Menu Monday

The past few weeks have been SUPER busy now that school has started. I really can't keep up. Here is a quick Menu Monday post! Hope to be back in the blogging world soon!

Sloppy Turkeys

Just like Sloppy Joe's but clean eating and made with turkey! I put mine on a piece of wheat bread...less carbs!


Chicken Fried Rice

This we made up on our own
-1 rotiserie chicken
- 2 servings of brown rice
-1 egg
-veggies
-soy sauce

Cook up the rice. Fry one egg and add the veggies. Combine rice/egg/veggies. Add soy sauce and chicken.

Did it taste like Chinese food? Not really. But it was worth a shot!



I know there was something else that we made but I can't remember to save my life!! Hopefully next week will be more eventful.

Don't forget to link up with Rachel!

Groundhog Day

Today, well this year, I'm calling Groundhog Day.

Source: imdb.com via Nadia on Pinterest

Last year I taught 4th grade and then moved up to 5th grade this year. This switch has given me year two with the same kiddos. Therefore groundhog day. Yes, I have a different homeroom class but I know every kid (except for the few new ones) because we departmentalize in 4th and 5th grade. I'm so excited to see the kids again and hope that my homeroom, especially those few who had me as a homeroom teacher last year, are excited to have me again!

As always I have first day of school jitters! This year I'm not worried about the kids but more of the new curriculum. I also have to make sure I have everything in order, outfit ironed and ready to wear, lunch packed, and breakfast easily accessible to grab and go!

Good luck to all the teachers who are starting school this in the upcoming weeks! Classroom pictures will be posted to my teacher blog very soon. Promise!!

Show and Tell Monday & Erin Condren Giveaway!

I'm not giving away the Erin Condren gift certificate {I wish} but you can link up with From Mrs. to Mama to try and win!

1. If you were searching for a home now, tell me what would be on your MUST list.

• Large family room- Our living area in the home we have now is very small. I dislike it a lot. When we purchased the house we never thought it would be a problem but I don't think we realized exactly how much time we would be spending in our family room with friends and family.
• Large Master bedroom and bathroom- Our master isn't too small but our master bath is smaller than our hall bath. Thankfully we have two full baths upstairs so I use the master and J uses the hall bath. It works out great but would be really nice to have a large one to share.
• Living Room & Dining room-We only have a small family room in our home and the piano is in the dining area (they are connected). It's so important to have an a living and dining room so the piano has it's own home! I know my mom rarely uses her dining room but I think they are so pretty. I also would love to host holiday dinners.
• First floor laundry- or even better, second floor laundry. This is probably #1 on my list.
• Fenced in yard-we have it now and it's important to have in the next house. Not a huge deal breaker though.
• Updates-Ideally I'd like to be in a home that doesn't need a lot of updates. We've updated just about everything in this house except the basement. I wouldn't mind doing it again because we can personalize it, but it would be nice if it were done.
• Finished basement- Not a huge deal breaker but it would be very nice.
• Big front porch

2. Show me your favorite room in a home {either your home or any home}

Source: houzz.com via Juli on Pinterest

3. If you could have any room redone, tell me which one it would be and what you would like done?

Well, have redone almost every room in the house. We put new counter tops in the kitchen last year and finished the back splash this summer. All appliances have been updated except for the refrigerator. All bathrooms have been gutted and redone. The house was originally all painted one color. We have changed the color in all of the rooms but one of the spare rooms. I guess if I had to choose one big project it would be the basement. Our basement is not huge, but it is a smaller full size basement. I'd love to make a more formal laundry room down there and then finish the rest. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, just simple, neat, and clean.

4. Tell me what your favorite store are to shop at for home decor.

I love Kirklands, but they recently went out of business close to us, so now the closest one is about two hours away :( TJ Maxx/Home Goods is awesome and I can't get enough of Hobby Lobby. Sometimes I find good deals at Garden Ridge and then there is Pier One and Pottery Barn, which I adore.

5. Show me your dream home.

Source: builderhouseplans.com via Caroline on Pinterest

Something like this...big front porch!

Source: coastallivinghouseplans.com via Amy on Pinterest

Maybe not this big!

Source: eplans.com via Laura on Pinterest

LOVE the double front doors!

What I'm loving Wednesday: Create-A-Crock Edition

Instead of focusing on a lot of things I love {because there are a lot} I decide to focus on one specific thing I recently found!


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Without a Crock Pot some days there may be no dinner.

If you read my Sunday Social post from this past Sunday, you may have noticed the answer to my last question...

"Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it.

