Spring Break & New Goodies!

Today starts my glorious week off!  I am SO excited!

I have BIG plans. 

Unfortunately...I've done nothing yet. 

Aside from sleep in of course.  Thank goodness the pup let me sleep!  We are constantly trying new things to help him (and us) at night.  Yesterday, after Easter dinner with my family, we stopped off at Petsmart and got him these:

This is supposed to help him relax.  We had some pills we gave him before, but they didn't have melatonin in them (we've read online that melatonin is supposed to help dogs relax).

 Gizmo has been peeing a lot in our upstairs hallway.  I'm not sure if I've mentioned that before.  Well, two nights in a row he peed in our bedroom.  We're hoping this helps, but when I woke up this morning I saw that he had peed (again!) in the hallway.  In a way, the hallway is better because we're going to have to get that carpet replaced when we replace what he tore up.

A Thundershirt.  Yep.  Giz feels all safe and secure now (hopefully).  In fact, he still wearing it now and is sleeping in my lap as I type this. 

Hey, does that mean I can use it as an excuse for why I haven't really done anything around the house today?!

You may have noticed (or maybe not), but I updated my blog button to coordinate with my header.  I realized I better do it quick before picnik shuts down since that's what I used to help create my header.  I'm excited!  I think it turned out pretty good!

I also have started My Fitness Pal again.  If you are looking to lose weight, I strongly recommend it.  It helped me lose about 10 pounds last summer.  I kind of stopped once school started, but I realized I need to go back to it.  I think it's pretty similar to Weight Watchers, but best of all...it's FREE!  I started it back up last Monday and lost about 3 pounds (even though it says 5, that's based on my weight from when I first signed up last summer).  I won't lie...Monday was HARD!   I was starving pretty much all day!  I could've eaten a lot more though because I got this message when I completed my food diary:

One of my favorite things to eat is an ice cream bar that is only 45 calories!  I've seen these on Pinterest, but I've known about them for a long time.  I remember my sister telling me about them back when I was in college.  Wanna know how to make it? 

Here's what you need:  Graham Crackers & Cool Whip.

Lay out your graham crackers.  You could use a full sheet if you wanted.

Put about a tablespoon of cool whip onto half of the crackers.  It does not have to be pretty!

Take the other half and gently press on top of the cool whip.  Place in freezer for several hours or until frozen.

After it has set, wrap individually in plastic wrap.

They are really yummy and a nice sweet treat (for very few calories).

I also made a shopping list for the hubby and I to use.  I was inspired by the one featured over at IHeart Organizing. 

Here's ours:

Grocery List

Much thanks to Kristen over at Ladybug's Teacher Files for the tutorial about the font!

Also, I got tagged again by Run!  Miss Nelson's Got The Camera.

I've been tagged before, so I'll just answer her questions :)

1.  Which do you prefer teaching:  Reading or Math?  Hmm, that's a toughie.  In the intervention program I teach, I chose to teach Reading over Math.  I guess overall it would be reading.

2.  Where's your favorite place to find clip art?  Okay, I am a total clip art newbie.  I like any place that has cheap (or preferably free) clip art!  Some of my favorite places are:  The 3AM Teacher, Scrap Ems, & I also have some Thistlegirl clip art.  I have lots saved on my flash drive though that I'm not sure where it came from...

3.  Do you count spelling tests as a reading or writing grade?  We actually do not do spelling tests this year (gasp...I know).  But when I did, I counted it as writing.

4.  What is your favorite website for your students?  My students have access to VMath Online & Ticket to Read through the intervention program I teach.  I love it!

5.  Do you have a Point and Shoot camera or a DSLR?  I have a point and shoot.  This is the camera I have.  It was on sale at Target around Christmastime for only $99. 

6.  Do you arrive to school early or stay late?  I am no early bird, but I actually get to school early.  Teacher's don't have to be there until 7:00, but I get to work around 6:30 (more like 6:40 recently).

