Incoherent Musings

denton, tx.

2012-02-12T19:33:00.000-06:00

Happy early valentine's day! This weekend consisted of me & Fran finally doing something other than chores this weekend: we drove up to Denton, TX. Land of UNT, TWU...and not much else.

When planning a romantic weekend getaway, Denton is not at the forefront of one's mind but since the mister scored a show, we figured we'd kill two birds with one stone.

Fran was proud. I managed to pack one bag!

Technically we spent most of our time in Denton but, we did take a 45 minute detour to see Fort Worth's The Modern. Few things in the city caught my attention but, the architecture/art in the museum is amazing.

And, in a Dahnya-first: on our ice cream walk to Sweet Sammie's, I spotted a ten dollar bill waiting for me on the sidewalk! I did attempt to find its rightful owner but the road was deserted. Therefore, the find scored us a brownie bowl & an icecream sandwich.

Dusk in downtown Denton.

(I was so excited to see their twinkly lights were up)

Coming home to Mildred & this furry love monster had me sighing, "home sweet home".

failing

2012-02-05T22:21:00.000-06:00

This past week was not one of my best.

I did cook some meals (tostadas & a repeat of the eggplant lasagna) however, my dear co-worker brought these:

and with such a pretty box, how could I say no?

Then, to top it all off, I discovered:

McD's coffee.

Not only is it cheap ($2), it is also conveniently located en route to work. So, when I find myself struggling to wake up, treating myself to a non-Keurig coffee helps make getting my ass to school a lot easier.

Unfortunately, this also means piling on a few unnecessary calories.

Let's hope this week goes better. I have reinstalled the C25K app onto my phone in the hopes that restarting my summer jogs will get my butt in shape. I keep hearing about all these fun 5Ks (including running with Mickey or through paint, here's looking at you, Del!) and I cannot do that if I'm wheezing up stairs, can I? If I managed to complete the program through 100+ heat, I can certainly do it in the cold!

dining & wining

2012-01-29T20:10:00.002-06:00

I am a sucker for pretty (or interesting) packaging. Especially when it comes to things I am extremely ignorant about such as, wine. I know nothing about the tanins (talons? talins? too lazy to wikipedia this term). Give me a pretty bottle and I'll be happy. I'll be even happier if it's light and fruity, hence my love for moscato.

However, lately, I've been venturing out a bit:

Beautiful teal riesling by the Hollywood Sofia Coppola (tart) but would make a great addition to any open house basket

fun font chardonnay

cute, funky elephants (red wine, not my favorite)

cake! with a neat picture

I'm going to continue my hunt. If you find any other ones, send those recommendations my way!

Otherwise, my healthy dining this week took a bit of a downturn over the weekend thanks to the Houston Streats truck & their pulled pork mac & cheese sandwich:

d-aaaa-mn that was g-ooo-d.

in addition to their parmesan truffle fries...I was not very good about sticking to "healthy" options that night.

In an effort to soothe my fatty (and alcoholic) binge, I have been snacking on pineapples.

(with a dash of mexican tajin to spice things up!)

Luckily my "fry"-day night was not a complete destructive avalanche: I've lost five pounds. Hopefully an extra dose of zumba-ing & walking with Doakes will up the weight loss ante this week because weigh in is Friday!

attack of the green monster!

2012-01-23T20:07:00.002-06:00

Today was the first attempt of the green monster smoothie. Verdict? Delicious.

Due to the first day jitters (not work, but rather as a smoothie creator) it took a lot longer than I would have anticipated. Luckily I had woken up early enough to bypass my stumbles. Pitting a peach at 5 am? Sucks.

I googled a few recipes of the green monster, thinking there would be one concise verdict. Other than the cup of spinach & the cup of greek yogurt, it seems that all fruits (and veggies) are up for grabs. I played it safe with:

0% fat free greek yogurt
1 peach
1 banana
1/2 a cup of frozen blueberries (Kroger was out of fresh ones, apparently)
6 strawberries
1 cup of spinach (don't be scared)

Because pitting the peach seems like a potential time-trap in the future, I am going seek a substitution for it next week. Or, if nothing else, a frozen bag of peaches.

Little did I know that the blender Fran & I had registered for (which up to now has been used almost exclusively for salsas) had a 'smoothie' option. Whoa. Blow my mind cool! It had a countdown & all weird bursts of speed that had me frantically hitting the off button at first. The end result was Jamba Juice worthy.

I'm not going to lie. It was a little weird to suck up my breakfast. In fact, it took me so long to down it while attempting to read my latest romance (oh-so-good! read it) that I ended up taking the cup into the bathroom as I did my hair & makeup.

Ultimately though, I felt full all the way up to lunch (which, I know according to the experts you're not supposed to do but as a teacher I don't really have the luxury of sneaking snacks every two hours). It could be in my head but I did feel more energized. Popeye was right. There's one cartoon that didn't fully lie to us.

I'm going to attempt experimenting with different fruits & perhaps oats next week. I saw a recipe that had honey added into the mix & if there's one thing this gal loves, it's honey. Any smoothie ideas, please send my way!

PS: note to self- invest in more durable, less trendy, straws.

biggest loser: first weigh in

2012-01-22T20:19:00.001-06:00

The first official weigh in for biggest loser was Friday. The one pound I had lost, came back. I ended up staying stagnant. It could be worse- I could have gained a pound. The funny thing is that Saturday morning, I weighed myself & saw I had lost 5 pounds. What the hell?

In other news, I tried two new recipes this week & they were both really good.

First up, black bean quesadillas.

The pictures look so unappetizing but, believe me. It was delicious! Black beans, feta cheese, tomatoes, corn, avocado...together they made the perfect quesadilla. We had enough left over that Fran & I had it for lunch for the next two days. Keep in mind, I took a few liberties with the original recipe (i.e. substituted the goat cheese for feta & added in the avocado).

The other recipe was baked chicken parmesan:

Be prepared! This dish, while good, was time consuming. You can see my stove at full steam up above- and that's not even taking into account the other station I had set up to coat the chicken breasts. It was hearty and paired up very nicely with a salad. Just not a good dish to attempt in the middle of the work week when you're running behind & starving.

Finally, confession. This was pancake weekend. So much for creating healthy breakfasts, huh?

I met an extremely sweet lady this weekend who recommended I try the green monster smoothie for breakfast in lieu of my typical breakfast taco (or banana when I wake up late). I'm very curious as to what it will taste like, since it does include a cup of spinach but she was adamant that the overpowering taste will be the banana. So, we shall see. I'll let you guys know how that goes next time.

In the meantime, can I just point out how much I hate taking pictures without natural light? The dishes never look as appetizing without it.

snippets

2012-01-18T07:00:00.004-06:00

One of my duties at school involves me standing outside ready to open car doors at 6:59 am (not a minute later). As much as I dread it, sometimes I look up and am gifted with a sunrise as pretty as this one:

One of my favorite guilty pleasure: catching up on juicy celebrity gossip via a mani. Especially when accompanied by my little sister.

Which leads me to one of my other favorite things in the world, Ruggles Green tomato basil soup. Hands down the most delicious soup in the world!

Finally if you have not gone to a Muppets matinees. You are missing out, my friend. Nostalgia may be a huge component to my instant bewitchment but, then again, my 2nd grade afternoons consisted of coming home to Muppet Babies.

"your dreams will come true..."

And, to finish out my childhood throwbacks to the past, I really hope to make it out to watch Belle & the Beast in 3D this weekend! I can only begin to imagine how amazing the "be our guest" scene will be.

biggest loser: updates

2012-01-17T21:54:00.001-06:00

It has been exactly one week since I began the cleanse & I have lost exactly one pound. Not very motivating. But, when I confess to the king size kit kat-cheese empanadas-hot chocolates- etc-, it sort of clicks.

These are the pills I am taking on a nightly basis for another week.

I may failing to resist refined sugars but, I have to give myself credit for one thing & that is home cooked meals. The recipes have been big enough portions that lunch has consisted of the leftovers which makes getting ready in the morning extremely easy.

It's extremely difficult to tell but the blackened chunk above is actually coconut chicken. Surprisingly enough, crispiness & all, it was delicious! Definitely worth a second go-around. Except that I need to find a way to make it healthier because it involved frying the fowl in lots of olive oil which is not good, according to Jill Michaels & co.

The second attempt at healthiness was amazing! Eggplant, zuchini & feta cheese lasagna- no noodles. I was not very talented when it came to slicing the veggies (eggplant in particular) but I will be sticking this recipe into my permanent collection: not only was it relatively easy, it tasted even better the next day like any good lasagna should.

*disclaimer, I was so happy munching my dinner that night, I forgot to snap a picture of the finished product.

Last is my attempt at lemon chicken. Sort of bland and...eh. Not bad. Just not great. If you try it, please let me know what you did to add some zest to this dish.

Tomorrow is my first day back to zumba classes, let the dancing & gossip re-commence!

biggest loser: kipp edition

2012-01-09T21:51:00.000-06:00

Happy 2012! With a full week into the new year things have been steadily humming along. My resolutions aren't anything too original (or new, for that matter). Luckily work is helping to achieve the biggest of those resolutions by beginning a Biggest Loser as of Friday. With a $20 buy in, the jackpot for the winner will be...you ready?

$280. Two hundred eighty dollars!

If that's not motivation (along with my too-tight-fatty pants) then I don't quite know what else will light a fire under my lardy butt.

Not to toot my own horn but, my track record for winning these things is 2 for 2. I won the boot camp a few years back and I won the biggest loser at my old school two years ago. Apparently, I work well under pressure. Maintaining the victory is quite a different story, however.

I've started a few things to try and kick things into high gear. For starters, and this may be cataloged as tmi, a friend recommended a detox kit to flush out all the toxins in my body (ie: Star Pizza, Beavers, frozen lunches).

the kit is $16 at whole foods & while a bit skeptical, I am willing to give those hippie grocers a chance

Inside the box are these bottles. I am to take a handful of each for two weeks, morning and night. The requirements are to drink plenty of water and non-processed foods.Sounds relatively harmful...no?

In order to prepare I turned to my trusty pinterest boards and put together a list to help start off this week's menu:

breakfast, lunch & dinner: planned.

Day one's dinner consisted of corn chowder. According to the website, each cup is 200 calories. And...I'm not going to lie. I had three ladles-worth of soup. It was amazingly good. If you choose to recreate it, be warned. It took an hour to make- the ten minute simmer intervals added up. But it was the perfect meal for a rainy day.

