Happy Thanksgiving!

Last week, I had my students make a poster of things that they were thankful for. To show them what I expected, I made an example showing my own. (Please excuse my crappy drawings!)  It was nice to put down on paper just a few of the things I am so thankful for.I felt like a kid again.

I thank the Lord for all these things.....

I am so thankful for my family and all the love that they show me and for being the source of comfort and happiness in my life. I have the best parents in the world, a brother that I can call one of my best friends, my nephew who is so stinkin' cute, and my husband who is all of these things and more, wrapped up into a handsome little package. I love you!

I am so thankful for all of my friends and for all the happiness and laughter that they bring me. My friends from back home, my college friends,  my bunco girls, my yoga girls,

my blogger friends, and my co-workers Thank you.  

Ruff Ruff! That means I love you in pup talk.

Lord, thank you for providing my family with everything we need.

I am very thankful that I have a job this year,

 one that I  love and can show passion for once again.

I am thankful for each one of my students, past and present.

I am so thankful for all of the blessings in my life, great and small.

I am thankful for YOU!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Now LET'S EAT!

Ashamed and McRibbed

I have a confession to make.

I am a McRib fanatic. I'm one of those crazy freakazoids that get excited about the McRib's return to our country. I'm the one that yells "The McRib is Back" as I drive by every McDonald's I see. I drool at the mere thought of the rib meat dripping with tangy bbq sauce...or whatever it really is.

Is it weird that the sandwich is made up of God knows what? Is it weird that this meat is so processed that I can't think of a joke to couple with that idea? Yes, but the cholesterol induced coma (or is that a heart attack?) I get when I eat it wont let me think straight. It's just so good when it touches my lips.

And bonus, Hubs is equally obsessed. We are a McRib family til the end. And I pray that the McRib will be kind to our arteries so our end will not come sooner than what's in God's DayRunner Agenda.

My second confession is that I've already had Two McRibs this McRib season and yes, it's only been two weeks. That's two heart attacks in two weeks.... I must have nine McRib lives.

I can't help it guys. I probably need help but get the hell away from me and don't touch my sandwich!! I have been taking major leaps....nay... astronaut bounds to make my body healthy and strong. I even ran twice this week and did 90 minutes of yoga yesterday...doesn't that cancel ANYTHING out? I wasn to believe so.

I'm making all the health food bloggers cringe writing about this I'm sure, but the truth is, this sandwich reminds me of my childhood. This is a memorabilia from the times in Germany when my parents would take us to McDonalds and where this delicious sandwich was a constant on the menu. So, I hold on dearly to the times when they come back because.... who knows if I will ever return to Germany? That's what I'd like to know. This sandwhich is my childhood friend.

Welcome back, friend. Welcome back. 

• Any fans out there? Haters?

Magic, Make believe, and Tequila

For my next trick, I will make you believe that no time has passed in my Project Wifey Wife...project thingy. By the time I finish this post, you will magically believe that I have been blogging every day about the fantabulous meals I make for the hubby. No Time has passed. No time has passed.

If you don't believe me, I'll cry. And you don't want to see my ugly cry face. It'll make you wonder if you should feel sorry for me, laugh, or be scared shitless.

Moving on....

I made the best pasta known to man. AND it has tequila. Pasta AND Tequila? This has to be against the law...and not just the healthy eating law. I first tried this magical creation at the California Pizza Kitchen and it blew....my....mind. In my little black book of pastas, this and mizithra with browned butter are my go to booty calls. The fact that I got my hands on this recipe makes my tummy all giddy!!

Project Wifey Wife Week #23- The Savory
Chicken Tequila Fettuccine
from allrecipes.com a la Kimberly :)

Ingredients:
1 (16 ounce) package fettuccine pasta
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 Tbs minced garlic
2 Tbs minced jalapeno
3 Tbs butter
1/2 cup chicken stock
3 Tbs tequila
2 Tbs fresh lime juice
3 Tbs soy sauce
1 1/4 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breasts; cubed
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 yellow and green bell peppers, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1. In a medium saucepan, saute cilantro, garlic, and jalapeno pepper in 2 Tbs of butter over medium heat for 4-5 minutes.