7.  Coke or Pepsi?  Cherry Coke Zero or Diet Dr. Pepper!

8.  Michael's or Hobby Lobby?  Ugh, there are NO Hobby Lobby's here!  I wish there were though!

9.  What is your favorite read aloud?  Probably The Lorax!  I love the message behind it :)

10.  Winter Break or Spring Break?  I'm obviously loving Spring Break now, but I love that Winter Break is 2 whole weeks (except next year...they shortened our break by two days...boo!)

5

Okay, I'm off to go lay out!  

Recipe Linky & A Survey!

So, if I was really on top of it last night, I could've combined this with my post last night so that it might have some point to it!  But, I saw these when I was blog stalking later on. 

Jennifer, at Rowdy in First Grade is having a Holiday Recipe Linky Party!  You know I love a good linky!  She even included a super cute template for us to use!  I am going to share 2 recipes:  one is a family recipe and the other is a Food Network recipe that I tweaked.  Okay okay, it's pretty much EXACTLY the same as the Food Network recipe except I switched out pistachios for almonds.  Here they are!

Cheese Potatoes 1

Holiday Biscotti

I make the Holiday Biscotti every year and my family LOVES it!  I also make the Cheese Potatoes for any big holiday: Thanksgiving, Christmas, & Easter.  They are both yum-o!  I hope you head over and link up because I'd love to see your recipes!

Now, onto this survey.  I've seen lots of you doing this, so I feel like I should be a cool kid and do it too :)

Holiday Survey
1.  Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Hmm...For Christmas, I usually wrap.  I have wrapping paper from Costco and it has lasted me 3 years and will probably last me another 3 years or so.  It's amazing.  However, I did recently learn how to make gift bags look cute.  Most of my gifts are wrapped:

2.  Real tree or artificial?
Artificial.  I remember the days of having to trek through Lowe's or Home Depot to find the "perfect tree" as a kid.  My dad, me, and anyone else who was unfortunate enough to come with us would each have two trees in our hands beside us while my mom looked for the just right one.  Our little living room isn't very big, so our fake tree fits in nicely :)

3  When do you put up the tree?
Thanksgiving weekend, usually on Saturday because I shop till I drop on Black Friday!

4.  When do you take the tree down?
After New Years.

5.  Do you like eggnog?
Never tried it and don't have a desire to.

6.  Favorite gift received as a child?
Hmm...I guess I'd have to say my bike?  Every other year I got a new bike and it was awesome.  I rode that thing everywhere!

7.  Do you have a nativity scene?
Nope

8.  Hardest person to buy for?
My husband!  Really all guys are hard to buy for!

9.  Easiest person to buy for?
Me, of course!  While looking for others, I always find something I want!  :)  I totally took Erica's answer...mine's the same!

10.  Mail or email Christmas cards?
Uhh, we have some really cute Christmas cards I bought for 50% off the day after Christmas last year.  They have, big surprise, a dog on them!  You'll get a card from us if we're giving you a gift card for Christmas!  Honestly, we'll probably send them out once we have a kid, but we don't send out official cards.  I'm a slacker, I know.

11.  Worst gift you ever received?
Well, when I was little, I unwrapped a gift from my grandparents and it was a pressure cooker box.  I started being a total brat and saying "I don't want a pressure cooker!"  They told me just open the box.  Inside was a super cute and personalized suitcase.  Insert foot in mouth now.  That was actually a good gift.  Worst gift:  When I was in college my brother's baby mama gave me a Winnie the Pooh Hot Chocolate Set.  I mean, I'm in college...I'm not a Winnie the Pooh fan...

12.  Favorite Christmas movie?
It's a Wonderful Life!  That's actually what I wanted my blog to be, but it was taken :(  So I had to stick with Living a Wonderful Life.  I LOVE this movie!  My mom took it last year so I haven't watched it yet...but I'm feeling Christmas Eve!

13.  When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Black Friday!  I LOVE it! 

14.  Ever recycled a present?
I don't think I've ever recycled a Christmas present, but I have lots of wedding presents to regift :)

15.  Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Anything and everything.  I love my biscotti, mom's mac n' cheese, candy...ahh I can't wait (although my diet can!)

16.  Clear lights or colored lights on a tree?
We have both.  Last year we had a string of clear that didn't work so we put up some colored to take away from that!