Other than planning out the menu, I have a plan for exercise. All courtesy of my new Wii & Zumba game! I would talk more about my new-found gamer persona but it's worthy of a solo entry. So, be prepared.

Wish me luck, Biggest Loser ends in mid-April. Any advice, suggestions, encouragement will be welcome. Merci!

snippets of joy

2011-12-20T07:00:00.000-06:00

The first four days of freedom have been heavenly.

scrumptious vanilla cupcake with the cutest lil' gingerbread man (not tastiest, does anyone even like fondant?)

Don't you just love the peppermint filled display case? It made for the perfect holiday backdrop.

our stout tree. Which is generating many a headache thanks to Doakes chewing off the branches. He doesn't seem to understand that this tree is not in the park & is therefore off limits.

Early Christmas present from my hubs! This coat had been on my anthro wish list from the get go. Never did I think it would become a reality. Elegant, ladylike & coral: love, love, love.

Which leads me to the cutest, daintiest card. More than using it to show gratitude, I want to frame this sweet Jackie-O lady!

Instead of typing, I should be packing. Except that...what does one wear in 30 degree weather other than thermals, hoodies & boots with the fur? This white Christmas better lead to fun snow fights & snow angels, if not I am going to be really disappointed.

it's so fluffy!

2011-12-19T23:13:00.000-06:00

Twas the night before departure & my little bro/sis came over to open their gifts...

I love these two goons.

Star Wars & Harry Potter. The two obsessions in the Garcia family.

Now, you may be asking yourself why I would bother sharing all this on the blog. But, it's just that Claudia's reaction to Chewbacca coming out is priceless. Fran & I both knew she would flip a lid. We just did not forsee the immense enthusiasm. Check it out for yourself (not sure why the video is so teeny, though):

fyi, f-bomb is dropped so mind your audience appropriately.

Yup. That's my little sister. Imagine sharing a room with that cray-cray child for 20 years.

Merry early Christmas, everyone! May your holidays be filled with as much joy and enthusiasm.

first semester: done.

2011-12-16T17:58:00.007-06:00

It took forever but the two week break is finally here. I'm not going to lie, this has been the hardest semester of my life. 80 hour work weeks. Teaching all subjects (including phonics, hello I am ESL). Lunch duty. Morning duty. Afternoon duty. Seriously. WTF was I thinking living behind the glory days in Acres Homes?!

Then I think about...

My teeny Bryan (literally the shortest kid in the 2nd grade). How his love for wrestling & wild animals lead to the most random stories at the most random times of the day but never fail to make me smile.

My Camillita & her need to be the best teacher's pet at Explore as well as everything else. Not to mention to hear her say the word, "little" will literally melt your heart.

I cannot forget to mention her amazingly cute illustrations, either.

Michael, who has caused white hairs to sprout but whose absentmindedness, creativity & non linear thinking have me thinking that maybe second grade Fran was probably like him. This will sometimes work in restoring my short well of patience.

Dylan, who while not in my class, will make my day upon uttering "good morning" in his unique twang.

Or, Jorge, who if I could I would take home with me. On this day, he pointed out how our shoes were the same. Then jeans. Then shirt. And finally yelled, "twins!".

The progression of the year has been long and painful. There's been nights where I have come home, dragged myself into the shower & bawled, ready to call in my resignation. Between Fran, our two dads & non-teaching friends, I have heard the "quit" speech multiple times. But, I can't. I seriously cannot.

These 23 little peeps have me hooked around their pinkies.

As crazy as they drive me, as frustrated as they can make me, as much as I can dislike them (that's right, I said it): they mean the world to me and because of that, I cannot throw in the towel.

I only pray that this upcoming semester will require less sacrifices because this time, no matter what, I am putting myself, Fran, Doakes & family first. I am determined to become a better teacher for them by working on becoming a healthier, happier me.

It sounds selfish. It sounds un-teacherlike. But, I truly think that by doing this, my teaching mojo will come back & I'll be able to rock it once again. In the meantime, I'm dusting off my NYC bucket list. Northeast winter: here I come!

PS: did I fail to mention just how well these teeny peeps know me? Just check out my christmas goods from them-

hello kitty, anthro, starbucks & ferrero: win, win, win! They ended the party with a bang leaving me such awesome loot.

purty things.

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

Strolling through Highland Village the other day had my Christmas wish list expanding by leaps & bounds:

The sign. The font! Thank you West Elm.

Vow renewal? P-l-e-a-s-e?! Damn you BHLDN.

And then peonies, to top it all off.

And, finally, I need my friends to have more girl babies so I can properly gift them with the classics! Baby style.

Loving all things Christmas but, hating my wallet:
d

ain't nothing but a...

2011-12-12T07:00:00.001-06:00

I failed to mention that aside from munching on remotes, Doakes also loves to destroy half the six ornaments on my teeny tree. I would share a picture but, the three times it occurred I was so pissed I could only swat him on the head and bemoan the loss of ornaments.

I have found that I am quite particular when choosing ornaments. They have to be somewhat funky, charming & sweet. Otherwise, I find them annoyingly tacky.

Therefore, when I found these two at Crate & Barrel and West Elm:

I fell in love.

But, most especially because they resonated musical roots. Probably not what John or Dr. Dre had in mind when they wrote out their songs but, if the glove fits...no?

bittersweet celebrations

2011-12-11T20:49:00.001-06:00

With only a few more days until Christmas, my parents stopped by this afternoon to help lend a hand to take the 2011 pictures. After the "shoot" (I don't know what else to call it, don't judge) it hit us: I will not see them again until after Christmas!

They leave for a wedding Guadalajara this week & won't be back until after Fran & I leave for CT. As excited as I am to experience a white (literal & figurative) Christmas up north, for 27 years December 24th has been spent in the company of my Garcia family.

In any case, this afternoon we celebrated with the best frozen mimosas & gossip so, if nothing else here goes for every other year:

It's always fun going out with my parents thanks to their insatiable need to take pictures- now you know where I get the addiction from. Although, my dad takes THE most unflattering pictures on Earth.

And finally, with my dad's trademark Capt. Morgan pose. Feliz Navidad! *sniff*

november faves

2011-12-04T19:41:00.001-06:00

November, you went by much too quickly. But here's a short rundown of the month:

Hugsy, the bedtime Penguin Pal-- if you are a Friends fan, this needs no explanation. I found "Hugsy" at a JCPenny (of all places) about six years ago. I bought two. One for myself, one for Claudia. They only come out for Christmas, which makes him all the more special.

Other than the reappearance of Hugsy, the spirit of Christmas is all around! Highland Village, Rice Village, the Galleria...I love walking around the hordes of people simply to bask in the glow of twinkly lights. Call me lame, but this truly is the most beautiful time of the year.

White fudge Oreos. Only sold from the month of November through early January. This creates an extremely toxic appeal because they are elusive for the other ten months of the year. Expect the "I'm such a chunk monster" blog post in a few weeks...self control be gone!

Mexican hot chocolate. You can buy it at El Bolillo or you can make your own at home. Just walk down your Mexi-aisle at the grocery store & look for the Abuelita brand. Best hot chocolate, ever.

Finally another fun app that I discovered this month, Shakeitphoto app. Not only does it take fun pictures, it also simulates Polaroid sounds along with the shaking of your "print". Surprisingly entertaining.

A few days into December & the countdown for the holidays is in full swing. NYC & the northeast await in less than two weeks!

absolutely nothing!

2011-11-27T19:49:00.002-06:00

I had five days of doing absolutely nothing. Do you know how hard it is to try to motivate yourself to do something productive after lounging in your pjs, eating and watching movies for three straight days? It's almost impossible is what it is. But with 15 days until the two week break, these little mementos should make the time go smoother...

lovely purple hyacinths to cheer up Mildred's dining table

my attempt at a pinterest recipe that took so long it became lunch...(worth it)

my Doaksie boy proved himself to be even more of a wuss by being scared of my inflatable Hugsy

a lazy Sunday stuffed with Star & Community (obviously I am partial to Mr. Troy Barnes).

for 99 cent giggles, download the stache app: it will make your man seem rather dapper, no?

For the next week and a half I shall be knee deep "directing" the 2nd grade Christmas program. I'm not sure why I volunteered for this job...but stay tuned for updates. It's sure to be a fun experience. Or, if nothing else, lend itself to cute pictures of kids in elf costumes.

gracias, merci, thanks.

2011-11-25T21:29:00.002-06:00

Thank you universe for gifting me with the funniest, kookiest peeps around:

(my dad's pose is priceless)

This year we had a true American thanksgiving (no frijolitos this year). So much so we even had two turkeys. That's right: two! Fran revealed his inner chef and created the best turkey the Garcia's had ever inhaled- homemade gravy, included.

Now, it's time to decorate Mildred: I love this time of year!

The nutty market

2011-11-13T12:34:00.005-06:00

For years people have talked about the wonders one can encounter inside the Reliant during the Nutcracker Market. I've always meant to go and then forgotten about it until, this year when I was peer pressured into it by my co-workers. I almost said no but my curiosity for the potential goodies I could find won out. I am so happy it happened too because...

Saturday morning began with three of the most amazing breakfast tacos I've ever scarfed down before. If you have a hankering for good, authentic Mexican food try out Taqueria del Sol. I'm not sure what was better, the food, the trio of salsas they bring out or the horchata. Whatever the case it was the best way to begin before going off to the market.

Thousands of free samples (and demos, hello Shirley Temple curls!) had my feet and stomach pained.

But it was all well worth it for my dainty hippo ornament, hip wrapping paper and merry banner. I can't wait to start sprucing Mildred up for the holidays!

sept. & oct. faves

2011-11-06T19:28:00.001-06:00

I believe the blogging coma speaks for itself: life at Mildred has been beyond busy. I have missed keeping up with the internet but unless a website has an app (ie: pinterest, facebook, instagram) it has not been on my radar. I am going to work on balancing things a bit more these coming weeks which means that hopefully I'll be back on a more regular schedule. In the meantime, here are the material things that have made life a bit sweeter the past few months...

Back in late August I stopped by Sephora to pick up a few cosmetic supplies. Turns out my reward points had added up to give me a free gift- I chose the Laura Mercier tinted illuminating moisturizer without really thinking much of it (the three choices seemed rather paltry). I have been using it in lieu of foundation (and moisturizer) this entire time (three months). It's amazing. I feel it gives my skin a creamier, healthier glow. Every morning as I apply it, I think "this is it soon you're going to have to buy a full size at full price" and nope. It's the energizer bunny of make up!

