Final 3 days as a "house wife" and weekly menu

Only three days left before I report back to teacher duty.

I feel like I cold wail like a child and say "no, I want longer" and at the same time I'm so excited to get back in to the groove and meet my new kiddos.

I definitely do better on a routine.

I feel like I am the ultimate creature of habit and this summer with being off and Drew being out of town has thrown my "Type A" personality a {needed} curve ball. 

So as I soak in these next 72 hours of "Bum Life" as I've called it, I will enjoy each minute!

This weekend we celebrated one of our best friends 27th birthday. We had a family cook out and small fire for the unusually cool Friday evening and had a great dinner on the lake Saturday after a unfilled day.

After we ate it was almost sunset and we just sat and listened to great music.

{Johnny Cash, Incubus, Mumford, Lynard}

So grateful for the friends and weekends like this. 

Last night we had some pretty serious storms in our area. Several tornadoes hit close to home but we are thankful to be okay and the hardest hit area did lose homes which is sad but everyone survived. 

Such a blessing!

 We kept dinner simple since we were under a tornado warning and keeping an eye on where this storm was going aka basement watch for us.

I got this dough for free from a local carry-out pizza place. They wouldn't charge me for the ball of dough for a large pizza so I tipped them a few bucks. It was almost 100 yesterday with super high humidity so I wasn't even going to attempt trying my own dough. This dough was amazing and we loaded it with toppings.

Delicious!

Tonight I made these stuffed peppers and they were awesome!

Next time I will probably use ground turkey instead of sausage but glad I tried this new recipe. 

Drew and I both loved it and it was easy to make too.

The menu for the rest of the week:

\\Tuesday- grill out with grilled corn and broccoli cheddar quinoa

\\Wednesday- chicken quesadilas 

\\Thursday- small group

\\Friday- possible cook out again? maybe smoked bbq?

and here is a great Monday moment for ya...

Seven years of living on my own and buying groceries and I've NEVER dropped a bag of groceries. Even when I lived on the third floor apartment and carried bags (all in one trip cause I wasn't willing to make two trips) never dropped a bag. Well today I have maybe 4 bags and missed the counter where of course the eggs had been in the bag that fell. Five eggs did survive.

Happy Monday!

Thankful

This past Monday night a terrible car accident took place near my hometown.

Four men were in the truck and two were husbands of teachers I taught with at my former school. 

One man died passed away and the husbands of my teacher friends are in a critically dangerous condition. 

Although I am not super close to these teachers, my heart hurts for them.

My heart aches for the young children they have and the friends and family who will feel the pain from this accident long after the tire marks fade on the road.

Our life can change with every breath we take and sadly times like this remind us.

Our physical time on this Earth are so limited and nothing compared to what eternal life in Heaven will be.

God has a plan for us and has provided us with skills and blessings of opportunities to make the most of this life. It is so easy to get overwhelmed with work, to stress about the clutter on the counter or dust on the shelf- but all these seemingly useless things take away from remembering to enjoy this life. 

To love those around us.

To make today count. Make everyday count. 

This past Monday Drew got to come home after spending all of summer working out of town.

I'm happy to have him home and I love having dinner together and going to bed together but most of all I'm so grateful to be able to hug him and have him close.

But I'm making a point to hug him extra tight, to give him one more kiss, and to make sure he always knows how much I love him.

I'm so thankful for this life and for what God has allowed us. 

We serve such an amazing God and I know he has a plan for these hurting families and this his will is always better than ours.

Friday Five and Update

Seriously, how has it been a month since I've last blogged?!

I thought this summer I would blog daily but that has not been the case. Obviously.

So these past four weeks have been jammed packed. 

Family has been in town, as much lake time as possible, house projects, turned 27 Wednesday, and Drew has been out of town during the week working on a project this entire summer.

Being home along all summer has been an adjustment for sure.

Not how I expected to spend summer by any means but I try to remind myself to be thankful for his job and not dwell on the fact I've barely seen him all summer. Luckily, his project is coming to a close (right as school starts). 

