I really don't think anyone reads this anymore, since I haven't updated in an eternity. But just in case you happen to drop by, please stop by my brand-spankin' new site:


thisblessedlife.net

See you over there!

thatnewmusicwebsite.com

Fresh air

I have been looking forward to spring this year like no other year that I can remember. I think it's a combination of the fact that I'm excited to do some gardening in our yard for the first time, there's lots of exciting things coming up - going to Florida, baby showers, brother's graduation, hosting my first yard sale, parents and sister coming to visit, and oh yeah, a baby due in the summer - which means we have to have spring first! :)

I normally love all of my pink Valentine's decorations (I'm a teacher, and yes, I decorate our house for minor holidays and the seasons!), but I've already taken them down and put up the few spring decorations I have. A few ceramic eggs, a wire chicken, some cool bendy willow tree branches from last year, fresh new Target towels for the kitchen (on clearance for $1.48 total!) and a few other things. Looking at these fresh, springy things in my house is helping me to stay positive - it will come!!

Oh, kids!

Below are two literal conversations/comments with actual students of mine:

After telling my 5th grade class (a little late, about 16 weeks pregnant):

Maya: "Oh, good! 'Cause I was thinkin', 'wow, she used to be pretty skinny.' "

Kaylee, one of my first graders:

"You look pretty skinny today, Mrs. B------"

"Thank you, Kaylee."

"You don't really look that fat yet at all."

LOL!

19 days til I know whether to buy pink or blue! I can hardly wait!!!!!

Dinner Idea for You!

Since beef and I are on the outs right now (and we usually had some form of beef at least 2x a week), I've been forced to be more creative with mealtimes.  Pork is one meat that I've always been "afraid" of - my mom didn't cook with it a lot growing up, so I don't think I bought it until a few months ago when I decided that I could use pork tenderloins (I think that's what they're called) to cut up for stir-fry.  

I really wanted to try a pork roast, so I decided to buy one without giving any thought to the fact that I had no recipe for it!  I decided on a pork-shoulder-butt-roast.  It weighed a couple of pounds. I went on all-recipes.com and found a recipe for a 5-lb crockpot pork roast.  The ingredients were pork, salt and pepper, beef broth, BBQ sauce, and coffee.  However, after reading some comments, I learned that the coffee and beef broth weren't even necessary - which is good b/c I can't stand the smell or taste of coffee now, and I didn't have the beef broth in the house!  

Monday morning, I put my roast in the crockpot, sprinkled it with pepper, filled a small canning jar (!) with water, and dumped it in.  Then I sprinkled some onion soup mix around the water to give it a little flavor, and squeezed a few squirts of BBQ sauce on top.  I put it on low for 8 hrs.  

I came home from work, and it smelled heavenly!!  I squeezed a bunch more BBQ sauce on top, and let it cook for about 20 more minutes.  Then I pulled it out and shredded it, and added a few spoonfuls of the "broth" to the meat pile, just to flavor it some more.  Chris and I ate it on big buns with some extra BBQ sauce on top, with homemade pasta salad on the side.  

All I can say is that we were drooling!  This is definitely a keeper! :)

New finds

Some new internet goodies:

I just read this woman's posts back to August in one sitting - that's how much I enjoyed her writing: missalamode.blogspot.com

Interesting frugal site I found from Meredith's blog: frugalhomemakerplus.blogspot.com

Crystal Paine (of MoneySavingMom fame) has started a new blog dedicated to raising kids.

I've been lurking here for a while, actually: The Nester's sister, (I think her name is Emily?) writes beautifully about life and has great photos to boot.

They're being added to the blogroll - and a few other sides are being deleted because I don't ever read them anymore (ouch-hope that didn't sound prissy!).

Anyone else just dying for spring so you can go yard-saling again?!

My sister-in-law and I are having a yard sale on May 9th at my house and I can hardly wait!

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Oh, do I love that man.  I mean, I love everything he did for civil rights in this country, and that he was committed to non-violence, and that he wanted a peaceful nation.  But right now I'm loving that man because I. don't. have. to. work. today.  

Which means....

• I got to sleep in til 8 in my deliciously comfy, warm bed with my fluffy "down" comforter
  
• I got to make myself an egg sandwich (workday morning breakfasts are always something boring and fast, like PB toast)
  
• I got all of my lesson planning for this week done before 9:15
  
• I get to start a batch of banana-chocolate-chip muffins at 9:45 in the morning
  
• I get to go hang out with a good friend today and watch only one of the greatest movies of all time: Anne of Green Gables
  

I mean really, what more could a girl want? Okay, maybe a mani-pedi and a full body massage, but I'll take it. ;)  

Whether you're working or relaxing today, or somewhere in between, have a great Monday!  

P.S.  I do this all the time, and forgive me, but Sandy has such incredible giveaways that I can't help myself.  I'm linking to her amazing, fantastic, full-of-gorgeous-pictures-and-ideas-blog so I can get entered in her giveaway twice.  Maybe this time........