10 things I like and 10 things I don't like

Still sick- stayed home from school today again- here is some randomness

10 things I don't like

1. english peas- they squish in your mouth and you are left with that awkward shell
2. doing laundry (too many steps)
3. blow drying my hair
4. cold weather
5. confrontation
6. olives
7. ground beef
8. ironing
9. people who are prejudice
10. catty women

10 things I like

1. brand new crayons
2. cheeto puffs
3. travelling
4. bike riding
5. social networking
6. celebrity gossip
7. chocolate
8. being out on the water
9. babies
10. animals

sick day

I love blogging, although sometimes I have a lot to say and could make 3 posts a day and then others I'm scrounging to find something to write.

I haven't been feeling well the last few days and I went and got flu and strep swabbed- both turned out negative, but the did a culture on the strep to see if it grows into strep. I got a z-pack so I should be good as new soon.

I promise I'll be back with peppy posts soon! The gloomy weather and my sore throat are not very conducive to happy blogging.

beautiful Louisiana

On Sunday, John David, PJ, Eleanor, and I took the boat out on the Tchefuncte River- the boat launch is a couple of blocks down the street from my house and it runs all the way to Lake Ponchartrain. Here are some pictures of why I love Louisiana.

It looks kind of gloomy in this picture, but this is where the Tchefuncte meets Lake Ponchartrain- a lot of boats stop at this beach to swim. Behind the beach is  marshy/swamp land.

Barnacles on the washed up tire

I cut my foot on a barnacle collected drift wood with Eleanor.. staph infection here I come

PJ decided to try the cast net out

On his second cast he caught a Bass! I think we were looking for crawfish... needless to say this was the only thing we caught except sticks

so proud







After we cruised the river we had a cook out :-)

and played cornhole

change of plans

This was what my original plan for my night was...

I really had great intentions and I was pretty excited to start working on my beach bod.. haha

So I went to pump up the balance ball and there was a huge hole in it! I'm going to return it to target this week and try again.

Since I couldn't work out, this seemed like the logical thing to do.

I made Easter Spring Nest cupcakes!

They are made of yellow cake (homemade not box) with light green classic frosting. This is the second time in a row that I have made homemade cake and frosting and it is worth it for sure- they taste soooo much better, and it really isn't that much harder.

Once the icing was piped on I melted almond bark (my recent arch enemy) in the microwave for 2 30 second intervals- Then I coated chow mein noodles in the candy coat- while it was still warm I made little nests on top of the cupcakes and topped them with jelly bean eggs and m&m eggs.

I love holiday candies and desserts- they are so fun! I have a couple more Easter baking projects that I want to do over the next month so stay tuned for those :-)

Also, I really do plan on exchanging the workout ball/dvd set and I want to start the program soon!

Music Monday

Sorry I was a bit absent from the blogging world the last few days.. I had a very busy weekend! I will make a post tonight with pictures.

a favorite song from high school

San Dimas High school  Football Rules- The Ataris- I don't think this was the official video
I was so obsessed with this band in high school- they are really catchy punk/pop


a favorite song from college

Your Guardian Angel- The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
This is the best song to sing at the top of your lungs in the car

a current favorite song




The Cave- Mumford and Sons
I am so excited that I will get to see Mumford and Sons play at Jazz Fest in New Orleans next month!

The best thing about Sundays on the internet... continued

I am going to post another 10 of my favorite postsecret postcards that I have saved over the years. If you have not ever heard of postsecret I encourage you to check them out today (click here)- it is a great project. New postcards are added every Sunday.

Friday Favorites

Glitter nail polish

My whole life I have always loved glitter- if you get me a glitter birthday card I will love you forever- I have Sinful Colors glitter nail polish in 3 colors from Walgreens

Neutrogena face lotion with sunscreen and a light tint

I recently realized my face lotion didn't have any spf- so I switched to this- I love the light tint too because let's face it, I'm pale.

My Nook Color

I love this thing because I can get magazines subscriptions on it and they are way cheaper than buying them in the store. I only hate that you can't see it in the sun- I bought this in the winter so I wasn't thinking about sunny days- and also here in Southern Louisiana there won't be many more days that it will be bearable to sit outside for any length of time so my purchase is justified.

petit fours and cupcakes

I love these!!