So here is a Friday 5 and Update all in one

//one//

Marshalls for the home run! I LOVE Meyers cleaners. They smell amazing, clean great, and are safe to use with kids and pets. Drew actually find these on a random rack at Marshalls for half price. I bought three full size bottles and some dryer sheets. All for under $14, made my day!

//two//

My flowers have taken off! This picture was taken about two weeks ago and they are even bigger now. I love the way they are now flowing over the rocks and spreading. Since I have all this time on my hands these days I've really enjoyed these flowers.

//three//

Strawberry lemonade from McAlisters. If you haven't tried it go right now and get one. You won't be sorry!

//four//

As if I didn't love my sweet little Copper before, all this time just me and him has made my summer. Lots of cuddles and wiggles with unlimited frisbe has been the name of the game this summer.

//five//

Ah, Norris Lake--seriously heaven on Earth. Trying to spend as much time as possible on the lake.

Top 10

I've seen this on several blogs lately, so thought I would join in//

1. Any restaurant on the water will be my choice. The water is my happy place and I love it so much. Add dinner to the mix, I'm in heaven.
2. I'm currently on a smoothie kick. Apparently I live under a rock and have just discovered how delicious and healthy they can be.
3. Currently trying to adjust to Drew working out of town Monday-Thursday. Stinks that I'm on summer break but I have to remember how grateful I am for his job. Even though I miss him and Copper waits at the door every afternoon.
4. Reading "Hissy Fit" by Mary Kay Andrews right now and it is hilarious. 
5. Trying to wake-up early and run (still on the post-vacation detox/diet)--so far I've surprised myself at how well this is going. Got to keep this up!
6. It might by almost July but I still can't ditch my comfy pj pants at night. They are my comfort zone.
7. Been OCD since off for summer and have totally rearranged the kitchen cabinets and it makes me feel so happy. Seriously, what is wrong with me?!
8. "The Fray" channel on Pandora. Can't get enough.
9. When Drew is in town on the weekends we cram in as much of "Orange is the New Black" as humanly possible. So dang good!
10. Once of my favorite parts of summer is spending time at home. And if you know me at all you know how much I LOVE our dog and he has been such good company in this quiet house. Also, he helps me get motivated to run. I just love him so much!!! (also love that he tries to over use his new high five trick to anyone he sits next to)

The best fur child we could have!

{Tasty Tuesday} Summer Brew

This time of year makes us want to be outside as much as possible!

We love being out on the deck grilling, enjoying sun at the lake, or just tossing around a game of Corn Hole. 

With all this outside time we love this perfect and refreshing summer brew.

I mix it all in a pitcher or make several batches and put it in this mason jar jug with a spout.

So easy and it is ALWAYS a favorite. 

Just mix in your favorite light beer, one container of frozen lemonade, use the empty lemonade container to fill up with water, then fill the same lemonade container with vodka (or three quarters). 

I will make about 3 batches like this when we have about 6 people over.

The good thing is that it is so easy to make more, just pour and stir!

Cheers!!


Tuesday Recipe Swap!

Why Teachers Earn Summer Break

First, I love teaching.

I truly feel God's will for my life was for me to teach. 

Maybe I will teach for 30+ years or he might have other plans, but in the meantime this is without question what I am supposed to do.

With teaching comes a less than impressive salary but the rewards and great feeling I get knowing that my students are growing brings an amount of joy that fills my heart in a way money cannot. 

 

Teaching is a very demanding job with lots of meetings (half completely unnecessary), unrealistic achievement standards set by higher officials who have never taught, copy machines that jam regularly (really, this drives us crazy), parents (some not involved, some over involved, and then some awesome ones in-between), the constant crunch of data, graphing the data you crunched, then planning in a way that will make the data (that is not blurry because you looked at it so much) improve. 

All while loving your students and trying to make it fun in a great loving environment where everyone feels supported, safe, and happy.

Whew!

Lately, I've been catching alot of comments like, "Wow, must be nice to have four months off." 

Note: it is actually less than 8 weeks. Plus training during this time.

Or some people say, "Teachers have it made, you work 8-3 then have all the breaks." 

