At the beginning of the year, I started out with grand ideas that I would be able to: teach full time, pour my heart into starting a new business, cook dinner every night, save money, and run two blogs (not to mention be devoted to a strong marriage and maintain meaningful relationships). While many of these things happened (insert shameless plug for Signature, Ink. here), running two blogs, cooking every night, and saving money, haven't done so well. Thus, I'm just doing THIS blog, and to stay committed to cooking every night (or at least planning our meals), I'm updating you with our weekly menu. Hopefully it will save us money along the way!
8.14 Sunday--Jack Daniel's Chicken sandwiches (one of the pre-made dinners I'm okay with because it's seriously awesome!)
8.15 Monday--Italian beef (Thank you, CrockPot! Leftovers frozen for next time we have Italian beef.)
8.16 Tuesday--Shrimp linguine (1st day back to school. Crazy!
8.17 Wednesday--Chicken patties w/ Mac & Cheese (Michael's current favorite. Who needs kids when your husband eats like one?!)
8.18 Thursday--Stuffed peppers
8.19 Leftovers--Fridays will always be leftover night. We cannot eat all this food the night it's
made!
8.20 Homemade Pizza
Keep me accountable--all three of you who read this on a regular basis! :)
Monday, August 15, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Lazy days.
With government cutbacks impacting so much of the country, it's no surprise that our little family has been touched. For the second year in a row Michael has had to take one mandatory day off--or furlough day--for the first nineteen pay periods of the year. Are we hurting? No. Would the extra money be nice? Yes. But, ironically this is not a complaint of any kind. In fact it has afforded us mini vacations this summer because every other weekend he has three days off. The result? Lazy days.
Today will include LOTS of coffee, blogging, reading blogs, watching DVR episodes of Shark Week, playing with the dogs in the yard, and possibly hanging our new mirror from Ikea. We'll end the day with dinner with the Hoyle clan. Hope you have a lazy weekend too.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Two years & counting...
Yesterday Michael and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary. It was seriously a wonderful day and evening. There are so many things about the past two years for which I am grateful, but having Michael by my side is truly what I treasure most. I'm amazed and thankful for how much we have grown separately and together in the past years. Conversations we have now wouldn't necessarily have been possible in 2009. It's strange because when I married him, I thought I knew him completely. However, since our wedding, I've been happy to discover that there's a lot that I have to learn about my husband. My guess is that he feels similarly about me. While I realize that we are, by all accounts, still in the "honeymoon" stage of our marriage, the trials and upsets that we've endured in our relationship thus far make me confident in our ability to take future challenges head on.
One thing I'm coming to love about anniversaries is that they offer us the opportunity to look back as we look ahead. Our wedding day was perfect. I'm sure most brides say that about their day, but I'm serious, it was without fault.
When I think about that day, I remember the butterflies before walking down the aisle that almost kept me from putting my blusher over my face (thanks for noticing that one, Dad!).
I remember Michael waiting for me at the front of the church looking dashing and yet, slightly nervous. I remember cursing my English major self for writing vows that seemed to last an eternity, but when I watch them now, I'm grateful that I made those promises.
I remember not caring that it was sprinkling rain as we rain to our car.
And I remember our reception, our wonderfully blemish free reception. That party holds many memories, dancing with my daddy, singing "Build Me Up Buttercup" with my sister, priceless pictures with loved ones, dancing until the lights came back on, and so many more.
But I cherish the first dance I had with my husband because "our" song is "Home," and that's just what Michael is for me.
One thing I'm coming to love about anniversaries is that they offer us the opportunity to look back as we look ahead. Our wedding day was perfect. I'm sure most brides say that about their day, but I'm serious, it was without fault.
When I think about that day, I remember the butterflies before walking down the aisle that almost kept me from putting my blusher over my face (thanks for noticing that one, Dad!).
I remember Michael waiting for me at the front of the church looking dashing and yet, slightly nervous. I remember cursing my English major self for writing vows that seemed to last an eternity, but when I watch them now, I'm grateful that I made those promises.
I remember not caring that it was sprinkling rain as we rain to our car.
And I remember our reception, our wonderfully blemish free reception. That party holds many memories, dancing with my daddy, singing "Build Me Up Buttercup" with my sister, priceless pictures with loved ones, dancing until the lights came back on, and so many more.
But I cherish the first dance I had with my husband because "our" song is "Home," and that's just what Michael is for me.
HOME
by: Chantal Kreviazuk
Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
And if you knew how happy you are making me
I never thought that I'd love anyone so much
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way the back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
Friday, July 8, 2011
Sumptuous Summer Ribs
Remember when Mike asked me to focus on a few things and do them well? I'm still working on it. Part of the plan is to only maintain one blog. I was a little too crazy when trying to update this blog and DD. So, everything is going to be here. Fortunately for you, there's only one blog to follow. :)
I didn't really try/like ribs until I was in my early twenties. Since then, I anxiously await trips south or summer fests for finger-lickin' good ribs because I've been too intimidated to try making them myself. Horror stories of dried out, bland meat kept me from trying. However, last year we bought a 1/4 of a grass fed cow with Mike's parents, and I still had country ribs in the freezer. It was time; I had to face my fear. Armed with the following recipes, I not only conquered the ribs, but I will never buy store bought BBQ sauce again!