Reality TV (I can't help it)



6 weird ways my brain works

1. I have a crazy good memory- I can remember being under 2 years old and can accurately describe the condo my dad lived in down to the plant under the stairs, bathtub toys, and the layout of the kitchen- I normally win bets on what year such and such happened

2. I never have to use a planner- I can almost see time in my head- each day looks different as well as each hour- so if I am trying to remember what I am doing next Wednesday I can flip to what Wednesdays look like in my head and search down to the time slot and see what is going on

3. Each year looks different in my head- it isn't really a color, but it is abstract- age 2 looks different than age 5

4. I can hear a song and tell you what season and what year it came out- while I was in school I sorted them by what grade I was in Ex: Sisco- Thong Song- Summer of 2000, Outkast- Shake it like a polaroid picture- Fall/Winter of 11th grade

5. I don't have to use a calendar- I can normally tell you what day of the week a future date will be- up to a few months

6. If I ever knew your phone number by heart I probably still know it.. I can remember my best friend from 1st grade's number

powerful

Girls Night

Last night I went to New Orleans to have dinner with my best friend Katharine. In my mind I feel like New Orleans is like across the universe, but it is really like 45 minutes away and not that bad of a drive at all.

Katharine and I went to this cutie restaurant in downtown called Cafe Degas.. I didn't take any pictures so these are stolen off of the internet.

We got an awesome cheese board and salads with goat cheese.

Yesterday I saw a commercial for Crayola's Metallic Color Wonder Markers.. I know that the color wonder stuff is a load of crap because you have to have the certain paper and it is a market ploy.. but I need these!!!

addicted to caffeine

I lost the battle this morning and had to cave in and drink a coke. (not an actual coke- a diet mountain dew- here in the south we call all soft drinks coke and then you say what kind and then you clarify- yes it's a waste of time not just saying what you want in the first place but you know..)

In January and February the faculty in my school did a biggest loser weight loss challenge I weaned myself off of regular cokes and started drinking diet. I never thought that day would come. With a combination of sugar free drinks and weight watchers I lost 8 lbs! So since the challenge I try to only drink one caffeinated drink per day and I drink it at lunch which is something to look forward to- today I couldn't make it even to 8:00. Total fail.

productive tuesday

I teach 10-12th graders in the Discovery Center at my school- basically the students come to me as an elective in groups of 2 or 3 daily- I am a support class and I make sure they have what they need for the week organizationally, know what is going on, reteach any missed information, and I make sure they are receiving any 504 accommodations in the classroom. Today, the 11th graders were out on a field trip so I only had to be at school for 3 periods today. The problem was I had to come for first, was off 2 and 3, had to come for 4th, off for lunch and 5th, and then back for 6th- so it was back and forth all day. Luckily I live within 7 minutes of school so it wasn't a big deal.

I was super productive today in my off time! I dropped off clothes at the thrift store- then I went next door to a feed and seed shop and picked up a flat of vegetables to plant in my garden. I had bought some packs of seeds earlier this year, but it just takes the seeds so long to grow- and I am a bad gardener in that seed stage when you have to grow them in the little cups. Today I bought watermelon, eggplant, yellow squash, cucumber, zucchini, and thyme.

On my second break of the day I went to the grocery store because I was in a baking mood and then went home to fold laundry (bleh).

When I came home today I planted my plants- my garden is really full now!

Altogether I have strawberries, lettuce, red and yellow peppers, eggplant, squash, zucchini, cucumber, onions, watermelon, and asparagus.

Raspberries

Blueberries

It was so nice out today that I decided to lay out in the backyard this afternoon.

Dieter friends LOOK AWAY NOW!

I really was in a baking mood and I had strawberries in the refrigerator that I didn't want to spoil so I decided to make a pound cake.. I realize that you can eat strawberries without pound cake, but where is the fun in that? I also had read on a blog today about Rocky Road Rice Krispie treats- Yum- so I made those too!

These will rock your world! I may or may not have eaten a large portion of this before it made it to the pan

Rocky Road Rice Krispie Treats from the Tasty Kitchen Blog.. here is the recipe. (I added more marshmallows (1 1/2 c) and rice krispies- 2 cups and a a little oil)

• 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• ½ cups Peanut Butter
• ½ cups Nutella
• ½ cups Mini Marshmallows
• ¼ cups Pecans
• ¾ cups Rice Krispies

Melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter and nutella for 2 minutes in the microwave.I melted some marshmallows too. Stir.
Mix in the extra marshmallows and pecans. Fold in the Rice Krispies.
Pour mixture into a well-greased 8×8 glass baking dish. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Optional: top with extra pecan pieces and marshmallows.



After I made that I made my great grandmother's pound cake. The miracle of the day is that the pound cake came out of the pan perfectly.. the little things make me happy :-)

Saying a little prayer over the pound cake for it to come out beautiful and not stuck

Pound cake success!

 See?!

If only I could make some money out of all of this baking love.

This picture is from a vacation 2 years ago- The cup says "I do many things well.. none of which generate income" Story.of.my.life.

I cooked dinner somewhere in the middle of all of this dessert eating, but that can be for another post!