Then the comment that makes me want to punch someone, "I don't know why teachers complain, they are off half the year and get paid to play."

Given I know most of the comments are said with the intention of being just a light hearted comment,

but this teacher is over it. 

I would love for the people who think teachers have all this time off to know that this time is for us to regain a normal life for a few weeks. To maintain ourselves, our homes, and our families. August- May we put our students needs first, sometimes without even realizing it because the heart of a teacher is to care for your students.

To the people who feel we work 8-3 they are so terribly mistaken.

First, I usually work half an hour at home BEFORE getting to school around 7:15.

Then I usually leave school by 4:00 to come home, let the dog out, and spend a few minutes with my husband and vent about my day.

(sorta joking)

Then as I'm cooking dinner, I set up "teacher camp" at the table.

After dinner I grade, put grades in the grade book, plan, respond to parent e-mails, etc.

Once this part is done I usually sit down with Drew where normally I continue to grade "one more" set of papers. Then bed.

So yes, I did have great "hours" at work but my job didn't start or end there.

Over the weekend I usually spend at least an hour or two tweaking my plans and making sure everything is set for the week. 

Over the summer most teachers will work in the classroom some because the days set aside by the school to do this is packed full of meetings and we actually don't get much time. We also have training and professional development over the summer. So no, I just don't sit around and do nothing.

In the summer I make up for the busy month of May that every teacher experiences.

(well busy all year, but May is exhausting)

I enjoy cooking dinners and actually sitting and enjoying time with my husband without my clipboard and a stack of papers to grade.

The house is cleaned and reorganized where it had been neglected.

Most importantly, spend time with my family and friends.

I wouldn't trade my job for anything.

I feel blessed to have the opportunity to teach my kiddos.

I also enjoy having these few weeks to recharge.

So to the next person who wants to throw out some remarks about summer break,

you come do my job and see if you need a break!

Friday Five {vacation recap}

Drew and I just got back from Mexico after celebrating our first anniversary last week.

We had an amazing time and I'd already love to go back.

We stayed with a resort chain called Secrets and will definitely book with them again.

Here are my five favorite things about this amazing resort//

//one//

We stayed at Secrets Rivera Maya Capri location.

This resort was absolutely beautiful.

Loved how everything was close- restaurants, bars, beach, pool, our room.

Also, the place is spot less. The staff work so very hard at making sure everything is perfect at all time. 

Loved spending time around this beautiful resort.

//two// and //three//

First, notice the sweet man in the yellow shirt.

Weather you were at the pool or the beach servers with a smile to bring you constant drinks or snacks. This also keeps any crowd from forming around the bar. Talk about feeling like a queen, laying by the beach with guacamole and a frozen drink brought right to you. Also, the cute umbrellas/tikki like shade just feet from the teal ocean--love it. Drew is more faired skinned than I am so this was wonderful. The chairs were also great and they always had fresh towels ready to go. Really, I love this place.

//four//

This was our first meal we had, a lunch that was amazing after flying all morning.

Also, the only food pic I have. Pictures couldn't do the food justice. Everything was amazing. Each morning we would have a great breakfast that would pretty much keep us full till dinner. Dinner was outstanding every night, my favorite meal being a beef tenderloin that I ordered that I used a butter knife to cut. The staff would have a big lunch spread by the pool and beach each day and grill out. Also, Secrets offers free 24/7 room service. We only used this once and it was great, we just liked going to the restaurants more. 

When we did have room service we ate outside on our patio and had the cutest little visitors.

They were so gentle and enjoyed some toast with us.

//five//

The beaches were beautiful.

The food was delicious.

The drinks, endless.

But without question, my favorite part was spending time just hanging out with Drew. We spend time together at home, but we are busy all the time it seems. So to actually hang out with nothing to do was so nice. We will have to make a point to get away just the two of us at least once each year. Maybe not always to a resort, but just to spend quality time together. Loved every minute just relaxing and enjoying time with hubby.

(as in typical Michelle fashion, STILL haven't uploaded the pics from our camera, so these are still from my phone. #slacker)