have there, had a yummy southern lunch, and then headed on home.  Here are some pictures courtesy of my iPhone from the trip and of the purchases I made.  The best thing about the trip is that it got me into such a "Fall" mood!  Now, if we could get the weather to match.
First, here's the memory from the best $4.00 potato I have ever had!

The site to purchase the best $4.00 potato.

Whole potatoes on a stick before the magic happens.

The nifty machine that spiral cuts the potato.

The potato almost ready.

Spreading the cut potato to it can be deep fried.

The finished potato that was like heaven on Earth.
There were various seasonings and ketchup to make them even better.

Here's my Paula Deen salad dressing I got for 50% off and the locally produced orange blossom honey we found at Silver Dollar City.

I got all these yummy Fall smelling Yankee Candle things for $15.00.

The cute little apron I found.  Now, hopefully I won't ruin anymore clothes when I'm cooking.

Fall door hanging I had to get.

The cutest little Fall haybale decoration I found.

The other side of the haybale.

Five Question Friday

1. What do you listen to while driving? I either listen to XM 20 on 20 or something I have downloaded to my iPhone like music from Glee.

2. What is your least favorite thing about Fall? Nothing! I love Fall. There's the cooler weather, shorter days, beautiful leaves, pretty decorations, and most importantly Football!!!!!

3. What does your dream house look like, inside and out? I don't have a dream house as far as looks. I just want a home for my family that is full of love and joy.

4. Would you ever own a minivan? I sure hope not! I know you should never say never, but I can't imagine when/why we would ever have one.

5. Do you wash new clothes before wearing them? Most definitely, unless my eating sloppiness creates an emergency where I have to buy a clean shirt and immediately put it on.

Gotta Get Back in the Habit

Well,  Hubby and I are going to break down and do something we haven't done in a couple of weeks.  We are going grocery shopping tomorrow.  We have gotten out of the habit of cooking our own meals and have been eating out.  A LOT!!  Eating out gets expensive quickly and I know it's not healthy to be eating all that processed, calorie-packed food all the time.  But, after being sick and overloaded with homework, eating out was the easiest option.

I have planned our meals for next week and we are going to stop and pick up the groceries we need tomorrow after school.  We are taking a quick trip to Branson on Saturday, but I'll be prepared for dinner Sunday evening when we get back.  I am writing down the meals I have planned and sending the plan into cyberspace on the hopes it will make me follow-through.  I am going to cook three big meals so that we will have left overs for the nights we don't cook and to take for lunch.

1. Pan-fried Rib-eyes and Ranch Potatoes
2.  Angel Chicken and Pasta
3.  Teriyaki Chicken and Sesame Noodles.

We'll see how I do at keeping the plan.

Question:  With fall and winter coming on, what are your favorite things to cook?  I'm always looking for new meal ideas.

Nice Change of Pace

Today I had the opportunity to go to a training on how to use our Promethean Boards (interactive white board) in the classroom.  There are several good things about getting inservice days during the school year:

1.  You get a break from the normal routine.

2.  You get a little downtime.  Instead of going from one lesson to the other, you get a day that runs at a slower pace.

3.  You get a chance to see and talk to co-workers that on most day you are lucky pass and say "hi" to in the hall.

4.  You get to sleep a little later.  Instead on being at school at 7:30ish, I didn't have to be there until 8:30 today.

5.  You get a least an hour for lunch instead of a rushed 30 minutes.

6.  You get to go sit down in a restaurant and order a nice lunch where you can sit around a table and have nice conversations with your coworkers/friends.

7.  You leave feeling refreshed and excited from what you learned instead of completely exhausted.

All in all , it was nice to have a change of pace today and the good news is I get another one of these days next week!

Bringing Home Joleigh

This is a picture of my friend Jenny and her beautiful family.

What really strikes me about this family is their desire to follow what God has put on their hearts to do.  They are all so kind and so selfless.  I want to model my family after the example this family has set.  This family is in the process of adopting a precious baby girl, Joleigh, from Ethiopia.  God has put on their hearts to provide and nurture a child that may not otherwise have that opportunity.  

