Beach Day Dreaming... Again

This always happens this time of year. Every year. I give you the following posts for proof: http://graciejess.blogspot.com/2008/10/jamaica-day-dreamin.html http://graciejess.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-heaven-on-earth_11.html I begin to yearn for the warmth of the sun, the sand of the beach, the sound of the ocean and breeze, and a cold pina colada. I start to go a bit stir crazy, and while the snow is very pretty, this week of kids who can't get out to play and driving on ice has about done me in. There will be no beach vacation on spring break, so I will be waiting till the family vacation in June (fingers crossed). Until then, I will have to settle for some of my favorite beach pictures. Sigh.

Wordless Wednesday

This is what happens when you don't put your chair up for the billionth time in my classroom....

2 hours and 45 minutes later

Tuesday morning I trudged out in the snow at 6:30 because Oldham and Jefferson counties declared it "safe" to go to school. Clearly they have no idea what the term "safe" means. Let me define it for you now. Safe-secure from liability to harm, injury, danger, or risk. On Tuesday morning I was NOT secure from liability to harm, injury, danger, or risk. I clutched the wheel as I prayed to God to please not let me wreck, watched cars skid, slide, run off the road or simply get stuck sideways in a lane for a frightening 2 hours and 45 minutes. On the way I picked up a fellow co-worker who had struggled with the same scary situation I had on the ice rink that had taken over our roads. So, at 9:15, after beginning our 45 minute journey at 6:30 we made it to work on time. Let me caution you that I am not one of those nervous nellies who at the first sign of snowflake stay off the roads. The 10 bus wrecks in Jefferson county prove my point even further. So, am i mad... no I'm not... I think we are all crazy for attempting to get to our jobs in the even crazier weather and we are just as at fault, but I ask one simple favor: If you are the person who calls school off- if you can put on a pair of ice skates and make it down the main road faster than you could in a car, then please consider calling off school, it might be a good idea.

The pics above are of the icy road and my co worker- she parked her car and had to meet me in the right hand lane to hitch a ride. **I was stopped at the time I took these pics- safety first

Hide and Seek

Some of you may think this is lame, but this is our idea of entertainment around here. We have taught the beagle to play hide and seek- I know- she is a genius (can you imagine what we will do to our kids). This isn't the best example of her talents, but it is pretty amusing. The first round tonight she looked under and on top of the dining room table. We haven't mastered the hiding part- she doesn't understand that yet. Maybe one day. I hope others out there find entertainment and amusement in their pets as much as we do.

Lemon Basil Chicken Pasta

Long name but a super easy recipe. There are very few meals that "touch" that my hubby will eat. This is one of them. I'm not sure where I got the original recipe, but I have adapted it to make it my own.

In a skillet:

5-6 chicken tenders (or 2 chicken breast)- skinless and boneless

Basil and lemon to taste

water to coat the bottom of the skillet (I use this instead of oil because it is healthier and less messy)

Cook until chicken is done

In a pot

combine peas and pasta (I like fettuccine)

bring to a boil

In a bowl

At the base of the bowl add lemon juice and basil. Add in chicken, peas, and pasta. Mix and then add Parmesan cheese. Serve warm.

This takes half an hour or less and is super yummy, and healthy. you can adapt it to make it your own, adding shrimp or even a different type of veggie! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

In Anticipation I wait

It is in anticipation that I write this post. No, not a beach vacay yet but... If you know me, you know I am a self professed clean freak. Some, like my husband might even say I border on OCD. I won't argue, because I know my cleaning can be a tad over the top. So, my toes are tingling, as a anxiously anticipate and peek out my door for the delivery of my Brand Spankin New Vacuum! I did a lot of research before I decided on the Hoover WindTunnel® Pet Rewind™ Bagless Upright. I just couldn't bring myself to spend $500 on a Dyson! I hope it will hold up to my fanatic vacuuming and perfectly straight carpet lines. Look for my review to come. For now read below for all the fun features!

The WindTunnel® Pet Rewind™ bagless upright helps you manage unruly pet hair and features an easy cord rewind, a folding handle for storage, 5 position carpet height adjustment, and the easy-to-clean Air-Powered Pet Hand Tool. There's no loss of suction* with Hoover® patented WindTunnel® technology that traps and channels dirt into the dirt cup** and minimizes scatter. It's everything you asked for and more!
Only 17.8 pounds - light and easy to use with thorough cleaning power
Easy-to-Clean Pet Attachments-rubber blades and rolling brushes
Cord Rewind with 27-Foot Cord - no more winding?gently tap the pedal to activate the 27-Foot Cord Rewind and retract the cord to store neatly inside
Intuitive Power Controls - conveniently positioned where they should be - right at your fingertips
Folding Handle - makes storage a snap, ideal for small storage spaces
Fabulous Filtration - Carbon Filter absorbs musty pet odors; also features a rinsable filter and high-quality HEPA filter
27-Foot Power Cord - vacuum a large room without re-plugging
No Scuff Bumper - protects furniture when you can't be as careful as you'd like
Headlight - illuminates dark corners & under furniture for thorough cleaning
System Check Indicator - indicates when the filter needs to be cleaned or checked
Suction Only Mode Pedal - press to easily transition from carpet to hard floors
Easy Belt Change System & Brushroll Access - simply flip two levers to change the belt or access the brushroll
5 Position Carpet Height Adjustment - adjust as needed to clean all flooring types efficiently
8-Foot Stretch Hose - provides instant extended reach
Limited 2-year warranty

Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed

This is my new Bible study I am doing at Southeast. So far, so good! This is the 3rd one I have done. It always seems to rejuvenate me each Wednesday. No matter how sleepy or grumpy I am it lifts my spirits. What I especially love is the group of women I am with. We are a diverse group of age, socio-economic status, and race. I learn a lot from these amazing women. I challenge you to this: try your own Bible study, rather it be with one other woman, a group of women, or even by yourself I promise you will appreciate and look forward to the time you will spend with God each week.

Synopsis of this study from Lifewaystores.com
Taped at the 2007 Deeper Still event, three women explored their lives and the life of David. Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Study of David contains the audio and video portions of the Deeper Still conference featuring Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur.
You’ll laugh with them, cry with them, and learn to love God with them. These authors' messages are divided into three segments, two lessons each. Each segment focuses on the life of David at a different stage of his life: as a young man (by Priscilla Shirer), as a middle-aged man (by Beth Moore), and as a man facing the final third of his life (by Kay Arthur).

My Bathroom Nuisance!

The plump cat on the left is my nuisance. Every time I go to the bathroom my plump little friend, Phoebe races in after me and MEOWS loudly, insisting that I pet her. If that doesn't work she rubs up against my legs. Who wants to pet a cat at a time like this? Peace and quiet is what I want. I have tried to beat her in the bathroom and shut her out- but I find it a bit absurd to race the cat to the bathroom, and she will sit outside the door and protest anyway. I've tried to ignore her... I don't know what else to try (and no I won't squirt her with water). I'm sure some of you with kids may have this problem, but she is my cat- not my child. I still should have my privacy. I hope someone else has this problem... not that I wish it on anyone- I just might feel weird if I were the only one with this dilemma.

Old to New Again (post 2)

This is a bed that was at my Grandma's house. It needed LOTS of white paint and a strong dose of elbow grease due to the fact that my uncle used it for the 7 or so years before I inherited it and smoked heavily. It is such a sweet, simple bed. This is what my Grandma called her "blanket chest", although I think she kept junk in it. Regardless, his needed nothing but a good polishing with a nice wood polish.

I'm not sure how old this piece is, but this actually came from Anthony's childhood furniture. It was a shiny varnished wood color and instead of following all the steps to sand the wood... I just slapped on a yellowish cream paint I had left over. The end result was a cool crackle effect. All and all this is my cheapest project with left over paint and 2 pulls for .99 a piece at a builder supply store. By the way those pictures are of my Grandma and Grandpa.

This is my second favorite. This was my Grandma's. That means free! Not sure if you can tell but is has a blue tint to it. I started to paint it white but it needed a bit more sparkle to it. Besides paint all I added was the knobs. It was super easy to finish!

The best for last! This is my Grandmother's dining room suit. My grandparents bought it used a long time ago, so I think it is at least 80ish years old. This took a lot of time (and help- as it was my first redo- thanks mom and dad) but very little money: black paint, stain, new drawer pulls, and fabric for the chairs. My dad worked to make everything sturdier as well, not much is sturdy at 80ish . Not only is this my favorite because I think it is beautiful, but it reminds me of my grandma and family dinners at her house.

I still have a few pieces that I didn't post. I think this is plenty- I don't want to bore you. I hope I have inspired you to make something new again! It is very rewarding to see the finished result. If you are up for the challenge and aren't sure where to start, remember love to do this and since I can't decorate the basement until it is finished in about a year, I will surely get the bug to fix something up before then. Every piece has a story. Find one and make it yours!

Side bar: I was able to get a lot of this furniture because my Grandma moved to assisted living about the same time we built our home. I was very blessed to be able to use furniture that was so special to be. A couple years back my Grandma came to visit (she has Alzheimer's and struggled even then with her memory) she grinned from ear to ear when she saw that I took the time to bring it all back to life, and at lunch she even took her old spot at the dining room table. So cute!

