Archives for February 2012

5 people I would invite to dinner {living edition}

February 29, 2012

HEY guys! Let’s play a game, okay?

I think Wednesday the week back from a blissful vacation is a good a day as any to play a game, right?

So here we go…

If you could invite 5 living people to dinner WHO would you INVITE?

Here’s my guest list:

1.

Ellen Degeneres.

BEST ever.

Heart of gold.

Makes me laugh. Makes me happy cry. Makes me wanna dance.

– – – – – – – – – – –

2.

Michelle Obama

Helping kids, helping people.

A great role model and a phenomenal style icon.

– – – – – – – – – – –

3.

Taylor Swift.

So super fun loving.

She would strum us songs on her guitar.

And be just so darn thankful for our friendship.

– – – – – – – – – – –

4.

Sophia Grace and Rosie

Have you seen their latest excursion?

HILAR.

(Rosie doesn’t count as a number because she doesn’t say much.)

– – – – – – – – – – –

5.

Betty White

The last living Golden Girl!

+

Obviously my dinner party would be a girl’s night out. But those are the best kind anyways.

What about you? Who’s on your guest list?

(FYI there will be other editions of this dinner post no doubt: the RIP version and my fantasy favorites. GET ready for it.)

20 Comments · Filed Under: famous people · Tagged With:

yesterday.

February 28, 2012

Yesterday started off preeeetty brutal.

For awhile it was one of those days where I just wished everything would go away.

I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock at 5:45. Jiminy!!! It is UNnatural! After waking up between 8 and 9 the past week (a few days even 10) it basically felt like death. After a few minutes of wallowing in my sadness I forced myself out of bed and into the shower.

The drive to work was okay because the morning sun was glorious, and school itself wasn’t too terrible, but my voice was all wacky due to the ridiculous cough I inherited from my sister over the weekend and the kids seemed a little too loud for my liking. This could have been their volume, but was most likely me still suffering from the remains of my head cold (the one I had on top of the cough).

And then for some reason after work, this down in the dumps sadness came over me. Like it had hit me finally that my vacation was really over and I will not have a weekday off again until the middle of April. Now I know this might seem like I’m complaining, and I know this might not seem fair of me to say because some of you hardly ever have days off, but I’d like to see you try to run a classroom of 17 hyper 6 year olds for approximately 9 months out of the year. Then we’ll talk fair, okay? These breaks are essential for a teacher. Without them, we would most certainly burn out.

The sky was really gray at this point in the day too, which I don’t do well with. Sunshine. Good. Dark clouds. Bad.

Well, in the middle of my sorrowful drive I just told myself, Girl, quit this nonsense. You’ve got it gooood.

I hate feeling like this. It’s not me and it’s just a matter of getting through a slump. And so, I set out to change a few things:

1. I went to the gym. This almost always makes me feel better immediately. I didn’t do anything crazy, but I power-walked for a good while, and then spent some time on the bike with my book.

2. I blasted Counting Crow’s Mr. Jones. Dang, that’s a good song. Always a good time.

3. I took the longest, hottest, bestest shower. And let me tell you one of the dreamiest secrets of all time (IF you have a dryer in your home): right before you get into the shower, put your towels/robe in the dryer, and then just when you’re ready to get out, yell for your boyfriend/roommate/husband/partner to get the now incredibly warm robe out of the dryer and bring it to you. AMAZing. BEST EXPERIENCE EVER. I bought this ginormous white towel robe at IKEA and it’s hands down the best thing that ever happened to me. Especially in this situation. So after my shower I was wrapped in this glorious warmth that literally made me squeal with glee. It’s insane. You gotta try it.

After this I was feeling a thousand times better about my life and happily settled in under a blanket on the couch to watch The Bachelor. My sister’s got me hooked and it’s real bad. And I never thought I’d be saying this, but OH it’s sooo good.

What do you do to turn around a bad day?

Is there another jam I should know about? Got any special tricks up your sleeve?

10 Comments · Filed Under: life ·

snapshots + a guest post

February 27, 2012

a snowy drive + a snowy sunday

target clutch + target tray

stripes + polka dots

super fan balloon + dad

orange pride + Dome love

wegmans candy + wegmans sub

fresh flowers + fresh produce

marshall street + mocs and starbucks

SU + pancakes

exterior + interior

cozy slippers + bedtime reading

tinsley girl + friday rain

curly curls + old memories

It was a glorious week away from work. Vacations are hands down the BEST THING EVER.

But, I have to admit, it’s great to be back too.

:)

And today I’m guest posting on Jenn’s Dream Big Series over at her blog, Simplisic Living.

Check it out!

12 Comments · Filed Under: family, travel ·

pancakes to hold you over.

February 17, 2012

You guys, don’t freak out or anything, but I’m going away.

My school vacation is next week and although I won’t be cruising in the Caribbean or skiing in Tahoe, I will be straight up chillin’. I’m heading home to NY and all I plan on doing is a lot of sleeping in, practicing my photography skills, pinning, and book reading. Oh, and I’ll be reading your blogs too, just not posting myself. I need a brain break so I’m going to take one.

I’m also going to make pancakes. Because they’re awesome.

You should probably make some pancakes while I’m gone too.

These pancakes are Zan’s uncle Tim’s FAMOUS pancakes. Or at least they will be once you all try them. I asked about sharing the recipe, because I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a secret or anything, and it’s alllll good. I got the go ahead. Lucky, lucky you.

Tim’s pancakes are not only delicious, but they’re wholesome and hearty too. And they will hold you over for a long time. A good long time. Also, they are way healthier than any other pancakes I’ve encountered in my lifetime so you’ll definitely need to add some chocolate chips to the batter. I LOVE doing this. You know, to even the score. But afterwards you’ll still feel really good about yourself. And you will be perfectly satisfied.

I hope, at least, satisfied enough until I come back.

Here’s the recipe for you. It’s a little complicated, but nothing you can’t handle. And they’re totally worth it, believe me:

Tim’s Pancakes

This recipe will make you a lot of pancake mix for you to store in an airtight container. This will allow you to make these amazing pancakes every weekend, if you so choose.

 6X Pancake/Waffle Dry Mix (to store):

4 C pastry flour
2 C whole wheat flour
1 C cornmeal
1/3 C soy flour
1/3 C buckwheat flour
2/3 C sugar
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp baking soda
1/2 C buttermilk powder (optional)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp ginger
3/4 C toasted wheat germ

Here’s the wet mix you’ll need for the pancakes each time you decide to make a batch:

3 eggs
2 C buttermilk (or 1 C milk/ 1 C plain yogurt)
3 tbsp canola
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp orange or lemon extract (optional)
grated fresh ginger (optional)

To make:

Beat the eggs together and mix all wet ingredients.

Add wet ingredients to approx. 2 cups dry ingredients until the mix is just a litter wetter than you like.

Let sit 5 minutes and check consistency. Adjust the pancake batter until it’s about the consistency of… well, pancake batter.

Add blueberries, raspberries, or CHOCOLATE CHIPS. YUM.

Preheat your griddle to 350-375 degrees for pancakes (water drops should just skitter).

Lightly butter griddle and spoon out wet mix. You can add bananas here too if you’d like for extra deliciousness. Cook 3-5 minutes per side.

The jelly on top is super yummy and can be a substitute for maple syrup. Sometimes I do this as a seemingly healthier option, but I do love me a good dose of maple every now and again.

ENJOY, my friends, and see you in a week!

16 Comments · Filed Under: food, life ·
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