I have good news & I have bad news in regards to Motif soap. The good news? The bottle is gorgeous. The soap smells clean and fresh (while doing its job, leaving you squeaky clean). It's reasonably priced at $3.99. The bad news? I used to be able to find it at Target. Yesterday when I stopped in to stock up: they were out! I was so bummed, I even drove to another Target in the hopes of finding it there with no luck. If you know where I can physically shop for it again, please send me the news!

I may not be having much of a social life at the moment but that has not hindered my reading. I'm not quite sure how I came across Kristan Higgins' novels but I originally read all her novels on my kindle. I loved her books so much, I am now working on collecting the physical copies. Good ol' fashioned romances with no steamy sex scenes (for you prudies, out there), laugh out loud scenes and the occasional sob fest. If you decide to take me up on the recommendation, I would definitely say Until there was you was my favorite of the bunch. I literally couldn't put it down! So much so that I would attempt to covertly read the story on my phone's kindle app during recess. Shhh....bad teacher. Luckily there were no incidents that day, so don't fret.

Yogi tea came into my life thanks to my lil' sis and her yoga studio. It has revolutionized my tea drinking! First, it's delicious. The blueberry flavor is my absolute favorite- it's fragance does a good job waking me up in the mornings. The best part: each tea pouch comes with an inspirational quote! It's like a fortune cookie but without the calorie filled dinner beforehand. For a while I kept pestering Claud to pick me up a box every few weeks until I realized that the Kroger near Mildred carried their products in the vegan/hippie aisle (not quite sure how I came to be walking through there).

Netflix may be in the crapper but bless them for bringing The Walking Dead into our instant stream. Oh my God. People. If you have not watched this show, brace yourself! Yes, it can scare the beejezus out of you- multiple times. Yes. You may very well stop breathing for a good portion of the show due to the suspense but it is GOOD. So good, that Fran and I are considering getting cable just to be able to watch season 2.

And, finally, to end on a mushy note: my Francis. The inundation of work I am currently attempting to stumble through would have completely eclipsed every joy I have in my life if it were not for this man. He's literally my rock. He has listened, wiped my tears, hugged me, loved me, pampered me, made me laugh and dragged me out to enjoy the little things without a single complaint these past few months. I know I say it many times but I mean it when I say, I am so lucky to have married this man. He is truly the best!

PS: thankfully, the Pancho Villa mustache was a three day phase.

recipe jar: take one.

2011-09-17T14:46:00.002-05:00

With the new job it has been hard to balance my hours- most days I am heading home around 7:30 which means Fran & I are not sitting down for dinner until 8:30, maybe 9. This schedule has to be affecting my metabolism but I have not been able to reach the point where leaving at 6 is manageable. Until then, I am grateful for an understanding & supportive husband.

But, back to the matter at hand: the recipes drawn last week, bruschetta chicken & the Paula Deen Mexican casserole.

Both meals were extremely easy to fix and both provided left overs for the following day's dinner (I love when that happens!). However, of the two contenders the bruschetta chicken won a place in my repeat folder. Why? It was light, healthy and extremely fresh.

I chopped two tomatoes, a few basil leaves and placed them in a bowl. I then took chunks of mozzarella and layed them on top of the fresh-out-of-the-pan chicken breasts, allowing it to melt slightly. Once the chicken was on the plate, I smothered it with the veggies. It was delicious! Especially when paired with a side salad, it made for the perfect meal. Not too light, not too full, just right.

The Paula casserole is another story. First, it was all made out of canned soups. I think with fresh ingredients it could make for a good "gringo enchilada wannabe" but otherwise it's a mushy, unfulfilling mess. I would post a picture but it did not even look slightly appetizing. Sorry, butter queen but this was a major fail. Luckily, Fran is willing to eat anything and that casserole slowly left our fridge.

One of two, not too bad. Hopefully next week's draws will be win-wins! Crunchy garlic chicken & stuffed green peppers are on the menu for tomorrow's grocery trip.

Food chronicles part II

2011-09-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Thank you, ladies for all the recipes you sent my way a few weeks back! I was so excited to read about the new, easy ideas you all had for your dinners. Your time was well spent because it got me thinking. Realistically during the week I come home without any desire to get cracking in the kitchen.

Just the process alone is daunting: prepping and cooking. Then the fun part, eating but quickly followed by clean up. Ick. Fran and I have a "you don't cook, you clean" but we both end up feeling bad for the other tidying things up on a full belly so, it kind of defeats the purpose of the rule, ya know.

But, when I break it down, I know there are at least two nights of the week where I know I have time to come home and actually Pretend Chef.

...prepare to enter the no-judgement zone, please...

When cooking I love to act like Rachel Ray (minus the crazy eyes) and do the chop-chop-use-the-tiny-dishes-garbage-bowl business. As loony as it sounds, it makes cooking extremely enjoyable and hence, why I'm such a witch of a wife when I shoo Fran out.

As I have repeatedly mentioned, I have a set list of "go to" meals that I love and know like the back of my hand but, it's time to add to that repertoire. Unfortunately, when it's time to go to the grocery store I usually end up forgetting what it is I need or want to cook.

In comes my idea: recipe jar! After accumulating so many delicious sounding pins on my pinterest board, I figured it was time to find some way to bring them to life.

As a creature of habit, grocery shopping occurs Sunday mornings. Before I head out, I sit down write out my list and take inventory of the fridge/pantry. It takes all of three minutes but..I'm adding one new step. I will draw out two recipes from my jar that I will then add into the week's menu. I've screened all recipes for prep time and weeded out any that look overly complicated for a Wednesday night. Many may not be very weight friendly (there's a Paula Deen casserole in the jar) but I figure I can balance it out according to the freshness of ingredients.

Will it work? Hopefully.

I will keep you posted.

Maybe in a few weeks, I'll find some way to make my jar be a bit more dignified and less ghetto...

Ole!

2011-09-06T06:41:00.000-05:00

A few weeks back my parents went on a trip to Spain. As with every trip both came back bearing with gifts but, unlike previous souvenir items the two items they each chose brought so much more than just the item.

Many decades ago (when I was 3 months old) on our way back from Saudi Arabia, my parents stopped in Spain for the first time. While there, my mom picked up a pair of earrings in Toledo that look just like these:

(she still has them at home, I just never remember to take a picture of them)

For as long as I was still playing dress up, these were the only pair I would pick up to play with. Something in the ornate craftsmanship drew me in. To this day she still wears them out & they never fail to remind me of my childhood, scavenging through her makeup bag. Well. My mom remembered just how much I loved them and came back with a pair just for me. The best part is that she remembered how I only wear my "dangly" earrings on special occasions. She came back with Toledo-style studs for moi.

Then comes, my dad, the goofiest, head-in-the-clouds, doesn't understand teacher hours man gave me this:

A tacky tile that says, "here lives a teacher".

You may be wondering why this is at all special but, for me it feels like some sort of recognition on behalf of my dad. Ever since I became a teacher, I have felt that he has pushed me to be something else. I think he's believed that his daughter was capable of "more". But I don't think the magnitude & responsibility my career carries sunk in until last year when I asked him to come set up my 4th grade classroom one weekend. As he punched out letters, arranged my library and carefully arranged my Mr. Potato family: I think it was just busy work. Then when I asked him to accompany me on one of the field trips, he got to see the impact I get to make on a yearly basis. For him to bring this tile back (when he usually brings the hotel pens) means the world.

Now as you walk into Mildred, the tile (and Doakes) are the first thing to greet you.

Gracias d-a-d & mom!

august faves

2011-09-05T11:01:00.001-05:00

Essie nail polish is taking over my life! It all began at my favorite mani/pedi place years ago when I realized that whenever I chose Essie colors, my nails tended to chip less. Then one day, while checking out at JCrew, I spotted it at the counter. Of course, I had to pick up a bottle. Only to find out that Target is now carrying Essie! I just discovered this development and now every Target trip, I make a little detour to the girlie section...shhh...don't tell Fran.

Pretty Little Liars is a series for young adults. I got hooked over the summer while thumbing through Chiara's bookshelf. It's a long, overdrawn soap opera that I cannot put down! The most ridiculous plots have taken place and I am still addicted. Judge all you want but until the series ends, I am sticking through to see what kind of crazy finale this author is going to provide. The thought of picking up the television series has crossed my mind, too...

In an attempt to check out the new Whole Foods by Mildred, I stopped by earlier this month only to find the best addition to my kitchen, ever. I've used it to make hamburgers, tostadas, glaze chicken...each time only deliciousness occurs. It's $4.99 a bottle and probably the one & only item I buy (since WF is so ridiculously overpriced) but well worth my 5 minute detour.

On the subject of food, I lead you to my next obsession: El Bolillo tortillas. Good God. They are a gift from the Mexican gods. Piping hot, straight out of the tortilla churner, these are the best for breakfast tacos, tacos, quesadillas, snacks. Not even joking, I can eat them straight out of the bag. Obviously a total downer to my bday dress goal but so freaking good! The good/bad thing about them? No preservatives means they last 3 days max before becoming a science experiment. But at $2.50 a dozen, it's well worth the attempt to down them all before time's up.

Finally, meet my morning companion. Cinnamon Burst Cheerios, the less fatty alternative to Cinnamon Toast Crunch (aka Dahnya's favorite cereal). With the addition of banana slices & Spongebob prizes, it's a great start to my morning.

We are five days into September & 3 of those days have been breezy, cool & sunny. I truly hope that this is a sign of wonderful things to come!

Running record, part II

2011-08-28T18:40:00.002-05:00

It's been a few weeks but, I am happy to announce that I am two days away from completing my C25K challenge! I may not have been faithful to the blogging world thanks to an avalanche of work but I did not let that get in the way of working my way through the 9 weeks of running I had set for myself.

Has it been hard?
Yes.
Has it been rewarding?
Yes!
Have I noticed a difference?
YES.

For starters, let me explain that running one block for me was a giant milestone. To be able to continuously run for 30 minutes is something of a minor miracle in itself. The C25K peeps are geniuses. But I have to say, a lot of the credit has to be given to a sign that was posted up at school by an infamous boxer:

“Champions aren´t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision.”