I admire this family.  The choice to adopt is not easy.  The road they have ahead of them may not be easy, but they are choosing to be obedient to God.  How amazing is that!  What is also amazing is how this family has inspired others to help.  While it may not be in everyone's future to adopt an orphan, the journey this family has taken has inspired many others to help sweet Joleigh get home to her family.

This family has worked hard to get Joleigh here with them.  This process is incredibly expensive due to the fact they must travel to Ethiopia twice.  But, they have not looked at this as a daunting task, but rather have worked with such joy to raise the funds that are needed.  This joy has spread to others and made others want to give of themselves freely.

Cans, Cans, and more Cans


This mountain of cans and so many more have been saved, crushed, and cashed in to raise money.

Coffee

They are also selling fair trade coffee and other items.  Check out their coffee shop here.  Other fundraiser they have held include a gold party, a jewelry party, and a yard sale.  But, now they are doing something new and I just love it.  

I love these shirts.  They are so thought-provoking to me.  When you stop and think about this sentiment, it makes you think about how much we waste in our quest for things.  We waste time, energy, and money.  Things aren't bad, just not quite so important when you consider the number of people fighting for survival.

Here is the link to Jenny's blog where you can hear about the journey her family is on.  You can also buy a T-shirt and find out about other ways to help bring Joleigh home.  I hope that spending a few minutes on her blog will bring as much inspiration to you as it has me.

Note:  All the photos I used in this post came from Jenny's blog.

Waiting

I read this blog post over the weekend and it has stuck with me.  I just can't stop thinking about how it totally described me and my mentality.  We have become a society of instant gratification.  In retrospect, I see myself often confusing "needs" and "wants."  There is a difference that I really need to learn.  I want to overcome this entitlement to have everything I want; it's an entitlement I tried to ignore that I have.  I am not entitled to "things."

Recently, we have been looking at buying a house in the NWA area.  It's not as easy as it seems.  With the economy down, lenders aren't looking to just give money away to people that say they want to buy a house.  So at times, I get down about how it isn't just falling into place as quickly and easily as I want.  I have caught myself saying, "We need to get a house.  This apartment just isn't enough."  Now that I think about it, we don't need a house.  Yes, it would be nice.  Yes, we would have more space.  But, I need to stop and be grateful for what I do have.

We are fortunate to have a nice apartment to live in here.  We still have my grandfather's house to live in in Central Arkansas.  We have two nice cars that get us everywhere we want and need to be.  We have plenty of food to eat, clothes to where, and have had the opportunity to visit some amazing places.

There is really nothing I need or am lacking.  I know that when the time is right the opportunity for us to buy a house will present itself. In the meantime, I need to have more patience with everything and have patience.  Many things in life are worth the wait, I need to slow down and enjoy the journey and stop focusing so much on the end result.

Sick Day

Well, I'm off work again today.  I started feeling a little off on Monday, but I self-medicated with Dayquil, Advil, etc. and kind of blew it off.  This was supposed to be a busy week.  We were doing some testing at school that I needed to be there for so I could provide modifications for my students.  Plus, this was Parent Conference week.  So, I was supposed to work late and sit in on conferences with my students' parents.  I also was supposed to go to class on Wednesday night.

By Wednesday, I could barely talk and very little energy.  That is when I decided I just had to go to the doctor after school.  I sat in my one conference I really needed to and then headed to the doctor's office.  My diagnosis was a mutated form of Strep Throat and Bronchitis.  Yucky!  Needless to say I didn't make it to class that night and was ordered not to go to work for at least the next day, preferably for two days.  Today is an inservice day and I was planning on going back for it.  However, the principal and assistant principal told me to just stay home and get plenty of rest.  They will make sure I get my hours I need.   They really didn't want me to infect everyone else and they trust that I know what is necessary for the audit that is coming up in a couple weeks.

Hopefully, I will be back on my feet and ready to go soon.  It is such a relief to work in an environment where the leadership really does care about the employees.  They want what is best for everyone, not just what they see as best on their agenda.  I am truly grateful for my job and all the support I get in it.  When I become a school leader in the next few years, I will definitely remember this experience and strive to make the staff that works under me feel the way I feel today.