This is actually really tough. Over the last few years, especially this year, I have really expanded my cooking. J and I also have been eating a lot cleaner. Before this, I rarely cooked and when I did it usually didn't taste too great. After using the Crock Pot, my meals started turning out much better. It's pretty difficult to mess up a CP meal (and trust me I could do it). So if there is a recipe that involves the CP, then it's probably one of my favorites because when I cooked in my CP, dinner actually tasted good! Thank you Crock Pot for boosting my cooking confidence!!"

Seriously. Cooking with the Crock Pot really did boost my cooking confidence. I cook so much more both with and without it. I've cooked more this summer than in my whole life...not a joke. 

Recently, we lost the lid to our Crock Pot. I wish I knew how but it literally disappeared. I've torn the kitchen apart and still cannot find it. {No worries, aluminum foil is acting as the lid for now.} So that made me thinking about getting a new one. The one we have is great for just me and J, however when I want to make a big pot of chili or have the family over for dinner it doesn't really hold much. I told J last week that for my birthday I really want a nice Crock Pot.

Yes, I am asking for an appliance for my birthday...and some Tory Burch shoes, so it evens out.

Anyways, when thinking about what kind of Crock Pot I wanted I knew I wanted one that had a timer that I could control, held a meal for 6-8 people, was safe, had a lock on top if possible, and one that was pretty would be especially nice.

As I was searching the Crock-Pot.com, I came across the coolest thing e.v.e.r.

You can design your own Crock Pot!! 

Don't all jump up and down at once.

I'm still trying to figure out if I can just get a solid color pink Crock Pot instead of one with pictures. Since it's just J and I think it would be silly to have pictures of just us...or Oliver and Wembley since they don't eat Crock Pot food. I'll let ya know what I figure out.

So if you're in the neighborhood for a new Crock Pot and you want to even design your own with a little family flare, then you definitely need to check out Create-A-Crock!

I was not asked or given any compensation to write this post. I seriously think it is the coolest thing ever and I love my Crock Pot!

Menu Monday

Linking up for Menu Monday with Rachel!

Over the past two weeks our lives have been crazy. Our kitchen was torn apart while my dad was tiling and I've been trying to get into the "back to school" mode. So dinners over the past two weeks have not been as amazing as other Menu Mondays. Since we couldn't use our kitchen for about four days, we ended up eating out or making something easy like a bagel or PB&J (we had no oven). But in the end it all worked out and our back splash looks beautiful!

Here are some of the things I did cook!

Pesto Turkey Burgers

I forgot to take a picture, but here is the one from the site.

Slow Cooker Chicken Quesadillas 

I have to eat lettuce with any Mexican food

Pasta with Turkey Meatballs & Pesto Sauce

The link above (title) is to the turkey meatballs from Rachael Ray. Instead of frying them in a pan, I just put them in the oven on 350*. The recipe made SO many that I have enough for two more dinners that are freezing. The pasta is just a whole wheat penne and I added green peppers, mushrooms, and pesto sauce!

Those are all of the bigger meals I made over the past two weeks. I will be much better this week hopefully. Don't forget to link up with Rachel!

Sunday Social

Since I missed the last Sunday Social I decided to do last weeks and this weeks together. Why? Well because I really like the questions from last week all about fall :)

Last week's questions...

 What is your favorite Fall activity?

Fall is my favorite season by far. I would be so happy if it was fall 364 days a year (snow on Christmas only). I have so many fall activities I enjoy doing with friends and family such as going to the pumpkin patch, bonfires, football games, nature walks, Halloween, decorating the house, carving pumpkins, I love it all!

 Do you follow a football team? if so which one and why? 

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We follow The Ohio State Buckeyes {Obviously!}

Why? Well, J is a graduate of OSU and is employee there and I grew up in Columbus and have always been a fan. I always wanted to go to grad school there, just to be a true buckeye, but there was another school that ended up working out better for me.

 What is something fun about Fall in your area?

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The Circleville Pumpkin Show! We have not been in a few years but I really am hoping we go this year. I love it! I especially can't wait until we have kids and can take them like my parents use to take us since we were little!

If you live in Ohio, you will totally get this...

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 Fav Fall outfit staples? 

Jeans

A good sweater

Layers

Scarlet and Grey

Pops of Color

An adorable jacket

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Thing you are looking forward to most about this coming Fall season? 

My birthday! Cooler weather, leaves changing, going on a little weekend trip with J, sweaters, the fall smells, salted caramel hot chocolate...

 Favorite Fall holiday? Traditions?

I do enjoy Thanksgiving because I have so much to be thankful for, but I really do love Halloween. I think the best part is passing out candy, which J and I have made a tradition. The little tiny kids in their costumes are just the cutest!

Now on to the questions for this week...

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

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Hmm, this is tough...probably tacos. I could eat them just about every day. I think there's only been one time where I told J I didn't want tacos.

What's your guilty pleasure/comfort food?