I know it sounds crazy (and lame) but this sign has been my drive to getting up at 4:30 every morning before work. I'm not quite sure what about it touches me as much as it does but it has kept me going when I don't want to wake up, when I don't want to keep running, when I don't want to sweat in the middle of our drought and whatever other excuses I make as my alarm blares.

I'm bummed because no, I do not have a picture of the banner hanging outside a corridor at KIPP. It was actually removed last week! It stuck around long enough to enter my life when I needed it. Thank you Mr. Ali for being my conscience throughout it all.

Check it: Ali had a white dog, too!

So, what's my plan for the future?

Me joining a real 5K and treating myself to my sneakers. Both these are currently on hold until Mildred comes across a financial breakthrough (in other words, some mon-ay). But I cannot wait until they both come into fruition!

Otherwise, my morning jogs are to remain a daily imprint of my day. I find the days I do not run, I feel gross and lethargic. Even with the nasty slime of August humidity enveloping me, having a panting Doakes by my side while forcing my body to push itself, clears my head for the day.

I am more energetic, even with the long hours I am now working.

I find I am more optimistic about things- maybe because I can reason out whatever troubles me as I run the neighborhood.

I find my skin is glowing and that my legs are looking better (as is my butt)! These could all be in my head but...apparently those endorphins are doing their job & I love it.

The only downer to all this is that I have lost exactly one pound since early July. Not cool. I keep hearing, "it's muscle...blah, blah" but the truth is my eating portions have remained the same. I need to go back to Bridezilla Dahnya mode and cut all portions in half if I am to get back into my birthday dress anytime soon.

Before losing my phone, I bought the second part to the C25K program. It's an app that is supposed to train you to run a half marathon. I really do not look forward to waking up at 4am during the week for this to take place...so I may end up pushing it for a Doakes-Francis bonding activity to do on the weekends.

To be continued...

PS: this goes out to my Suter lady. Thank you for the sweet note via the postman!

Food chronicles

2011-08-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Confession: since moving into Mildred cooking at home has not been a priority.

When Fran & I sat down to do the math and saw just how much we were spending on food at the grocery store then factored in the restaurant bills, I was shocked. This year is going to call for a tightening on our financial belt: Christmas is going to be taking place up north, both Fran's brothers are graduating on opposite ends of the country and we would really like to save up to make an overseas trip next summer to Germany. In order to do that we need to plan. Something we are not so hot at.

This past month gave me the gift of time. It led to a cycle of different meals...

Prosciutto & mozarella calzone with homemade tomato sauce. This recipe came via those Pillsbury bread cans and the long ago recommendation of a friend.

The best part of the calzone is that the left over sauce is enough to carry you over for another meal.

I am a huge "breakfast for dinner" fan. Although here it was really breakfast.

Italian loaf of bread. Tomatoes. Mozarella chunks. Olive oil & a sprinkle of red peper flakes, basil and salt: the best grilled cheese ever.

My love for tuna has been reawakened by adding chunks of jalapeno.

Homemade burgers & fries: delicious!

Just a brief sampling of my attempts but do you notice a theme? It's called carbs. I am addicted. So, friends, I ask you to once again help in my cooking endeavor: friendly meals for a lazy cook.

Low maintenance, easy, healthy...my pocketbook (and closet) would truly appreciate it!

july faves

2011-07-31T21:55:00.000-05:00

Every time the end of the month rolls around, I feel like I have only just posted my latest favorites from the prior month. I only hope I am truly taking the time to appreciate the present when August, September, October and November roll around because starting the 8th, I know I'll be mentally counting down for December...

Party Down. Thanks to a Netflix suggestion I clicked on this show one afternoon only to find that I was still watching the series finale at 8 o'clock the next morning. Yes, that is correct. I watched the entire series because it was that good. If my sleep deprivation story didn't sell you, this should: from the makers that brought you Freaks & Geeks. Go watch it.

My Mildred to-do summer list has been virtually untouched thanks to these guys. These are just a few of the books I have devoured this past month. All young adult. With the exception of the Dessen books, all series. I really could not put them down! I definitely suggest the Ghost & Goth series. Please do not let the cover (or title) put you off. Initially off put by both, the sales girl at Borders (*sniff*) convinced me it was worth my time (and money). I wish I could find her to recommend more books because it was a win!

I could blame it on the heat. Or my free time. Or the fact that maybe I am addicted but...it's been mojito night pretty much every night for the past month. At least that was the case, until we ran out of rum the other evening. I took it as a sign. But I sure to miss that tangy sweetness.

One great thing that has occurred this summer has been daily nights in with home cooked food! They have been a success and have me craving for more. Hopefully I will soon see some sort of difference in my waistline?

The thing I will miss most about this summer? Spending endless time with my boys. It's been nice to not be tired and cranky after a long day at work and actually spend quality time with both of them.

July, I will miss you! All the adventures and lazy days I was able to experience throughout this month will certainly help me get through my first year as a 2nd grade teacher. It begins in one week. Yikes!

8 weekends of summer, take 8

2011-07-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

Today and tomorrow I am back in the "real" world attending back to back math trainings.

Sigh.

Fran always makes it a point to remind me that having an entire month off is unheard of in any other career so I shouldn't complain but his pointed reminder doesn't make things any easier. Especially when I think of how I spent the past two days holed up in Mildred devouring the Hunger Games trilogy.

I could not put the books down.

At times I wanted to hurl the book across the room because the action got so intense! I would even stop to check out wikipedia in hopes of calming my fears about certain characters livelihood, until I realized that the peeps on wikipedia kept most of the plots under wrap. On top of all the action there was an extremely juicy love triangle between the main character (Katniss), her BFF (Gale) and the boy who has loved her from afar (Peeta). No, don't worry. It is nothing like the Twilight triangle.

One more reason to the read the book: the movie comes out next year. I do not see how they will transfer the book onto the big screen (it's all told from Katniss' perspective) but I am slightly curious. Even though I already think the casting selection is a total joke. Read the book first, then look up the cast. Trust me you will want to form your own image of the characters before you see the actors involved.

PS: for you GoT fans out there, the heroine reminded me of Arya Stark at times. I'm telling you, Katniss is one bad ass girl. Which reminds me, Game of Thrones is currently on my nightstand. I cannot wait to see what happens in season two for an entire year!

Running record, week 1

2011-07-24T15:52:00.003-05:00

It's no secret I'm extremely lazy. I am definitely guilty of not following through on my goals (just check out my archives). I always seem to find something better to do whether it be read a book, catch up on blogs, shop- anything to avoid sweating.

A Houston summer is a hard place to begin anything outdoors. But with my ever decreasing wardrobe and hyped up Doakes, I had to walk my talk.

It's actually been three weeks since I started C25K. I heard about it a while back and downloaded the app but never used it until I saw this picture:

This was me last August in the Anthropologie fitting rooms trying on what was to be my birthday gift from Fran. I wore the dress once.

When I think back to how I lost weight for the wedding, I cringe. It's so much sacrifice. So much work. But then I think of how good I felt and I realize, I have to do it. It took me 5 months to get into a size 6. That gives me time from now until Christmas. I can do this.

Especially now when I have the cutest, most resilient running buddy:

(after one our grueling runs)

It makes me laugh to think that Fran & I adopted my running equal. Poor thing hates to run as much as I do. It gets to the point where halfway through our C25K workout, I'm having to drag him. As the timer on the session goes off, Doakes has gotten to the point where he knows it's time to run and this long suffering sigh emerges from within him. I then have to reassure him that we only have 5 more laps to go.

It may sound a bit lame but I've been holding myself accountable on instagram. So that at the end of our session, I try to remember to snap a picture of Doakes & I at the end of our run. Sometimes it's a bit of a struggle because a certain lazy beast refuses to pose.

There are 9 weeks in the program. Hopefully in 6 weeks, Doakes & I will be running more and huffing less. I'm not quite sure how to reward him but I do know that I'll be placing an order for either one of these bad boys:

Not sure which one I love best but...coral has been my color as of late.

Until then, I'll be channeling Mr. Gump!

8 weekends of summer, take 7

2011-07-21T14:13:00.002-05:00

After years of having Serendipity on my NYC bucket list, I finally got to devour their infamous frozen hot chocolates! It was so good. I will be honest, though. I was extremely disappointed in the food. Fran and I split a "summer bries" sandwich (to save room for dessert)- it was not great. On top of that, the waiter was rather cranky (and condescending "fries only come with burgers", jerk) with the restaurant itself being extremely small. It was also overflowing with Tiffany lamps. So much so that the two times I stood up, I bonked my head on the lamps each time. Klutz.

While the other days were leisurely spent on the beach with the G's. If I were to win the lottery today I think I would buy a beach house in the NE. I'm serious. Good food, good company, the beach and a good book: nothing compares. The beach house we stayed in had such cute touches throughout. Including fab wallpaper. If you look closely, you will notice the glitter!

The best part was getting a chance to meet Claire Konkel! At two months old, she is the sweetest baby. Tons of gummy smiles and leg flailings, she's such a cutie.

As much as I liked getting out and about, there is something to be said about coming home. The moment I walked into Mildred there was an internal click and sigh. It sure does feel good to be home! Now, off to try and be productive...

8 weekends of summer, take 5 & 6.

2011-07-12T20:27:00.004-05:00

Sleeping in, eating, attempting to jog, shopping, pinterest...I wish July could extend itself for another few weeks.

In the meantime happy belated birthday America! It was a lot of fun celebrating your birth.

As far as weekend 6. I'm not ashamed to admit it: I was holed up inside Mildred clinking it up alongside Ms. Poehler & her kooky bunch. Thank you Netflix for allowing me to catch 3 seasons in one weekend.

As for now, I am busy packing for the traditional NE beach trip. The G's, NYC, the beach and I'll get to wear a cardigan outdoors for a few days.

Damn it, Houston. Simmer down! Please?

june faves

2011-07-01T17:32:00.004-05:00

Hey June, you went so fast. Took a hot month and made it hotter. Remember to to always turn up the AC, only then will it get better...better...better...yea.

Food Network magazine: so helpful! I hate judging a magazine by its fun, flirty cover only to buy it and realize it literally is all fluff. Not the case with FN. I got tons of recipes off it, including the portabello dish Fran made for us. I sent off my little postcard for the subscription earlier this month and eagerly looking forward for the future issues.

Also, hooray for my banner. It was an etsy purchase for the wedding that in the frenzy of one month wedding planning was forgotten. Luckily, I remembered to use it this time around. Is it okay that I want to purchase one for every single occasion?

