Ireland Bound

Suitcases are packed, passports ready to go...tomorrow we are off to Ireland!!  So excited to spend quality time with my husband, drink a few pints, and explore this lush land together.  

I'll report back soon!

Kalimotxo

Have you ever had a Kalimotxo?  I had never even heard of this beverage until I spied it on pinterest.  At first glance it sounds a little...well...unusual, red wine + coke, I mean I never would've thought to put those two together.  But the more I think about it, I'm intrigued...  My logic: Coca cola seems to do wonders in recipes, so why not pair it with another beverage.

Have you ever made/had a kalimotxo before?

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Summer Vacation Begins Now!

SCHOOL'S....OUT...FOR...SUMMER!

Hooray!  Amidst a handful of tears, and a whole lot of hugs, our 2011-2012 school year ended today.   It was a fun day, despite ringing in summer vacation with record breaking rainfall instead sun...womp, womp, womp.  

But what's most exciting is....Ireland in T-minus 5 days! Woohoo!

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Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful Dad!

We love you!!

Dinner Last Night: Indian Butter Chicken

You really can't go wrong with the crock pot, and once again, come dinner time, it prevailed.  Hallelujah!  Indian Butter Chicken a la crock pot, you were flavorful and delicious, and wonderfully easy to make. Thank you dearly, and you can bet I will be making you again!

What are your go-to crock pot recipes?

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Another School Year Drawing to a Close

Only 7 more school days until the end of the year...

I can hardly believe it!

One thing I love about teaching is that it is a cycle.  A new school year begins, full of excitement, new names, faces, and personalities to learn, and a brand new classroom community to cultivate. Throughout the first few weeks and months, a rapport is built, an understanding of the rules, an expectation of respect and responsibility.  Students learn, grow, and grow, and grow some more, both in maturity, age, and height!  Then, as April rolls into May, and May into June, it ends.  All of that time hard work, and effort invested into each individual student is forwarded onto the next teacher, who will continue the process. Students leave older, wiser, and ideally more mature than when they entered.  Summer break follows, the a welcome cleanse to any worries, troubles or challenges that might have overshadowed a school year.  And then, in September, it starts all up again.  

How many people can say that they get to essentially "start over" with a clean slate every year in their profession?  Not very many I presume.  I always find myself reflecting as a school year draws to a close.  It's a bittersweet time of year - because the end is inevitable, it's a foregone conclusion.  I'm sad to see them go once we have established this comfortable rapport as "family" of sorts.  But... not going to lie, summer vacation isn't half bad either!  

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Mr. Darcy

Today I'm enjoying a lazy, Pride and Prejudice kind of Saturday.  It's positively lovely!  As I'm relaxing on the couch, sipping my coffee, and observing handsome, brooding Mr. Darcy, I discovered many Darcyisms hiding on pinterest...

{Mr. Darcy print}

{Pride & Prejudice children's board book}

{Mr. Darcy proposal tote bag}

Vacation Reading

With our Ireland trip just 3 short weeks away, we are getting excited!  I'm mentally mapping out outfits, highlighting places to see + dine in my guidebook, and perusing amazon in search of worthy books to add to my trusty kindle for our journey.  Here's a few of my recent reads:

+ The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball

+ Bloom by Kelle Hampton

+ Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson

+ 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James

+ Bringing up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman

As I'm typing this and rereading my words, I'm thinking Wow, that's an eclectic collection of recent reads...farmer memoir, blogger memoir, another blogger memoir, soft-core porn smut, capped off with a memoir of motherhood in France.  What a well rounded reader I am...haha...

Anyway, I need some titles to download for our 10 hour flights.  What DO you recommend?  What have you been reading lately?

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Quote of the Week

"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely."

~ Louisa May Alcott

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Pitch Perfect

I cannot tell you how much I LOVE Kate Middleton in this dress.  Wow!  The color, the cut, the lace, it is utter perfection.  I just wish I had a copy of this Jenny Packham gown hanging in my closet, it is simply stunning on the glamorous princess. Love, love, love her style!

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