The love affair between garlic and cilantro in this dish is Tabloidelicious.

3. Add the stock, tequila, and lime juice. Bring to a boil. **The recipe says to let it come up to a paste consistency and I boiled for a LONG time and couldn't get that. It still turned out perfect in the end. So if you're impatient like me...no worries. **

4. Pour soy sauce over the chicken and set aside for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute onion and the bell peppers with 1 Tbs of butter, stirring occasionally.

The recipe called for green peppers, but I refuse to conform to society and used orange instead.

I'm a rebel without a cause. 

5. Boil the pasta. Duh.

6. When the peppers have wilted a bit, add chicken AND the soy sauce. Toss and add the tequila/lime paste from earlier and cream. Boil and cook chicken well. Toss with pasta and HOLY MOLY, you got yourself a dinner fit for the King of Mexico or Italy. Whatever.

When I snap my fingers, you will believe that I am a consistent blogger who makes the best food in Bloggertown. You will try this recipe and make your own ugly crying face because you will be crying tequila tears of pure and utter joy. You will love it. You will LOVE it. ::SNAP::

These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog barks, when the bee stings, when you're feeeeeeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad. #true story.

1. Back to my roots. As many of you know, I was born and spent a lot of my younger years in Germany. From time to time, I get a hankering for some juicy sausage. Get your mind out of the gutter. So I got us some Brats this week. My mom was so kind to buy us some German Ketchup and Red Cabbage. We paired it with some beers and I was back to my childhood.... minus the drinking beer of course.

 

2. Shut Eye. I haven't been sleeping well lately. Partly due to stress, partly due to the alarm clock light, and partly due to Pinterest. It also doesn't help that I sleep a lot earlier than my night owl of a husband. No matter how quietly he tries to get into bed, he disturbs me in my deep REM cycle. (BTW, did you hear that REM broke up? I didn't even know they were still a band!) And when that happens... let's just say I get a bit grouchy faced. So, to solve this dilemma, I bought a eye mask, which my hubby so affectionately calls, my face bra, and some ear plugs.

 3. Early morning workout. Today, I did the unthinkable. I actually woke up early enough to fit in a workout. ::le gasp:: I felt pretty darn good. Since I'm too chicken sh*t to go out in the early morning darkness to run, I opted for a AT&T U-verse workout video. I found this lady that I'm totally smitten with. She's not the type of video trainer that is too coo coo for coco puffs nor the type that wants to eat your soul ::cough:: Jillian ::cough:: She's super motivating and I want to save up money to hire her as my personal trainer. What do you think a trainer to the stars charges now a days?

via

4. Quotes that make me giggle. This is me in a nutshell. I don't allow my husband to tickle me. I will straight drop kick anyone who tries.

Source: None via Joanna on Pinterest

5. Beauty. I have the worst hand when it comes to eyeliner, specifically liquid eyeliner. But, by golly, I hit gold and found one that I LURVE!!! If you can't tell by my shotty picture, this is Loreal's Carbon Black Lineur Intense. The felt tip makes it glide on with ease.... for sheeze.

• Any favs from your week?



Thursday Favorites: Answered Prayers

A month ago (almost to the exact date), I wrote a post about becoming a chef. I came to this fork in the road and I pretty much camped out there for the summer, not knowing what to do. Pacing back and forth, I couldn't choose between following a new dream or keep trying at an old one. Being the emotional eater that I am, I used that fork and ate my sorrows away, never wanting to really tackle the pickle at hand.
I hate pickles.

After much and much and much and much thought, I made a decision.

"I'm sorry Le Cordon Bleu, you are CHOPPED. Please pack up your utensils and go home."

You don't know how hard it was to make that decision. My heart (and my tummy, and my hubby's tummy) was saying, "Cook your heart out, Sunshine!" but My brain was saying different. I wanted to follow my dreams (SO BAD) but it's not in the cards right now... the debit cards more specifically.

So, I chose my first love, Teaching. It truly is my first passion and truth be told, I lost some of that last year. 

But this is a new year, and I want to reignite my passion again. I'm going to set this place on FI-YA! (not literally... I would never do that) I want to be a revolutionary... a force to be reckoned with....in the classroom and in the kitchen! WATCH OUT NOW!

