New Things Are Coming!

This past week has been intense! There has been good and bad, but I will focus one the good.

1. Good-We live in a community that sticks together and supports each other.
2.Good-We have amazing family and friends.
3. Good-I graduate next Friday.
4. Good-I got a job for the coming school year.
5. Good-My brother is getting married to a pretty awesome lady.

These are just a few things happening in my life right now, and I am so appreciative of it all!

Food for thought :)

So I grew up similarly to this, and I feel the same way too. I am tired of the double standards.


http://tellmewhytheworldisweird.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-story-of-me-and-modesty.html?m=1

How to know if your customer service stinks...Update!

I have had a very bad experience with a company recently called eInstruction. I purchased my MobiView in January, and now the receiver won't work. Guess what?! Unless I can prove it wasn't my fault they won't replace it even under warranty! Now it is up to me to purchase a fifty dollar piece of equipment, because it broke without me knowing how it happened. This infuriates me beyond belief... I used to recommend Mobi's to everyone I knew in education, but now I can't say that I will do that anymore. I really hope someone sees this, and notices how much of a supporter they have lost.

einstruction.com
 Chris O. is the best in customer service!! My faith has been restored... Quick response!

Snow! A little too late....

If anyone has ever been in a room full of students, no matter what the age, they also know the importance of snow days and this picture.

Photo Retrieved from: NewsChannel5.com

As a student teacher, I consider my day a success as long as they learn at least something, and the kiddos aren't hanging from the rafters. I know as my teacher career continues my ideas for a successful day will change to be a little more rigorous. Anyways, I could have used a snow day to catch up on work, but that would have prevented me from seeing the smiles on all the kids faces when they noticed the snow falling the first time during school the past two days.

The smiles and happiness I saw helped me to remember what it was like to be so excited because a few flakes were falling! It didn't matter that it melted before anything could stick, because they were just so darn excited! Yet another reason why I want to teach, the kiddos can help you remember to just be happy for the smallest reasons no matter how fleeting those reasons may be at the time.

Comment and tell me your snow day stories!

Only Once?!

I can't believe I only blogged once last year! This WILL change this year. At least I hope, we are already almost three months into it.

So I am student teaching now, and am fixing to go to my second placement. I will miss my kiddos and coworkers immensely whn I go! However, not everyone can hang out in the fourth grade all the time.... Sigh.... Eighth grade here I come! Wish me luck as I tackle an all new beast.

I have discovered some pretty awesome things in this experience, and my favorite thing is that in this line of work even if you are up til 2:15 am grading papers those smiles and laughs are worth it! Who knew how many things could be black, white, and read/red all over?! Turns out it can e a newspaper or a penguin/zebra in a blender!

Also illuminations.nctm.org is a fantastic resource for all grades, because everyone likes to see turtles and dinosaurs dance for math! I am now just a teacher hoping for a snow day tomorrow, but also wanting to go spend just one extra day with my kiddos.... Oh the dilemmas of education!

P.S. the lunchbox burglar needs to not visit my room anymore, instead you can send your friend laundry folder :)

Favorite Recipes

Pepperoni Pizza Twist

1 pkg (3.5oz) pepperoni slices, diced
1 can (3.25oz) pitted ripe olives, drained and chopped
2 Tbl snipped fresh parsley
1/2 cup (2oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
2 Tbl all-purpose flour
1 garlic clove, pressed
2 pkgs (11oz each) refrigerated French bread dough
1 egg
1 tsp Italian seasoning mix
2 Tbl (1/2oz) grated fresh parmesan cheese
1 can (15oz) pizza sauce, warmed (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare all ingredients as stated above. In a bowl, combine pepperoni, olives, parsley, mozzarella cheese, flour and garlic and mix well.
Place bread dough, seam sides up on a large cutting board. Using a serrated knife, slice each loaf lengthwise, end to end, cutting halfway through to center of loaf; spread open flat. Lightly sprinkle additional flour evenly over dough. Using a rolling pin, roll dough crosswise to a 4-inch width, creating a well down center of each loaf.
Spoon half of the pepperoni mixture down center of each loaf. Gather up edges over filling, pinching firmly to seal. Place loaves, seam sides down, in an "X" pattern on Rectangle Stone. Crisscross ends of dough to form a large figure "8", keeping ends of dough 1 inch from edge of stone and leaving two 1 1/2-inch openings in center of twist. Separate egg over a small bowl using an egg separator. (Discard yolk or set aside for another use) Beat egg white and italian seasoning mix; lightly brush over dough using a pastry brush. Using serrated bread knife, cut a 3-inch slit in each of the top sections of twist to reveal filling.
Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over loaf. Bake 30-32 minutes of until deep golden brown. Remove to cooling rack; cool 10 minutes. Cut into 16 slices. Serve with warm pizza sauce, if desired. Yield: 16 appetizers

Note: the picture looks like it was crossed 3 times

Source(s):

Pampered Chef Season's Best Cookbook Fall/Winter 2002

 

 

Lemon Cheesecake with Fresh Raspberries

 

Ingredients:

• Crust
• 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter , melted
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• Filling
• 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 containers (1/2 pint each) fresh raspberries
• Topping
• whipped cream (optional)
• lemon slices (optional)

Tools:

• 9 in. Recipe Right® Springform Pan
  Easy-Add 9 in. Recipe Right® Springform PanAdd to shopping list 9 in. Recipe Right® Springform Pan

Instructions:

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325ºF. Spray bottom of springform lightly with vegetable pan spray.

Step 2

In medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Press mixture into bottom and up sides of springform pan. Bake 8-10 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven; cool completely.

Step 3

Reduce oven temperature to 250ºF. Place a shallow pan of water on bottom rack of oven. In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer, until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar; mix well. Add eggs, sour cream, lemon juice and zest; mix well. Pour filling mixture into prepared crust.

Step 4

Bake 2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes or until cake is set around edges and still jiggles slightly in center. Turn off oven, leave door closed for 1 hour. Remove cake from oven; cool and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Step 5

Garnish with fresh raspberries, and if desired, whipped cream and lemon slices.

History and Hurricanes

This semester is flying by extremely quick and stressful like as well. One thing that I love about this year is the fact that in my history class we have to do a book review. For anyone wants to know how much my husband and I love to read, you can stop by our house and see our 3 five shelf bookshelves, and our three shelf bookshelf that are all FULL. In this class, we get to pick what book we review, and then we can use it for a source for a research paper that we also pick the topic for. The book I am using is a fantastic non-fiction book that is written like historical fiction which is a plus for those of us who don't like non-fiction. It is Hemingway's Hurricane. You can get it here. It is a fantastic read so far, and I am only half-way through. I was hoping to finish it today, but I left it at home :(. Here are some other good books that I also have on the subject: 1, 2, and 3. If anyone wants to borrow these for a little extra reading just let me know!