Rainbow cupcakes in honor of Gay Pride: way to go NY!

My 2nd grade bulldogs (we're named after Yale's mascot, in honor of Doakes), aren't they cute & teeny? Or so they seem in comparison to my 4th graders until they drive me bonkers (instagram edited some out, oops). Also included the adults that are making the transition completely worth the super hard work- hurray for matching shirt days!

If you have not experienced the intensity of this show, prepare yourself. Take a sprinkle of LOTR, a dash of soap opera dramatics and a liberal splash of awesomeness and you will have Game of Thrones. It is addicting. Each episode ends in a nerve-wracking-I-must-keep-watching-or-die high. Which means, you must be sure to carve out time to continue through a GT marathon because one episode is surely not enough. I'm just throwing it out there: my favorite character is definitely Ayra Stark. Yours?

Game of Thrones may be over (those 10 episodes went by much too quickly) but, July has a lot in store: including a REAL summer month long vacation! Mildred is awaiting updates and the G-clan is having a reunion, things are looking good.

8 weekends of summer, take 4

2011-06-26T21:51:00.002-05:00

Where does the time go?! It's the last week of June. It's the last week of summer school. It's the first week of year two for my marriage. Wow.

Friday I came home to the sweetest thank you from the sweetest guy & gal. The collaboration with Agori Koritsi was so much fun! If you're intrigued, check out the movie. Mildred played a prominent role in the beginning, she's semi-famous now! Well. In my mind, anyway.

Hooray for our one year! Read all about our one year celebration, here.

And, finally: Sunday. The day to catch up on all the errands I had neglected during the week. But I was lucky enough to meet the cutest little hostess who provided us with tons of games, drinks and food for the evening. Movie/water dates are in our future, Annie!

Perks of an educator

2011-06-20T06:00:00.015-05:00

If you are reading this I am currently in my 2nd grade classroom attempting to manage 23 seven year olds. I'm not sure how this is going to go...

If nothing else preparing for the day has been fun.

Exhibit a:

Labeling is one of my favorite things about being a teacher (it's the little things, okay). So imagine my excitement when I connected these two names* after reading the class list. I will definitely be pushing a love connection! These two kiddos are destined to be with one another. Walt Disney says so.

Exhibit b:

Creating my mini-me paper sack example, Marc Jacob shoes included. Obviously I underestimated the proportions of my head to my giant body and I seem to be slightly colorblind but hopefully the kids will look at this and take the "what not to do" route.

Exhibit c:

Last but not least, I had to go shoe shopping this weekend. The principal dumped a bucket of cold, cold water the other day when discussing appropriate foot attire. Conclusion: no open toed shoes. Hello! That's almost my entire shoe collection! We live in the Hot Hot Heat! How will my toes survive the summer recess blocks?! Hence my Toms solution. I'm jumping on the Tom bandwagon a bit reluctantly but, considering their wide array of colors and closed toed style I may end up becoming a junkie.

It looks like with these three details, I'm mentally ready: 2nd grade, here we go!

*Tiffany, you called it!

8 weekends of summer, take 3

2011-06-19T19:02:00.002-05:00

This past week has consisted of me eating, breathing, living, sleeping KIPP. Why? To prepare for the 2 week summer session that begins tomorrow. It's been a whirlwind! Trainings, orientations, meetings, new people, new rules. My brain is overflowing. But. I think I'm ready.

You may want to hold on to your hats with all the excitement you're about to be subjected to! I mean it. You ready?

Please take a look at the transformation, it's like HGTV for teachers!

Earlier this week.

Later in the week.

Then finally, Saturday afternoon.

A big shout out goes to my hubs, if it weren't for his brawn and carpentry skills: this entire process would have taken even longer. So, thank you Fran! You are the best. For realz.

Now, enough procrastinating, I am supposed to be finishing my lesson plans for the week. My first day as a 2nd grade teacher is tomorrow. Yikes!

PS: No, the room is as of yet incomplete. Why? I'm moving to another room after July 1st. Any helpers care to volunteer? Please?!

8 weekends of summer, take 2.

2011-06-13T00:07:00.002-05:00

Folks, I am becoming a fattie. Seriously. I get the most insane, calorie-chocked filled cravings after the sun comes down. Nope, keep those bills in your pocket, it's not a baby-induced crave. It's just me. Being a fattie.

For starters, I rediscovered Captain Crunch. Where had he been for the past few years?! So happy to you have back, Cappy.

And yup, that's me. Happily crunching away in bed.

Then I stopped by Fiesta (who turns out on weekends does awesome Mexi-snack sampling) and munched my way through these bad boys,

Oh.my.god. If you are a Takis fan, you will be a Flamas addict. It's a lighter chip, thereby taking away some of your guilt.

Thanks to Paula Deen & the pineapple we had hanging out in the kitchen, Fran and I made pina coladas. Not going to lie, they were good but we've decided to add a lot more pineapple (er, rum) and less coconut cream to our creation next time.

Finally, the best for last, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup chocolate milkshakes.

No words needed. They rocked my world to the last slurp.

Hopefully yoga will pour out all the toxins I inhaled this past weekend, so that the pina colada recipe can be perfected.

33 hours.

2011-06-11T00:01:00.003-05:00

It's always rough going through new-employee orientation. HR. Benefits. Email hand outs. Culture debriefings. Yada, yada.

I'm not going to claim every hour of my 33 hours of training has been majestic- but, I will say this. Never have I walked out feeling so inspired. So motivated to go out and make a difference. One of the things I love the most are the parallels constantly being used with children's literature and movie clips to drive home the definition/example of a trait.

Cowabunga! Intense milkmaid greeter as I walked into orientation.

Think of a teacher.

Think of one of the best books ever written.

Make the connection?

I'm telling you, the brains behind the program know how to light a fire (and get one misty-eyed).

3 days in, feeling ready to fulfill both.

It will definitely be a bumpy ride but I now know that with the team formed and the road set is bound to be worth it.

Hot off the presses!

2011-06-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

Do you find yourself constantly taking pictures with your iPhone camera?
Do you find yourself not bothering to print them?
Do you find that you love those pictures, rotate your wallpapers and still feel empty for not having them be a tangible entity?

Well, my friend, postal pix is the app for you!

Thanks to a fellow instagram junkie, I headed to postal pix, chose a few pictures and found them in my mailbox two days later.

I am smitten with each and every picture!

They come in whatever filter you took them in, too.

Better than diamonds.

2011-06-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

After my initial doubts and misgivings, my first day at KIPP was awesome (slight exaggeration). After four days off, three o'clock hit and I was definitely ready for a nap but otherwise extremely cool. There was a quotation overload (more on that tomorrow and I'll pictorially show what I mean) but the people are super dedicated and fairly hilarious.

So, thank you so very much to all you who reached out to allay my nervousness. You were right! There's nothing a little hard work and positivity won't solve. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Reading your messages made my day.

Speaking of which, my day began with an extremely high note. I hopped into Perlita only to find this on the passenger seat:

A little futher reading revealed...

A mix "tape" witht he sweetest lil' Doakes' drawing, ever.

The sap in me had tears rollling and me running out of the car to hug, kiss, squeal over my man. Which may have led to the dinner I came home to:

Ricotta stuffed portabello.

Really? What did I do to get so lucky?!

Alright, so, enough of my bragging. The portabellos? Delicious. Fresh. Light. Fran claims it took all of 20 minutes to complete. If you want the recipe, let me know. If not you can find it in the current edition of the Food Network magazine (headed to become a June fave, by the way).

PS: If you're in the mood for a happy squeal, go check this sweetie out. Jude cutie!!

First day jitters.

2011-06-08T06:22:00.000-05:00

You know the feeling before your first day of anything (school, work, trip)- there's that fluttery buzz happening in the pit of your stomach?

I've got it.
Big.

Today is my first day on the new job.

Am I excited?
Maybe.

But overruling that excitement is fear.
What if I made the wrong decision?
What if I've signed onto something bigger than I can chew?
What if I don't have the energy to carry it out?

Guys, I am not kidding when I say, professionally, this past year was rough.
I keep telling myself, "nothing will beat the year you just went through" but at the same time stranger things have been known to happen. At least where I was things were somewhat predictable. This will all be uncharted territory (for me anyway).

In an attempt to make myself feel a teeny bit better I've laid out my outfit (as well as Thursday and Friday's- stay tuned, I'm sure the suspense is killer).

If nothing else I'll be wearing my lucky hoops and smelling good.

Here goes...everything.

Fresh!

2011-06-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

With Monday and Tuesday off I took the time to prep food for the week. This meant blending up a red and green salsa for breakfast tacos, tostadas, tortas, fish tacos, enchiladas...the possibilities are endless!

Red salsa: tomatoes, half an onion, green chiles, cilantro, garlic, lime juice.

Green salsa: tomatillos, jalapenos, half an onion, galic, avocado, lime juice

Blend each separately & enjoy! From now on I'm no longer signing up for desserts. This was too easy and fun to jar. By the way, the more tomatoes used- the redder the salsa. Obviously I skimped on those by going with more chiles. But it's still tasty. Very similar to Spanish Flowers, if I do say so myself.

Next week I'm going to experiment with the green salsa by adding in sour cream in an attempt to recreate Chuy's creamy jalapeno...unhealthy but oh-so-good. I justify it by thinking that if I make it at home I am bypassing the basket of chips, margaritas, and chicka-chicka-boom-boom. Thereby saving tons of calories, right? Right.

8 weekends of summer, take 1.

2011-06-05T20:10:00.002-05:00

First weekend of the summer and already things are looking hot!

48 Hour Houston Film Project

A few weeks back as I was beyond flattered to be asked to join Agori Koritsi Productions writing team. Of course I said yes, not knowing how intimidating the rapid pace of the contest would be. With the allotted props, lines and characters in tow, Friday night had us brainstorming and typing into Cinderella's magic hour. Quickly followed by the early Saturday morning shooting at Mildred. I am so happy to have been a small part of such a funny, sweet, talented group!

Summerfest!

The sweltering Houston sun was not enough to dampen the dancing and singing that took place this weekend. Thank goodness for floppy, goofy hats and ice cold sno cones. More about that: here.

In other news Brit Brit (with Nicki Minaj!!!) for a limited time is offering her tickets for half off!

What you waiting for?

may faves

2011-05-30T22:22:00.003-05:00

May came and went in a heartbeat it seems like.