Simple Country Ribs I did do a few modifications: Instead of water, I used a can of beer to cover the ribs in the stock pot. Awesome! Be sure to baste often during cooking. You can also bake these ribs in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350. Finally, I boiled down the left over sauce and saved it for later use. These came out tender and falling off the bone. Good luck!
*I found both of these recipes at allrecipes.com--It's hands down my favorite recipe website! Sign up...it's free!
I didn't really try/like ribs until I was in my early twenties. Since then, I anxiously await trips south or summer fests for finger-lickin' good ribs because I've been too intimidated to try making them myself. Horror stories of dried out, bland meat kept me from trying. However, last year we bought a 1/4 of a grass fed cow with Mike's parents, and I still had country ribs in the freezer. It was time; I had to face my fear. Armed with the following recipes, I not only conquered the ribs, but I will never buy store bought BBQ sauce again!
I didn't do process pictures this time around, but here's a quick shot of the final product.
Bourbon Whiskey BBQ Sauce I made this sauce the day before and refrigerated it. It was SO EASY to make, and Mike said it is his new favorite BBQ sauce! I'll probably buy Mason jars to store this year round!
Ingredients
Directions
Simple Country Ribs I did do a few modifications: Instead of water, I used a can of beer to cover the ribs in the stock pot. Awesome! Be sure to baste often during cooking. You can also bake these ribs in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350. Finally, I boiled down the left over sauce and saved it for later use. These came out tender and falling off the bone. Good luck!
Ingredients
Directions
*I found both of these recipes at allrecipes.com--It's hands down my favorite recipe website! Sign up...it's free!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Ahhh...Vacation!
Michael and I got home a few days ago from a lovely beach vacation with most of his family. All I really have to say about it is that it was a much needed break filled with sun, salt water, seafood, and drinks. The pictures will say the rest.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Lessons learned.
This year has easily been my most difficult year teaching. This isn't my story alone; it the story of most of my friends and family in education. My students have been hopelessly apathetic (although incredibly nice), the climate of my school has been challenging, and the state in which I live has made an already thankless job somehow even less valued. I've questioned my career choice on more than my one occasion. However, an encounter last week with one of my graduating seniors restored the drive to keep teaching (at least for one more year).
My student, I'll call him "Mick", was in my class all year. He failed my writing class first semester, and due to a deal I made with his guidance counselor to stay on him until passed, he returned to the same course second semester. He is one of those kids who drives me insane! He's a nice kid, a deep kid, an artistic kid. I love this kid, but sometimes, I want to scream at him because he throws away his potential. He knows that I believe all these things about him. I've told him on multiple occasions as I stand in the hallway and ask for an explanation as to why his homework is not done...again. I told him the day he served a detention with me for not having homework done (it's worse to spend a detention with a teacher like me than in school's detention because you have to do something). That's also the day he opened up about his angst over the world we live in. He questioned how a fellow classmate could die so young. I didn't have an answer, but I did listen.
With all of this, I shouldn't be surprised that it was this kid who reminded me why I teach. Mick was serving yet another detention with me on Friday. This one wasn't from me, but instead of sitting with everyone else, he asked if he could serve a detention with me. I agreed, but told him that since he didn't write all of what he was supposed to while in my class, he'd spend his detention writing. His prompt: "What did you learn in my class this year?" The following are excerpts from Mick's response.
"Knowing that all of the MLA stuff is going to be stuck in my head for a good length of time should at least give you some satisfaction. I know that I learned more than my grade reflects. Although much of the knowledge would not show in any grade. It is the knowledge of actual things, not words on paper or how to earn money or have a big house and car and wife and kids. It is knowledge that I could go out and apply in any situation I am in. It is common sense, self-awareness, and being able to think independently....I know you may end up feeling like you didn't do your job properly, or that you could have done better. This I only know from previous conversations, but you did just fine, Mrs. Samples. Exceptionally better than most, as a matter of fact. Even though you are making me sit her and write, I truly don't mind it. You actually gave a damn....Thanks for everything."
Yes, Mick, I did. I do. And at least for one more year, I will continue to care about who my students become and that even if they don't really get MLA, they will really get that someone believes in them, knows that they have potential, listens to them, and gives a damn. And Mick, thanks for reminding me why I became a teacher in the first place.
My student, I'll call him "Mick", was in my class all year. He failed my writing class first semester, and due to a deal I made with his guidance counselor to stay on him until passed, he returned to the same course second semester. He is one of those kids who drives me insane! He's a nice kid, a deep kid, an artistic kid. I love this kid, but sometimes, I want to scream at him because he throws away his potential. He knows that I believe all these things about him. I've told him on multiple occasions as I stand in the hallway and ask for an explanation as to why his homework is not done...again. I told him the day he served a detention with me for not having homework done (it's worse to spend a detention with a teacher like me than in school's detention because you have to do something). That's also the day he opened up about his angst over the world we live in. He questioned how a fellow classmate could die so young. I didn't have an answer, but I did listen.