Old to new again- post 1 of 2

My fellow teacher and friend over at http://cait-theblessedlife.blogspot.com/ gave me the idea for this post. Another one of my hobbies is to take antique furniture and add paint, elbow grease, or stain to bring it back to life. Here are some of the pieces I have polished up. Many pieces in our house are older and some have family stories behind them. It adds a personal touch, saves money, is eco-friendly... and, I'm not gonna lie, I love to hear the hubby tell new visitors about what I re-finished when they comment on a piece.

I bought this at a yard sale for $35.00. Painted it cream and kept the knobs. It is now in our landuary room and houses odds and ends.I bought this from The Crazy Daisy for $60. I had some leftover black paint and bought the new hardware at Lowe's. the top shelf is 2 old fence post cut and painted. This is in our living room and holds our tv. Way better than anything you would buy at a store now and very sturdy too.This is a beat up old trunk that my Grandma used to store fire wood in the basement. We painted it red and added new fabric on the inside, as well as a cushion I made for the top. The trunk was free- total fix up about 20-30 dollars. This is a picture of when it first was finished, but it is now the coffee table in our living room.

I'll be sure to post my other antique finds soon. My favorites are still to come:)

Newest Growth Charts

I have so much fun making these growth charts for friends (and now for sale). These are my newest ones.

I <3 me some Aveda

I started using Aveda in college because my then new hairdresser (now my fav and only hair dresser) used it. I have tried different products at different times and slowly added to my stash. I will recommend it to anyone and 100% swear by it. Not only is it quality but it lasts forever and smells SO yummy (in other words some of it is a bit pricey but it lasts a long time) This is just a part of the goodies what I have. All the Aveda line is clean, eco-friendly, and botanical. My favorite is the control paste. It creates a piec-ey, textured type look and gets rid of my fly-aways. I have used it for 9 years and can't style my hair without it. Not pictures- but also ones I <3: Brilliant Shine-On spray, face powder, blue oil (great for headaches!), and the tinted lip gloss. Do yourself a favor and try an Aveda product for yourself- you can thank me later.

from the Aveda website:
Aveda™, The Art and Science of Pure Flower and Plant Essences™, was founded in 1978 with the goal of providing beauty industry professionals with high performance, botanically based products that would be better for service providers and their guests, as well as for the planet.

Dancing Guy

I was looking through my pics today and came across this video from the football season. This is the previously mentioned "dancing guy" who sits a couple of sections over from us and entertains the crowd during time outs! That takes confidence!

Welcome Back

I worked more this week than I have in a month and I am admitting her in public that it kicked my butt! It was like going from 0 to 60 in 2 seconds flat. This week has been a whirl wind of all the extras at work. Because of this I can barely can string together a logical story because I can't really remember one single event... it's more of a blur. To prove my point to you I will leave you with this simple...

shocking thing... I need to be cleaning the house right now. I just don't feel like it. I know those of you who know me didn't think that was a possibility. Now I'm going to continue to lay around and do nothing. Please don't judge

3 days in a month

It is 8:47pm and I am laying in bed. No, I'm not sick, I am trying to prepare for what I am expecting to be a full week of work. No big deal, right? Well, let's consider that in just over a month I've worked a total of 3 days. So now as I am trying (really I am... Once I finish blogging) to get some sleep I am secretly praying for an hour delay tomorrow. With an unexpected long weekend I am not at all ready for work tomorrow. Someone has to teach these kids right? So, as I try to go to sleep, pray for a delay, blog, and watch the bottom of the screen for oldham county to flash a delay I have a feeling I'm really gonna need that Starbucks tomorrow am.


Update: more "accumulating snow" in the forecast this week. Hopefully I can add at least 3 or 4 days to my working day total. Now off to check the forecast and then I guess try to go to sleep again. Happy work week!

Snow Day

We are on snow day number 2 today. Yesterday "The Beagle" decided she wanted to sit outside and become one with the snow. I had to call her 4 times to get her to come inside. Here are some pics from the morning.

My Challenge to you

On Tuesday I had to make an impromptu trip to the public library to pick out lots of books for my students to do their research for feature articles. I had my list of topics in hand and ventured into the library on a very blistery afternoon. After about an hour of searching I staggered up to the counter with a massive pile of 45 books in my arms. After a bit of struggling to get them on the counter I finally succeeded. Of course I had to let the mom and son who only had one book go in front of me. Then the greatest thing happened... a sweet man came over and said that that was too many books for me to carry and he was going to help me get them out to my car. This was a huge blessing because if you remember this was an impromptu trip and I didn't have a bag or anything to carry all of these books in. So, after all the books were checked out the sweet man and I split the stack and made our way my the car. On the way I made a comment that there should be more people in the world that do things like this. He commented back that "it only takes one". This whole situation made my day, and my outlook. So... now that you have heard this sweet little story, I challenge you to be that one person and go out of your way for somebody else today.

Wordless Monday

We had lots of fun with our friends for the UK UofL game. I would say more, but the pictures can speak for themselves... and I am super worn out from my first day back at work.