Friday, March 29, 2013

Happy Easter




I jumped on the ombre wagon.

But not with my hair. I'm too particular about keeping my hair healthy and strong to dye it.

We had so much fun coloring eggs that The Man wants to do it again this weekend. We didn't end up with many because The Boy kept cracking them to eat before they were colored! Way too crazy for me!

Happy Easter!

Reflections on the Cross

This morning I received this in my email from Women Living Well
I'd like to share it with you!

Today we remember. 
(Taken from Matthew 27)
 We remember…
 the betrayal for 30 pieces of silver
the flogging
the crown of thorns
the purple robe
the sign “Hail, King of the Jews!”
the strike on Jesus’ face
the crowd shouting “Crucify Him!”


the long walk to Golgotha carrying the cross

the nails in his hands

the nails in his feet

DARKNESS

the words “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

the temple curtain torn in two from top to bottom

the earth trembling


the guards exclaiming “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Life is in the blood –the precious blood of Jesus.


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Homemade Lemon Peppermint Tea

Don't tell The Man...I'm using his Kuwait mug!
I've been struggling to make it through this never-ending winter. This tea is helping me get through it. It's mild and mellow and easily adjusted. Heat up your tea pot - it's tea time!

Lemon Peppermint Tea
1-2 slices of lemon
8-12 fresh mint leaves
1-2 thin shavings fresh ginger (optional)
1/8-inch piece vanilla bean (optional)
1 tsp honey (or to taste)

Heat water in your preferred method. I love my tea pot. Toss ingredients into favorite mug (or stolen mug). Pour very hot water over. Let steep. Enjoy!



Saturday, March 23, 2013

Brain Brigade Store

I have been blessed the past few months to have a full to do list, especially when looking at my design projects. I am thrilled that one of my projects is working with my dad to help share his teaching knowledge acquired over 35 years with other teachers.
We are slowly getting his "store"off the ground at TeachersPayTeachers. It is so exciting too see this dynamic resource where teachers can support one another while also gathering innovative ideas.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Extra Green Guacamole

I used to be known for spending hours in the kitchen. If you had a time-consuming, pain-in-the-neck-inducing recipe - I was the girl for the job! Complicated instructions. Detail oriented. Particular.

But it was worth every overly nerotic nuance almost every time!

Then, along came The Boy. Now, I spend countless hours each week cooking for him. He is allergic to dairy and soy and we suspect something is going on with wheat and his digestive system. My cooking has gone from dream hobby to complete necessity. My child wouldn't eat much if I didn't spend time in the kitchen.

I also watch my nephew after school for a few hours and he likes to eat. So when you add it all up, I'm generally in the kitchen for about half of the day either cooking or cleaning up (which has been dramatically reduced since my awesome husband jumped on my bandwagon to install a dishwasher in our very old pre-dishwasher home just a few short weeks ago! Maybe I'll write a post on that one too one of these days. Dishwasher: Best. Invention. EVER.).

Back to the story. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

I haven't been particularly creative with my own food much in part to the fact that I have to be creative with The Boy's food. Today, however, I wanted something fresh and spring-like for lunch even if the weather outside wasn't exactly screaming "SPRING IS HERE!" (unless 15 degrees is spring-like for you - then you should probably go. I whine a lot about the cold.). As I was dishing up plates of food for the boys, I was trying to figure out what I could make for lunch that wasn't a straight-up salad but was still healthy and incorporated some green.

As I plated my not-so-fancy child lunch of their but favorite scrambled eggs, carrots and dip, and sliced avocado I realized that I wanted an avocado too. I noticed a few cherry tomatoes withering away on my counter. I was thrilled! I could make guacamole! Yes! Noooo. Noooooooo. No. I can't eat straight up guac for lunch. Yes it's green, but I needed more. Plus I'm out of tortilla chips.

I had a vague memory of a kale-guac recipe my family made a year or two ago and decided to replicate it. I was out of kale, but did have spinach.

The results were pretty awesome. Filling. And not too guilt-inducing. Considering that I'd rather eat a bag of jelly beans this time of year to try and keep up my winter layers (pudge) to stay warm during our incredible "spring". Did I mention that I dislike the cold? Whatever. This was better than jelly beans.


Give it a try. Simple. Green. Hurry-Up-Spring in a bowl.

Here is the recipe for my Extra Green Guacamole:

2 large handfuls of fresh spinach - chopped well
1/2 avocado
1/4-1/2 cup chopped tomatoes (to taste)
Up to 1 TB lime juice (I like lime)
Salt - to taste
Pepper - to taste
Garlic - to taste
Fresh jalapeno - to taste (if not allergic like me)

Using a fork or potato masher combine ingredients. Add lime, salt, pepper, garlic and jalapeno to suit your taste preferences. Eat straight up using a fork like a salad or more sophisticated scooping with broken pieces of tostada. Like me. Or wrap in white corn tortillas.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Better than a McDonald's Shamrock Shake

Shamrock Martini

Out of desperation we concocted an incredible martini. I'm not even wasting time with a fun story.

Just follow this incredible recipe right now:

Shamrock Martini
1 oz Creme de Menthe
1 oz Whipped Cream Vodka
2.5 oz Half and Half

Fill shaker with ice. Add all three ingredients. Shake it up. Strain it out. If you feel like it, top with a little cocoa or chocolate shavings. Sip slowly!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

KMKool

K visiting her aunts in the south!
My niece inspired me to get back on the blogtrack. Wow how time has managed to get away from me!

Stop by her blog - she just got it up and running. I hope to help her with some graphics when she needs something. That's what aunties do, right?

She's an adorable nine-year-old busy with school and gymnastics. She has a knack for fashion and a great sense of humor. She probably takes after me. Ha! I only wish!

Here's to you, K! Best of luck on your first blog!