I met my principal today and I could NOT have asked for a more supportive guy. Through and Through. And he gave me an iPad to boot! (It's for a reading program)

To make this situation that much better, he told me that if an opportunity arises where I can move back to Elementary mid-year, he would give me his blessing. My heart was about to jump out of my chest and hug him. I think if I cried like I wanted to, he would've thought I was a weirdo. I went home from our meeting feeling like I made the right decision.

I am now a Middle School English Language Development Teacher (Math, Study Skills, and Reading)

Now I can take out my teacher tools and magic dust....and clean out our guest room.

Cooking School will always be there for me.... I will put my Chef dream aside (not away).

Until then...when I'm not in my classroom, you can find me here....

Happy. Cooking in my Kitchen.

**Thank you to all my family and  friends (blog ones included) for all of your support through it all. Listening to me bitch and moan? Why are you still loving me?

 And to my patient and supportive Husband, where ever this road will take me... I want nothing more than you by my side...oh and can you drive? I hate driving. ***

Thursday Favorites: NOT Being on Time

 I was picked to be in a jury once and Mr. Growly Bear Judge made this very clear on the first day:
If you're early, you're on time. If you're on time, you're late, and if you're late, don't bother coming.

You would think after he barked these orders no one would be late, but leave it to Ms. Ditzy Mcditzyface to come in late the next morning with a full Starbucks Frap in her hand. Ummm... "Earth to STUPID FACE! You're STUPID!"

  

Although I keep to his advice in my professional life, in my personal life, its a whole different story. I'm late 80% of the time. It's ALWAYS one of those things where I have MORE than enough time to get ready, yet dilly dallying gets the best of me and somehow, someway, the stars align to make me LATE. I smudge my eyeliner, Sonic throws up on the carpet, I hit every red light, it's Old People Day and everyone is driving slow.... see... the stars make me late.



...via...

So, why is this my favorite then? I'm not talking about this kind of late...
I'm talking about PRESENTS! Stay with me now...It'll all make sense in a minute...or not.

Don't you just LOVE getting presents early or late? I guess I could've just opened this post with that.
WHOMP WHOMP...

Hubby's birthday was in February, but he got this birthday present from his amazing wife.... last week.

I don't know about you, but he doesn't look sad to me. I think the point of this story is... it's not always bad to be late. Right? It's like an extended birthday. He got the HP Touchpad which is like the Ipad but BETTER! Did I say that right, Hubby?

My birthday is on July 18th (YEAH!) at 4:23am (I'm just kidding, I have no idea what time I was born) but I got my present from my amazing husband....last week.

I. am. happy. It's never too early for birthday presents!!!

Now I understand many avid readers, btw I'm not an avid reader, HATE Kindles

**Ahem** Christine**Ahem** but I found it was appropriate for me. I don't tend to hold on to my paperback books very long, and if I do they collect dust under my bed. Sure, I'll still buy and keep pretty hardcovers of classic novels, but things like "How to Stop Being a Lazy Bunghole" isn't something I want chillin' on my shelves for my guests to see.

Now let's ::swoon:: together over cute Kindle covers!

Via Kate Spade



Via Kate Spade

Ashley...do you love yours?

Via ElizabethDavidDesigns on Etsy

  

Via momandmia on Etsy

 

Via SimbiosisbyJulia on Etsy

Did I mention my birthday is coming up?

• Are you more of an early bird or late bird?
• Kindle fan?
• Which one is your fav. case?

Thursday Favs: #Winning

~ I went shopping today for summer clothes (2 shorts, 2 tanks, 1 dress, and a partridge in a pear tree)  #winning

...Via Moo.com..

~ Had a yummy croissant club in beautiful Downtown Riverside with my favorite blogger friend. #winning


..Via..

 ~WON my first blog giveaway from Delighted Momma. Do you follow her blog? You really should, she has AWESOME stuff! Thanks Lindsay, can't wait to get my necklace!

Pair this with a plain Jane tank... #Winning... seriously...#Winning!

• What's one thing you loved about today?
• Anything that was #Winning?

The Most FAVORITE of them all.

Tomorrow is my last day of school. My last day of my first year teaching High School. The LAST day.
I. AM. SO. HAPPY!