I've never really had much of a sweet tooth, but lately I've loved ice cream. I really think it's the weather. Other than that, I would say Starbucks fancy coffee would be my guilty pleasure {salted caramel mocha}. Not sure about comfort food. Probably eggplant parmigiana. Does that sound crazy? We don't eat a lot of really heavy food and eggplant is so rich and delicious!

What's the weirdest/craziest thing you've ever eaten?

I'm not one to take risks on food. Basically if there is grilled chicken or salad I'm good. I think the craziest things for me would be that I ate Oysters Rockefeller during vacation and loved  them. I normally do not like seafood.

What foods do you avoid at all costs?

Usually seafood, deer, lamb, anything not cooked. I will eat any fruit or vegetable (minus beets) but I'm not a huge meat eater unless it's turkey or chicken.

What meal reminds you of your childhood?

Olives

I have always loved them!

Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it.

This is actually really tough. Over the last few years, especially this year, I have really expanded my cooking. J and I also have been eating a lot cleaner. Before this, I rarely cooked and when I did it usually didn't taste too great. After using the Crock Pot, my meals started turning out much better. It's pretty difficult to mess up a CP meal (and trust me I could do it). So if there is a recipe that involves the CP, then it's probably one of my favorites because when I cooked in my CP, dinner actually tasted good! Thank you Crock Pot for boosting my cooking confidence!!

You can check out more of my recipes on Menu Mondays!

Friday letters

Dear J, 
Thank you for the beautiful flowers you surprised me with this morning. I'm still so proud of all the hard work you're doing at work and in school. You're almost done (with your masters)!!

Dear Dad,
Thank you for tiling our back splash a few weeks ago and painting next weekend. It helps us sooo much and I know you feel better know all of the lines are straight and there are no marks on the ceilings. We love you!

Dear Summer, 
Seriously, where did you go? I feel like we just finished up the last day of school and it's time to go back already! This time flying thing is starting to get old.

Dear Laundry Fairy, 
I think you forgot about us. We're still waiting.

Dear Miss M. (who I "babysit"),
I couldn't have cut out all of those squares in my classroom without your help. I'm sure you're just thrilled to see me next week...when I put you to work again :)

Dear Student Loans,
There is no love/hate relationship anymore. Now that my grad school loan is going to kick in soon, it's purely hate/hate/hate.

Dear Weather,
Thank you for being b-e-a-utiful today! I could get used to this high of 75*.

Brain Dump

Here's what we've been up to...

• I've been slacking in the blog world...obviously

• Getting back into going to school and blogging at the same time takes me a few weeks to tackle.

• I've spent several 6-7 hour days in my classroom. I'm still not done.

• I find that I walk in circles in my classroom when I get overwhelmed. I then know it's time to go. I seriously have five projects going on at once. It's dangerous.

• My welcome back sign outside my door is too cute {pics soon!}

• I went to OH! Burgers Food Truck with my friend Jenna last week. It was delicious! If you're in the Columbus area, you should definitely check them out!

• I have about three books I'm trying to finish before the end of the school year. I have to at least finish the one about reading workshop. It's really good (more on that later)

• We are getting new carpet in our downstairs. To say I'm excited is an understatement

• We put child-proof locks on our cabinets in the kitchen...for the cat. He's pissed.

• I still have Chicago pictures to post from almost a month ago. Oops!

• Classroom pics coming soon on my teacher blog

• I reinvented my teacher blog so I could post things on Pinterest. However, what if I make a cool craft, post it on this blog, and want to star it on Pinterest? Then I'm in trouble. While I don't mind family and friends reading this blog {which I've shared with them} I'm not quite sure about coworkers...and they follow me on Pinterest. 

• I accidentally texted a guy today I went to college with. I haven't spoken to him in years. I meant to text "Heather" but chose "Heath" instead. Not only was I embarrassed but it really made me mad that I see everyone's contacts on FB in my phone directory. I'm really surprised this is only the first time it has happened. At least I didn't say something stupid or ask an embarrassing question.

• I have a love/hate relationship with the Olympics. I love that they're on and I hate that they keep me up late. Teachers need to practice going to bed early and getting up early for school too!

• This Chick*fil*a controversy is for the birds...or the chickens. It's getting out of hand. What do you expect from a Christian affiliated restaurant? Here's my take...I love that Chick helps people, has good customer service, is not in debt, and has amazingly good food. I would never put them down. Whatever they decide to support is up to them. {I don't go bashing K*F*C because of their inhuman way they kill chickens; I just choose not to eat there.} I also love the gays. No problems here with either :)

• Note to self: When hungry, have no food, and getting ready to go to the store, do not look on pinterest for dinner ideas.

Happy Tuesday :)