With all of this, I shouldn't be surprised that it was this kid who reminded me why I teach. Mick was serving yet another detention with me on Friday. This one wasn't from me, but instead of sitting with everyone else, he asked if he could serve a detention with me. I agreed, but told him that since he didn't write all of what he was supposed to while in my class, he'd spend his detention writing. His prompt: "What did you learn in my class this year?" The following are excerpts from Mick's response.
"Knowing that all of the MLA stuff is going to be stuck in my head for a good length of time should at least give you some satisfaction. I know that I learned more than my grade reflects. Although much of the knowledge would not show in any grade. It is the knowledge of actual things, not words on paper or how to earn money or have a big house and car and wife and kids. It is knowledge that I could go out and apply in any situation I am in. It is common sense, self-awareness, and being able to think independently....I know you may end up feeling like you didn't do your job properly, or that you could have done better. This I only know from previous conversations, but you did just fine, Mrs. Samples. Exceptionally better than most, as a matter of fact. Even though you are making me sit her and write, I truly don't mind it. You actually gave a damn....Thanks for everything."
Yes, Mick, I did. I do. And at least for one more year, I will continue to care about who my students become and that even if they don't really get MLA, they will really get that someone believes in them, knows that they have potential, listens to them, and gives a damn. And Mick, thanks for reminding me why I became a teacher in the first place.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day Weekend--Hello, Summer!
Memorial Day weekend has historically been anti-climactic for me. This year, however, the holiday lived up to the hype surrounding it. It started with a unique opportunity. As most of you know, my incredibly talented best friends, Becky and Jenn, own a successful photography company, Hoyle Cunningham Photography. (Oh, you noticed my maiden name? That's because my dear friend Becky married my dear brother, Randy. :) Through a series of events, Becky and Jenn asked me if I would help them shoot a swanky wedding in downtown Chicago. While it was a long, grueling day, I loved every second of it! It was a throwback to the days when we used to shoot events for our high school yearbook and newspaper. Not only did I get to hang out with two of my lifelong friends, I also gained a new appreciation for what they do. I had no idea just how physically and mentally taxing their profession is. By the time I got home fourteen hours later, I was wiped.
Somehow I recovered in time for us to head over to Mike's sister's house for a cookout. After the torrential downpour and tornado sirens, it actually shaped up to be a pretty nice day. Here's a photo recap.
After recovering a bit from yesterday's activities, Mike and I got going on some projects. On a whim, I bought a Topsy-Turvy planter while we were checking out of the Home Depot this morning. I figured I should probably take this garden thing nice and easy. In the midst of preparing my first "garden," Mike came into the back yard and said, "Um. I have some bad news. Some of your china broke. A shelf in the garage fell."
The good news: My coveted wedding china did NOT break.
The bad news: The shelf that fell in the garage held ALL of the leftover paint from our house.
The God-is-so-good news: Our recently paid-off Charger was NOT in its usual spot in the garage, so it was NOT covered in paint.
When all was said and done, it took us approximately 2 hours to clean up the paint, but there were so many blessings in the crisis, that neither of us really cared.
Once the paint was cleaned up (sorry no picture--we went into crazy cleaning mode as soon as it happened), I finished assembling my planter. Here are the before pictures. Here's hoping my heirloom tomatoes, basil, oregano, and parsley come in.
Somehow I recovered in time for us to head over to Mike's sister's house for a cookout. After the torrential downpour and tornado sirens, it actually shaped up to be a pretty nice day. Here's a photo recap.
 |
| Jen & Keith, our always accommodating hosts |
 |
| Ashley, Jake, & me-Being their aunt was one of the greatest parts of marrying Mike |
 |
| Geoff & Ashley-They've been together almost as long as Mike & me! |
 |
| Look at how tall Jake is! He's certainly catching up to Uncle Mike |
 |
| The two Mikes enjoying the perfect weather! |
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| Jen & Mono! |
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| Me & Jen-Love her! |
After recovering a bit from yesterday's activities, Mike and I got going on some projects. On a whim, I bought a Topsy-Turvy planter while we were checking out of the Home Depot this morning. I figured I should probably take this garden thing nice and easy. In the midst of preparing my first "garden," Mike came into the back yard and said, "Um. I have some bad news. Some of your china broke. A shelf in the garage fell."
The good news: My coveted wedding china did NOT break.
The bad news: The shelf that fell in the garage held ALL of the leftover paint from our house.
The God-is-so-good news: Our recently paid-off Charger was NOT in its usual spot in the garage, so it was NOT covered in paint.
When all was said and done, it took us approximately 2 hours to clean up the paint, but there were so many blessings in the crisis, that neither of us really cared.
Once the paint was cleaned up (sorry no picture--we went into crazy cleaning mode as soon as it happened), I finished assembling my planter. Here are the before pictures. Here's hoping my heirloom tomatoes, basil, oregano, and parsley come in.
 |
| This "little" project took WAY more time, energy & money than I thought it would... |
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| Please, tomato plant, make this worth it! :) |
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