I realize I sound like a broken record in regards to instagram but, it is because of that app that I discovered diptic ($1.99, worth it). My multiple attempts for a Cinco de mayo portrait. My kids make for great (aka patient) photographers. Don't stress, it was during recess.

Chobani yogurt. It's been years since Fran has been attempting to cajole me into trying one but, I continually resisted. Funnily enough, while he was in Japan, I walked the Target refrigerator aisle and spotted a mango Chobani. I was intrigued enough to pick up one in each of the new flavors. Two hours later, I was a believer! Great breakfast protein. Great snack. They are a bit pricey (a dollar plus a pop) but here's a way you can save 50 cents on your foray into their dairy-deliciousness!

Blue Valentine. I had been waiting to watch the Gosling-Williams movie ever since the preview. I'm telling you right now, it is not for everyone. It is extremely raw (aka the sex scenes are a bit stark) and realistic (no happy ending). But the way it was filmed with the different cameras and flashbacks made it- excuse the cliche word- gripping. I couldn't look away. I needed to know what was going to happen or what that character was thinking. I cannot say it enough, it was amazingly real and stuck with me long after it was over. As always, a good movie can never stand without good music and this time was no exception.

My Doaksie boy. Francis comes back Wednesday after a two week journey to Japan. Mildred has not been the same without Fran around but there was never a dull or lonely moment with my loyal companion with me. I was a little worried of what life would be like without Doakes' favorite playmate (Fran) but the two of us adjusted and protected one another. It was much needed bonding time on our twice daily jaunts outside. Including our first foray into the sudsy world of doggy bathing. He was not a happy camper, as you can see.

Last, but not least, expensive shampoo. I have never been a big believer in shelling out big bucks for hair products. It hurts to literally see it wash away! So, when Manny, the hair guru I love at the VC's Galleria, suggested I invest in their keratin infused shampoo and conditioner, I politely declined. Until the humidity came roaring in and my frizzies knew no limits. I plunked down my $20 (each) and have found that my hair has never been softer or more manageable. Thanks Manny-boy!

Oh, June. You have so very much in store. New job, new kids, new everything! But, most especially, it holds the one year anniversary of the greatest altering moment in my life up to now. Time flies when you're in love.

Mushy romance!

2011-05-24T05:00:00.002-05:00

Last night I took Doakes for his evening walk and happened to stumble upon a redbox, three blocks from Mildred! How had I not found this before?! Eagerly I scanned through the new releases and came home with No stings attached. Yeah, I'm not normally an Ashton or Natalie fan and it could have been my low expectations but I loved it.

It has everything you want in a chick flick! Sweet, kind guy who falls deeply in love with the reluctant girl set to a great soundtrack. There was even a Sixteen Candles-waiting-arms-crossed-in-front-of-the-car shot. I always write Ashton off as a doofus (blame Punk'd & his stint as Kelso) but now that I think about it, if you watched Valentine's Day he was just as loveable as this one. Except his character is consistently on screen and not every other 20 minutes.

So, girls, if you are in need of some mushiness of the heart. Watch this one. It's worth it. If nothing else, it'll get you geared up for JT's, Friends with benefits!

Bluegrass Jay-Z? Ignore the creepy video. But take a listen, fun.

PS: The cast includes Kevin Kline (hadn't seen him for a while), Cary Elwes (Princess Bride, anyone), Ludi!crous (can't remember his serious name) and Kelly from the Office.

Movie Monday (and other happenings)

2011-05-23T05:00:00.009-05:00

This is my last Monday for the 2010-2011 school year and I am so very excited! It is to the point where my classroom is almost entirely empty. Textbooks have been collected and returned (don't ask me why), technology is due to be picked up this week and the kids (and I) have pretty much checked out mentally. I'm attempting to wrangle them into writing a book of their favorite 4th grade memories but it's taking a lot of understanding and patience on my end to get them to buckle down. Our highlight this week was definitely snatching 1st place (out of 13 classes) on field day. So...if nothing else we're on a roll for our winding down ceremonies.

This weekend I attended my first Dynamo match at Robinson Stadium. If you have not attended, you must! Not only are tickets budget friendly ($17 a pop) but the tailgating, the free samples beforehand, the dancing, the confetti, the hottie players, the non-stop action: it is dynamo fun! I'm definitely planning to head out more often this summer, who's with me?!

Also, in my eternal quest to rid my body of processed sugars and excess rolls, I have made a commitment with the farmer's market to shop in bulk there and there only. Seriously. I am making it a point to head to my grocery store only for the essentials (ie: paper goods, cleaning supplies, dairy products, nothing else) so that all else comes fresh (or as fresh as possible). It's my second week at the attempt and I am finding I feel lighter and energized by the change in diet. I highly recommend it. Besides, I love bartering for goods and the experience has me feeling like I'm back in Mexico (cleaner version).

I spent $12 on groceries. You cannot beat that.

And to the purpose of today's post: How do you know. Paul Rudd. Jack Nicholson. Reese Witherspoon. The director of As good as it gets (one of my top 5 favorite movies, ever). It seemed like a quadruple win to me but, it was just...eh. Not bad. Not great. Just, sweet? I don't know what was missing but, maybe it was the not so sparkly love story between Rudd & Witherspoon- or the annoying Wilson sibling. If it comes onto Netflix stream, catch it on a rainy Saturday. Or, better yet, watch their original movie together Overnight Delivery (one of my high school favorites).

Meanwhile, Doaksie and I continue our Japan countdown: 10 more days and our Francis returns!

Doakes, one forlorn puppy without his favorite playmate.

Stripes!

2011-05-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Due to my last venture out to the beach, I realized two things:

1. I no longer have any bathing suits. At one point in time I had a good half dozen lying around but, somehow I've ended up with one extremely unflattering black halter top bikini that has seen better days.

2. Thanks to my deliciously generous cupcake filled diet, my tummy is not quite as firm or flat as it could be.

So as to spare beachcombers and myself the doughy disaster, I have converted to a one piece.

Courtesy of JCrew.

After trying it on, I feel surprisingly slender in it. Guess that says a lot about covering up the belly and (most importantly) my girls feel firmly secure. No more riding the waves in fear of flashing darting fish! Summer, you and I have many a beach dates now.

Pretty & sweet.

2011-05-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

It's that time again. Anthro sale time! If you have not had a chance to walk in lately, don't. Too much temptation!

Pretty pastels.

Please come home with me.

I restrained myself and left without breaking bank. As a reward, I stopped on over by...

!!!

The pastel skirt came home with. As well as a dress, book of love poems, barrettes and another skirt. Obviously, my self control is not quite what some would call golden.

Golden Spade.

2011-05-18T05:00:00.000-05:00

My mom can read minds. Really. Somehow she knew exactly what purse I had been drooling over at Kate Spade and gave it to me as a "supportive wife of a graduate" present. Seriously? You're awesome. Wait. No, she's golden.

I can't decide what I love more: the fact that it's so dainty. The happy colored stripes on the inside or the storage cloth bag with a typical Kate quote.

Love! Love! Love! Off to fill 'er up.

Bookin' part II

2011-05-17T17:23:00.002-05:00

The past few days have flown by and my mind is just barely starting to catch up to the events that have ocurred.

For starters, the coolest person I know (Fran!) is currently sitting on a plane bound for Japan! I know. How awesome is that?! The supportive wife in me is jumping up & down with excitement but then the little girl in me is yelling, "I want to go too!" while stomping her foot. But, it's okay because the deal is that he will channel my shutter-obsessive-tendencies the two weeks he's there along with bringing me back an original Hello Kitty souvenir.

It's only day 1 and already Fran's furry bff is missing him already.

In other news, the HPL annual book sale took place this weekend (3rd year running). My in-laws were gracious enough to accompany me to the $10 brown bag special. It was a little disappointing to arrive at the GRB and see a sparse number of empty tables but I can't complain.

I still came out with a healthy tower of reading supplies!

Including an international edition of the coolest of all wizards (no, not Gandalf)

Also, thanks to my mother in law's suggestion, we detoured to an estate sale. It was my first time ever pulling over and browsing. If you have not been: you are missing out, my friend! I could hit myself just thinking about the past estate sale signs I have driven by in the past. Oh, the things I could have brought home! Somehow, I kept a level head and came home with a few items that did not break the bank:

Not that I need more books but I could not leave these two antiques behind. The colors. The style. The look. The price ($4 for both). Welcome to Mildred, pretties!

But the best find? This beautifully ornate $10 mirror. Yup. TEN DOLLARS. Using Doakes as a measuring tool is not the best of ideas, since he obviously dwarfs everything in his vicinity, but I am so excited about the possibilities for this piece.

And, last but not least: it's official! I am heading on over to KIPP as of June 6th.

I am a bit nervous (hence the crooked smile) but I cannot wait for what's in store- bring it*!

*please don't come back to bite me.

Pops of whimsy.

2011-05-13T13:40:00.001-05:00

The picture-reading-telephone-nook I have envisioned for Mildred. Someday. If nothing else I have the passport and the doggy.

Mildred inspirations

2011-05-11T07:29:00.000-05:00

I stopped by Kate Spade & anthro the other day shopping for gifts. The layouts and presentations had me reaching to click away and eager to come back home ready to remodel.

Kate Spade stop: colors. The aqua wall with the pops of pink. It made me want to run home and put up the YHL wall (with what frames or pictures, I don't know still).

Not going to lie. I am not such a big fan of the "classics". Not really interested in reading The Wind in the Willows (anyone care to endorse it?) or The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (again, even though I did enjoy it in high school). However, the tangerine, aqua and lime colors have me dying to bring them into my bookshelf. The bird wallpaper in the back has me all aflutter, too! As far as anthro's current resgister wall: no words. Simply awe.

It reminded me of the Heights Firehouse wall!
Claudia looks so cute in this picture. Gen looks mad. Heidi & Chiara, working it! Me? Awkward. Wish we had taken more photo advantages with that end of the building...who wants to dress up and snap away?

PS: Ms. S these are both examples of "gallery walls". Love you!

Dippin' into Diptic!

2011-05-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

Want to see my newest after school time warp? Diptic. I had noticed that instagram peeps were managing to load multiple pictures in one setting, which of course intrigued me. After digging around (thanks Kelly!) turns out that for a buck ninety nine, you too can upload multiple pictures into one. Nothing but love on my mind:

Morning prep the day of the wedding.

Gussied up.

He cleans up so good.

Lovelies in purple.

It's go time!

Magic.

