where's my inner Julia Child?

Lately I've had the desire to cook. Not necessarily lengthy, intricate recipes, but to spend some time attempting to make delicious meals.

Emphasis on the attempt.


The running joke in our house is that every single meal I make is so close to being awesome, but I always miss out on one step that would make it great. I made Pad Thai last week; didn't soak the noodles long enough so they were a little tough. Spaghetti sauce, kept the heat too high so the flavor wasn't quite perfect (but was pretty okay for my first time.) Chicken wings, missed the step that said to heat the pan up without the oil... almost started a fire.

I'm very much a learn-by-doing kind of person, so the second time around it usually ends up being pretty tasty. Good thing Mike is patient and eats whatever I put in front of him...

So anyways, I've been craving this falafel recipe I read on Jenna's blog (http://www.pbs.org/food/fresh-tastes/falafel-burgers/) but every time I decide I'm going to make it, I'm missing one crucial ingredient. And I'm too lazy to drive back out to Publix.

I was going to make one of my staples that takes all of 30 seconds to prepare (cheese, garlic, and spinach or whatever I have on hand wrapped in pizza dough, baked, dipped in sauce, ready GO!) but I think I'll save that for a rainy (cough STRESSFUL) day.

I think I'll attempt go attempt the pad thai again...

and oh how it delivered

i think it's going to be one of those years where we're living for the weekend

yup. 

Looking forward to this 3 day weekend... in fact, it's really the only thing pulling me through.

to be honest, I'm worried for us. 

we are weary & burdened. 

And i'm not meaning to come off as a whiner, 

because i am SO very thankful for the time that teachers have off to recharge, 

but education is getting a bit scary.

(i'm not sure i'll be able to make this a lifelong career.)

but who am i kidding? we're all exhausted.

Mike and his fellow DBers...

my mom and the whole health care system in general...

yes, we will continually work harder than ever have before, 

but most importantly,

we'll relax and play even harder 

:)

& for me this weekend that means cashing in my massage gift certificate from April, getting a haircut, multiple barbecues, long runs that will ensure I can fit into my skinny jeans come October, and hopefully looking at pianos so I can bang the keys in fits of hysterics

done and done. 

Weekend morning favs

I love coffee.

Weekday mornings I'm heading out the door with a travel mug in tow, where it gets finished in first period as I breathe dragon coffee breath all over the kiddos. 

But the weekend hits and I pull out my favorite mugs and ohhhhh

i'm in my happy place. 

We usually watch a little HGTV as I sit and dream about the decorating I will one day accomplish, the backyard space that will be my happy place, the second cabin in the mountains that will be our respite. 

D dreams with us too.

and now, since we skipped church this morning, I'm heading off to be productive. 

An empty fridge equates to a much-needed Publix excursion. 

a feisty puppy needs some exercise.

The floors are still littered with remnants of the feisty puppy's latest kill, his victim being the thank-you cards that were carelessly left at his eye level. 

and most importantly, the foosball table we scored from the neighbors needs to be christened. 

This is the first time all week that I've been able to just SIT and RELAX. I've been staying at school late, exercising (not tonight... oops...) cooking meals, cleaning, lesson planning, taking care of D.... all these things as I get back into routine, and I didn't feel like I could just, well, sit without doing something productive.

I so needed this.

Relaxing on the back porch, enjoying the slight breeze that's stifling the oppressive humidity, keeping Michael "company" as he mows the lawn, soaking it all in. This year is going to be a doozie; I need to savor the quiet moments of not thinking about work and enjoying a cold one when the opportunity arises.

I can't even imagine doing this job right now and coming home to little ones. Those of you who do this (and will be soon!)... you're all my heroes.

Cheers to Friday and knowing the weekend will deliver!

out of order

like my entire life!

Day 11-- Something blue. Didn't use the camera for these two which at first I thought defeated the whole purpose, but that's okay because I heart instagram. "Something Blue" was super easy.... ermmm... try everything in my stinkin' house is blue?! I went for the whole "everything in my closet is blue" against the "every wall is painted blue" background. And yes, I'm starting to tire of blue.

Oh stinkin' well.

Day 13- me with 13 things. i'm late on this one. in fact, i'll have to take three pictures today, oops. but hey, the 13 things is appropriate because i have about that many things to do tonight for the rest of the week's lesson plans, and if I wanna make it to Zumba in an hour an a half (so not happening...) I need to get moving.