VERY HAPYY!

Jumping in Jumpers HAPPY!

No more teaching those RUDE High School Boys.
No more staring at bullet holes.
No more pencils.
No more books.
No more Teacher's dirty looks.
...until August anyway. But still...I'm EX....wait for it...CITED!

I have some summer goals I'd like to accomplish. I'm going to go Cray Cray on this summmaaaaa!

1. Kick out this summer reading list

• Bossypants
• The Happiness Project
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
• Reread The Alchemist
• AND SO MANY MORE! **Any Recommendations?**

2. Jog at the beach. Sleep at the beach. Eat at the beach. Read at the beach. Make sandcastles with  paper cups...complete with the moat that will never hold water because the water just wont stay above the sand at the beach. NOT swim. at the beach (Maybe I should make "Learn to Swim" a goal?)

Barbados 2006 with my beautiful Auntie Irene

3. Organize the HECK out of our house. Purge all the closets. Get rid of the junk (T, can you please come over and help me with this? I'll pay you in....Crustables.) Put away wedding stuff...because the wedding has been over for 7 months now, Joanna!

4.  Be a better Blogger. I have been slacking on my Project Wifey Wife. I assure you that I have been eating good dinners, even if I haven't been posting them. And Hubby is being fed still, too. I have some summer recipes in mind and a new project in store. ::rubs hands together::  MWAHAHAH!

5. Jump back on the Healthy wagon. This is what I ate for dinner last night....

I didn't eat this ALL by myself. I had some help. But now I feel like I just murdered someone. Guilty. If I don't do something about this soon...someone will have to shoot me with a tranquilizer gun. I'm going to run my buh-dunka-dunk off...run like a tranquilizer fun is being aimed at my muffin top. Healthy eating. Heathy habits. Heathy feeling!

LET THE SUMMER BEGIN!

• What are you summer plans/goals?
• Any book recommendations for me?

Cinco de Mayo and Favoritos de Jueves

That's May 5th and Thursday Favorites, for all you readers who forgot your High School Spanish.
Pop Quiz HOT SHOT: Donde es la biblioteca?

Although it is indeed Cinco de Mayo or as College-folk lovingly refer to as Cinco de Drinko, I did not make and will not make anything of the Mexican variety. This is shame for my Mexican Husband. I just don't feel that I could do justice to such a Holiday.
So instead, I will post a picture of a tortilla chip I found in my chip bag this week

I FOUND it like that, I SWEAR! And if you think that I'm crazy enough to nibble a heart-shaped hole into my snackage... thank you. I take that as a compliment because you must think I'm somewhat talented.

Speaking of talented, here are some bloggers who did take the time to make some Mexican food.....
Because I Mexi-can't. ::crickets::

• The Little Yellow Kitchen
• How Sweet it is

Favoritos de Jueves:

OH MY GOSH! Oh Dios Mio! I'm going to be doing this all post so get used to it.

1. I've been eating up a storm lately. I used butter as a scape goat when finding the cause of my tight jeans and less bed space because of my bah-dunka-dunk, but I think it's because I've been indulging in a new practice in my life...

Desserts. I NEED to finish dinner with dessert now...and finish lunch with a morsel of sugarsomething...and finish breakfast with...I dunno... a Hershey's Kiss? (They're so small, I'm sure they are like air practically) Since it's a new month... I will be laying low on the sugar and butter intake. Keep in mind when rubbing this in my face this month, that I said laying low not, laying off.

2. Speaking of desserts that somehow qualify as legit breakfast items... I made this and I almost died of food-phoria. Or was it from stuffing too many of them in my mouth...I forget.

I tripped and fell into a rabbit blogroll hole and found this girl...who taught me how to make these wondrous Strawberry Scones. I want to give her a Thank you hug because she added something to my life. Isn't it weird when complete strangers do that to you? Everyday Heroes....Everyday Heroes.

These are just as good, if not better than the ones at Paris in a Cup.

I will be making these for my Beautiful Mother on Sunday.

I wish I were a mom so someone would make these for me.

• What are your plans for Mother's Day?
• Are you a Dessert fan?
• Tell me one of your favorites this week.