Honeyed Irish memories.

Go do it, you'll love it. And, maybe, stay up until 2am on a weeknight playing around with it too.

On a different note, it has me itching to get our wedding album bought and paid for. Donations gladly accepted! Kidding. Sort of...

Movie Monday

2011-05-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

It had been a few weeks since I had sat down to watch a movie so the following reccommendations may be slightly hindered by the movie drought...but don't let this stop you from watching them. So enjoyable!

You Again

Betty White. The girl from Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Jamie Lee Curtis. Sigourney Weaver. Girl cast about high school nemesis. It was not your typical chick flick romp. It was more along the lines of a Freaky Friday meets Mean Girls (minus Lindsey Lohan). There were multiple ha-ha moments (JLC's in particular) and the lines between "villain" and "heroine" are blurred enough to keep you from guessing what's really going to happen. Queue it up!

It's Kind of a Funny Story

Funny, touching, sad, amazing soundtrack...this is not a movie I was fully on board with upon renting but the forlorn 16 year old boy endears himself with his hilarious daydreams and charming relationships with his fellow crazies at the psych ward. There's a song sequence with the psychies rocking out to Bowie's Pressure that I promise is unforgettable- especially because of Zach Galifianakis' glittery beard. If the love story between the 2 teenagers isn't enough: watch it for the soundtrack alone (courtesy of Broken Social Scene).

Highlight song (for me) a cover of the Pixie's Where is My Mind.

So, do you have any movie recommendations? These were hard to come across while strolling Blockbuster. It'd be nice to have a list for next time I go...

Selfless, personified.

2011-05-08T23:05:00.001-05:00

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." -Tenneva Jordan

I have no better way to express the utter devotion and love my mom has bestowed upon us, her family (this includes carting her pink Snuggie around when she'd rather be cozied up inside in order to accompany us anywhere & everywhere). The over-the-top, no holds barred, absolute most giving person I know deserves more than a day & has our baby albums in her closet. Which is why Tuesday (May 10th) she has her Mexican bash taking place as well!

To a "tea-rrific" mother

Wrapping it up fiesta-style

Donation on our way out of the restaurant.

Chinese fortune (statement).

High five on mad gifting skills.

Our family dinner celebrating our awesome mama consisted of Christmas lights (and wreaths). Lots of joshing and questionable food...I wish I had more pictures to share but those will have to hold until my dad gets to sharing them on the libro de caras (aka facebook).

Happy mother's day to one and all!

Someone like Adele!

2011-05-06T07:25:00.000-05:00

I realize I am more than a little late jumping onto the Adele bandwagon. In my defense, I don't listen to the radio (thank you Pandora & NPR). I don't have cable and I rarely like any of the Perez musical suggestions (yeah, that's right, this is where I glean all my Hollywood news).

So, how exactly did Adele fall into my lap? You can blame Pandora fatigue (it happens). I turned the radio on and heard a fun, funky beat followed promptly by a gorgeous, raspy voice. It led to frenetic digging through my purse for my phone (road hazard!) so I could shazam! and bam: Adele rolled up.

You know when you newly discover something (or someone) fascinating, it's like suddenly they are everywhere you look? Either your hyper aware or you are truly roped in that wagon.

She's even popped up in my mailbox.

Between her voice, grace, cream & rose complexion (it's freakin' flawless), style, voice, non-stick figure...I am smitten. I found a video of her singing Someone like you (the ultimate 'cry your heart out in your room alone in the dark' break up song). There's snippets of her home: prepare yourself. It's lovely (and so british).

The ornate headboard? Want it. The gallery wall? Need it. The beautiful gilded mirror? Adore it. Check it all out yourself.

Final dorky thought: wouldn't you love to have her be your friend? She seems like a good person to go out with and have girl talk with. Not to mention, ultimate karoke buddy!

Cinco de mayo (kiddie version)!

2011-05-05T14:49:00.000-05:00

As of right now (planning time) cinco de mayo has consisted of flower making & Macarena rehearsals for tomorrow's program. The adult version has yet to arrive but, in the meantime...

Cropped head & the gang.

Arriba!

A celebrar!

17 more days! 17 more days! Can you believe it?! I really will miss my teeny amigos, though.

Feliz dia del niño!

2011-05-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

In Mexico we have a bajilion celebrations. Day of the Virgin Mary, day of the dead, los reyes magos (all king's day), mother's day (May 10th), dia del grito (independence)...the list goes on and on. Each ocassion warrants a party. And gifts. If we were actually in Mexico, more than likely it would involve alchohol as well.

Saturday, April 30th was "el dia del niño" (children's day). Granted, my siblings and I are a few (okay, many) years over the childhood cut-off date but, let's face the facts: we are kids at heart. After all, the three of us (including our significant others) are all obsessed with toys and various cartoons at our ripe old age.

This, of course, makes my mother very happy and only too willing to go the extra mile to celebrate the day. So, here's a sneak peek at our day (minus poor Fran, who had to work) hopefully next year he and you will adopt the holiday and celebrate with us!

En route with my canine companion

234 eggs awaiting the hunt!

2011 twist: money was involved (including Andrew Jackson's!)

Dahnya-designated egg. Cutie!

Roar!

Teeny easter eggs.

Kids at heart.

Furry little rabbit.

Until next year...

avril: favoris

2011-05-01T06:00:00.006-05:00

It was definitely a busy, busy month. It consisted of 6 day work weeks, the TAKS, birthdays and celebrations galore! Including the menu of menus with one of my favorite people- unfortunately, the pictures documenting the event (along with Claud's birthday) were lost when I synced my new phone. Does anyone know how I could ever recuperate the pictorial memories?!

Along with instagram, I am hooked to words with friends. The dictionary has become my new best friend. Although, quite honestly, I have lost almost every game.

My little, stinky, furry Bimbo! He's still as dapper as ever. Even with a dozen years on him.

Mildred has some wacky neighbors. A quirky sighting on my way to pilates.

Where has the time gone?! Yearbooks were distributed this month. In my book, school is almost finito (5 more weeks!).

TQLA night with a gang of hilarious ladies! If you have not gone. GO. The green salsa is one of a kind. It's sweet pineapple (or mango?) with a kick!

Fran's senior thesis!

May is going to be a welcome break. Summertime, here we come! Hopefully Beach Church will start taking over Brunch Sunday...

Royally obsessed.

2011-04-30T20:51:00.004-05:00

Yup. I fell into one of the 3 billion people that became fascinated with the wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton (now Duchess Catherine of Cambridge). But, it makes sense.

a. I love all things wedding related.

b. I had a royal crush on Prince William back when I was 14 (remember the YM cover back in 8th grade?)

c. I tend to get caught up in the latest sensation of the moment (I'm easily influenced).
.

Grace, beauty, joy, love. LOVE.

My only complaint? The US of A could have used the day off to recuperate from the early morning shindig

But, to take it one step further...while perusing pictures of the couple departing for their honeymoon (or wherever), please take note of HRH Kate's shoes.

Which leads me to my royal obsession: finding Kate's espadrilles for myself. As of today, all I have located are a pair of Steve Madden knock offs. Jessica Simpson also has a pair (patent and open-toed).

They seem quite high, though. Would they be at all comfortable? Or, am I getting caught up in the royal fever? They just seem like a great summer must!

If you find yourself trying on a pair, please let a girl know.

PS: I am still on the hunt for my gold flats, fyi.

Infer! Infer!

2011-04-26T22:26:00.001-05:00

5 months, 7 field trips, tons of documentation and 64 hours of tutorials later: the day of true reckoning has arrived.

Please note, David (far right) and his exuberance.

I am a nervous wreck. Tomorrow is the TAKS reading test for my kids. THE test that determines whether or not they continue onto the 5th grade. It's a huge burden for a 9 year old to bear. Especially when you take into account the shoddy circumstances they found themselves in last year and the beginning of this year.

I have done the best I possibly could, considering the limited time we had. I hope it was enough!

If nothing else,this goodie bag's purpose is to sweeten them up for what is a very long day of four long, boring stories along with a good amount of analytical thinking (otherwise known as inferring). Was being a kid this hard when we were 9? Sheesh.

It goes without saying that tomorrow the G teach will be sugared up on the left over Twix bars. Self control, be damned.

He bangs! He bangs!

2011-04-24T20:46:00.004-05:00

Back in February I explained my utter love and devotion for Mr. Ricky Martin. Today, ladies and gentleman, I would like to declare that my love has grown by leaps and bounds after watching him perform live! Considering I had come down with a mild case of the flu two nights before, I believe him to be the miracle to my cure. (Seriously, I almost didn't make it to Fran's huge opening I felt like such crap).

My mom, the best mom in the entire universe, surprised Claudia and I with the tickets! We arrived two hours before the show (due to me not reading the fine print) to find rockstar parking. Claudia may not agree but the time waiting flew by rather quickly. Between the free Monster, souvenir buying and my television interview (yes! tune in Wednesday) it was a huge shock to walk into floor access seats. I felt like the luckiest of girls.

I know, ultimate dork move. I was on a Ricky high!

Free advertising: the orange Monster was delicious (and its not just because I was on cloud 9).

Can you feel my excitement?!

Sold out and oh-so close!

Right when the lights went out and pandemonium broke because we all knew the moment we'd been waiting for had arrived there was a montage of Ricky pictures...one of those that flashed...HELLO!

And the rest, is history.

Without a doubt one of the best nights of my life (taking a close third after my wedding and post-boda). It was a twenty year wait but totally worth it. Thank you to my mom and sister for shrieking and dancing alongside me. You guys are the best!

PS: I have come to the conclusion that my husband resembles my teen idol. And I don't think it's just me attempting to justify my wild screaming from the night before. Even luckier!

Hair-larious!

2011-04-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

(whomp, whomp)

About a year ago, Netflix placed the Chris Rock documentary, Good Hair in my hands. If you need a laugh and an education in one sitting, this will do it for you (just shut off the last 20 minutes of it).

You may be wondering why I am recommending a movie I watched so far back. Well, please take the time to read the following open letter to white people with dreadlocks. I couldn't help but make the correlation and I also, couldn't help the constant snickers.

Pretty lil' things.

2011-04-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

What makes a perfect spring day in the life of a teacher? Off-campus training that lets you off the hook, early! I took full advantage of the two hours of freedom and diligently ran errands that had been awaiting me (sort of, not really). But with my new prescription of contact lenses conveniently waiting for me next to anthro, I stopped by to window shop and found myself wishing for a bigger paycheck. Although, realistically, this seems to be the song & dance we play, anthro & I.

Bling for my mane.

Sailboats!

The new initial mugs. Wouldn't they make for great centerpieces?

Fran, be proud: I left empty handed. But all three are on my hit list. Too bad my birthday isn't for another six months, zut.

Scent & Sensibility

2011-04-06T06:00:00.002-05:00

While out running errands the other day, I stopped by Garden Center- hoping to walk away with a kill-proof plant that I could plop down for a splash of spring. With bright azaleas overtaking my neighbors gardens, I'm starting to get a bit of gardening envy when I spy our naked lawn.

The moment I stepped out of my car a soft, tangy aroma began to overpower my senses. Jasmines. Instantly I was transported back to spring of 2005.

Back when I was living in Guinan the jasmine wrapped around the fence enveloped the entire block in its perfume. I remember banging out of my first floor dorm (since I always lost my key) and rushing to class (since I always overslept) but stopping to sniff what soon came to be my favorite plant.

But the true importance of the flower? Our first date, March 9th, had Fran and I meeting outside Guinan. To this day, I cannot recall the movie or dinner we shared but the moment the essence of jasmine hits me, I instantly see the look in Fran's eye and feel the butterflies bouncing within me that evening (cue the sap).

Landing back on earth (or Garden Center's parking lot), I quickly walked over to the jasmine plants knowing I had found my winning pot- I was so excited! Here I was about to take a happy memory home to Mildred and show my neighbors that I, too could be a responsible gardener. As I pranced and sniffed my way to the flowers, my gardening dreams soon poofed into dust the moment I spotted the $149 price tag on its limbs.

Did anyone else know plants were so g.d. expensive?! As I ran the figure through my head and cross referenced it with our bank account, I knew there was no way I could justify my love for the plant with its expense. Especially with my plant mortality record. Dejected, I took one more big whiff from its velvety petals and walked away empty handed.

For the record, I did glance around their selection but nothing smelled or looked quite as good as my jasmine tree. Even the wide array of bluebonnets failed to tempt me. But that's probably due more to the fact that I can drive out to any field nowadays and pick them. For free. Albeit illegally...

Mildred will just have to adjust to her naked garden status for now. Something else is sure to pop up!

Brag book, volume 2

2011-04-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

With Fran's thesis show at the end of the month fellow artiste extraordinaire, Debra, stopped by for a studio visit with Fran. What was really cool- she made an actual post (with pictures) of Fran's projects.

I found it fascinating to read about my husband's work through someone else's eyes. What he bounces off on my untrained mind on a daily basis becomes infinitely richer and deeper when seen through the lens of another. This is also a great follow up (and explanation) to the infamous pig roast that took place a few weeks back...

Is it wrong that I puffed up a bit when I saw Deb's shout out to me at the end? Go me! Kidding, but seriously, Doakes really did almost try to eat us. He's going through a bit of a chomping stage, folks. It's led to me becoming ninja warrior on him to prove who is truly Alpa.

But, because he's so darn cute I have a hard time holding a grudge against my chompy chomperson (so much more on that later).

mars: favoris

2011-04-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Lately, every time the end of the month rolls around I feel as if I'm only beginning to get my bearings. I hope my sanity returns by the end of April (aka, no more TAKS).

Sgt. Doakes and his sweet gaze. I melt anytime he looks at me with those "love me, please" puppy eyes.

My kindle and romance novels are a lethal combination. In all seriousness, I have read 17 books in the past two months. Can you say addicted? If you're in the market for a steamy romance- hit me for a recommendation.

The Garcia's. Woke up early, brought bubbles and donuts to spend a full day with me & my students at the park.

Liz Lemon & co. are the kings of comedy in my book at the moment. I cannot wait to get further into the seasons, a little bird told me Matt Damon makes a multi-guest arc.

(If you were a Will & Grace fan, was his guest appearance not one of the show's most hilarious story lines ever? I beg you to differ.)

Love fest.

2011-04-03T21:38:00.002-05:00

Lately, I have been on a "happy-ending-cheesy-chick-flick" bender. It's been a little worse than usual, poor Fran. But, since I am married to the biggest teddy bear in the world, his moaning & groaning soon tapers off the moment he too becomes engrossed with the love stories I love to watch.

If you are in the mood for some Blockbuster (or Netflix/Redbox) action, here are three to tide you over:

1. Life as we know it

No lie, it took about four trips to the movie store for me to finally find it on the shelves. By the time I found it, I was worried I had set my expectations too high and it would suck. Wrong! It had me laughing, crying and sighing with happiness by the time the rolling credits rolled. Also, Josh in tighty-whities? Not to be a cliche but, OMG! Fergie is one lucky lady (adulterous rumors be damned).

2. The Switch

By now, you know I am a huge Jen Aniston fan which may make my recommendation of The Switch slightly biased. But this is not a Rachel movie. It is not a Jason Bateman movie. It is all about the sweet little boy. I fell in love with him and his big, lovable brown eyes. The chemistry between him and Jason is beyond adorable. If you can get past the hurried ending (or at least it seemed that way to me), you too will be squealing with utter delight anytime Sebastian is on the screen.

3. Love & Other Drugs

Gotta admit, I was not too keen on watching Jake and Anne- that's saying a lot, considering I love both of them.The story line did not have me rushing to the theatres (blame the prude in me). But, two hours later, I was converted. Beware: there is a lot of the 3 b's (bare bosoms and butts) but, believe you me, Jake's butt is something to behold along with his baby blues. I kept bracing myself for the saddest of endings but other than a slew of happy tears and laughs I found myself falling in love with the film (even with the plethora of steamy sex scenes).

And now back to my Liz Lemon fest. Thank you, Netflix!

Q & A: fail

2011-03-24T15:17:00.006-06:00

Almost exactly two weeks ago I had the most painful interview of my life. To begin with, it took place in a health food cafe right behind UH, which wouldn't have been so awkward if I hadn't been the only one in there wearing heels, her lucky BR interview dress and crisp, black blazer. Hello! Sore thumb amidst the tie-dye and hemp sandals.

The requisite 15 minutes early arrival passed by with me waiting patiently at a slightly crumby table as I watched the people around me munching on greasy looking "healthy" sandwiches. After the set interview time came and went, I took out my phone thinking I had mixed up the times, only to confirm that a) the lady was late and b) the internet was slow inside the restaurant. Back to people watching it was (luckily, it's a great pastime).

After another ten minutes, she finally showed up in jeans and hungry. That's right, she dropped off her bag at the table I was sitting and hustled over to the line to pick up a bag of chips. Um, hi- the casual dress memo would have been useful? Thanks.

So, fast forward another five minutes and after the initial introductions, the interview is officially underway. The first question that pops up: what do you dream of?

Picture the following: professional Dahnya, all dolled up, doing her best to keep the high notes out of her voice and mentally reviewing the "what are your strengths/weaknesses" answers. Then follow up with Dahnya's blank stare, open mouthed gape and a cricket-filled silence.

Seriously, guys. What is the proper interview answer to such a question? Do I pull an MLK situation-like answer? Or do I enthrall her with my saga-like dreams about the zombie apocalypse and my newly acquired skills to survive the wilderness a la Little House on the Prairie?

Neither sound to be correct so instead I go with, brace yourselves, "I dream of a world where every child is ensured a quality education".

Barf. Yes, I truly do wish that to be the case but, how lame an answer is that?! Don't worry, I did expand upon the answer with how I make sure my students receive the best of me, yada yada but I was drenched in Cliche eau de toilette right out of the starting gate. I could only hope the next question would help improve matters...

Hope sprang eternal but was quickly shut down by, "what makes you cry"?

This time, I couldn't help it: I laughed. Out loud. To her face.

This is probably the part where she mentally Sharpie'd me off her list as potential employee but, I cannot say I regret it.

Any HR experts care to analyze the logical, srategic understanding of what a potential employer might glean from me answering what causes my tears to fall? Did she really want to know what has me blubber like a baby? Because this does. Every time.

Along with PS I love You and every other sappy romantic comedy. Which basically tells her, I'm a hopeless romantic who loves animals and is a sucker for (some) bad movies.

From there the interview went down the lines of normalville, all the rote questions one would expect. But, I never recovered from the first two freezes and needless to say, no. I did not get the job.

May this public broadcast help you in your future interview endeavors because I would be curious to know how you would answer such trippy questions...

PS: My "lucky" BR dress has been relegated to ordinary after undergoing such a stint.

Closing time.

2011-03-20T19:25:00.002-06:00

Alas, the time has come. Spring break is finito. Done. Over.

Back to early mornings.
Late tutorials.
Endless meetings.
Trainings.

However, I must admit, I do miss some (key word) of the kids. The hardest part is just waking up so early. I could be wrong but, maybe if work started at 9, I wouldn't whine so much. When my alarm goes off at 5- every instinct in me writhes with absolute horror. Only 53 more days and I can go back to rolling out of bed minus an alarm and spending endless time with Fran and Doakes. Summer, I can smell you now!

In other news:

my neighbors have aroused the busybody in me. The possibilities as to what they could be doing abounds: digging a homemade pool, searching for treasure, burying a corpse, burying evidence...

Day 5.

2011-03-18T15:02:00.002-06:00

Thanks to the sound fashion advice from various ladies, I attempted to conquer the missing case of my future gold flats with absolute no luck. Again.

However, I did find that the outlets had a good amount of sales that led to me being a bit overly zealous with our bank account. Again. Otherwise:

After a year of avoiding the dreaded blast of air in my eyes, I sucked it up and visited Dr. Farmer (she's amazing, I've been going to her for 5 years now and is one of the nicest people I've met).

Cupcakes for St. Paddy's day.

The discovery that the Frosted Betty bakery is opening up in two weeks- ice cream parlor included! Doakes and I will be steady clients come the summertime.

And, an alien invader.

As you can tell my fascination with instagram shows no waning interest hence the random twists and turns with the photos.

Which reminds me, while perusing my google reader I finally found an idea that I liked from the YHL peeps (love their posts, not so huge a fan of their style). I'm going to start hunting for funky, ornate frames and see if I can get Fran to jump on this bandwagon. Wish me luck. He hates the cheese factor prefering "edgy art". Probably not really his words but, more than likely, if I love it. He hates it. Ugh. Boys.

Two days before work kicks back into action. Must go back to savoring the act of doing: nothing. Ah...