17.  Favorite Christmas song?
Just a few...



Okay, so please excuse the picture there!



Trans-Siberian Orchestra:  Christmas Cannon



This one might be my favorite!  It's SO funny!


18.  Travel at Christmas or stay home?We're super lucky that both our parents and families live here so we just have to travel about 30 minutes!

19.  Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Sure can.  I just have to sing the song!

20.  Angel or star on top of the tree?
We have a star.

21.  Open the presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
When I was growing up we got to do one on Christmas Eve.  It was always a gift from my parents and it was always what I was going to wear to church that night.  I'll probably carry that tradition on with my kids.  The hubsters and I open gifts Christmas morning.

22.  Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Without a doubt the traffic and crowds.  Hate em both!  Again, totally stealing Erica's answer!

23.  Favorite ornament, theme, or color?
My sister has a snowman theme.  I think I may eventually branch out and have a Santa theme.  Right now, there's no theme but I could see a Santa theme in my future!

24.  What do you want for Christmas?
I've got everything I need!
I hope you're enjoying today...only 2 more days until Christmas!  I totally forgot the chocolate for my biscotti at the store yesterday so I've gotta go to the grocery store now...ugh!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Cheese Potatoes (Recipe)

Hello everyone!  I hope you had a fantabulous Thanksgiving!  Do any of y'all go Black Friday shopping?  I go every year with my mom and sister and my aunt (when she's in town).  I just love it.  However, they are really getting out of hand with these start times!  In years past, we at least got a little bit of sleep, but this year we got none!  I made up for it though...I slept 14 1/2 hours last night!  I was asleep by 6 last night and didn't wake up until about 8:30ish.  Whew, I got off on a tangent there, huh?  I'll post tomorrow with all the deals I got!

Today I'm going to share with you a recipe for Cheese Potatoes.  I make these every year for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  I actually don't really eat them anymore because I have grown to love my mom's mac & cheese, but it is quite delish.  Warning:  This is NOT a low fat dish!  But, it's for special occasions, so it's totally okay to partake. :)

Excuse the photos...I took almost all of them with my phone!

Cheese Potatoes (serves a lot!)
1 pint half and half
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
2/3 lb. Velveeta
2 sticks of butter or margarine
2 bags of hash browns

Here are the stars of the party!  I strongly recommend letting anything that is cold (basically everything except the Velveeta) sit out and get room temperature.  It won't take as long to melt.  You can see I used margarine, but butter would be fine. This was the last of my margarine, as I've recently switched to all butter.

First, grate your cheese.  I usually use already grated since I'm not quite as tempted to grab a fistful of the stuff.

Add everything except the hash browns to your pot.  I would definitely cut up the Velveeta and butter into small pieces.  I am all about not standing over the stove for long and I'm sure you peeps are too :)  Plus, the less time you spend over the stove is just more time to work out in preparation for eating this.  I'm thinking ahead people!  Stir regularly over medium to low heat.  I had mine over low, but it was on my "power burner" so it was probably a 'regular' burners medium to high heat.  You want to melt until it looks like this:

There should be no chunks of Velveeta left (that usually seems to take the longest to melt).

Put the hash browns into a large bowl.  Poor the melted cheese mixture on top and stir until well incorporated.  Turn your oven on to 325 degrees.  I don't know about you, but I never turn my oven on at the beginning of the recipe like they all seem to state. 

Pour into a 9x13 pan.  You don't have to grease or spray with Pam or anything...I never have.

Bake for 1 hour, or until golden brown and bubbly.

That's it!  Easy peezy!  My family loves this dish, and I hope you do too if you try it!  I'm off to finish getting ready for the USC/Clemson game.  Super excited!  Go Cocks!

A Quick School Day Recipe

I am loving all of the Linky parties out there and Clutter-Free Classrooms is no exception.  Have you seen her week long Linky party?

P.S. I have no idea how to make this picture into a link without the HTML code.  Anyone have any tips?

So today's prompt is a recipe that I make often during the school year.  If you ask my husband, he would probably tell you that I make everything pretty often because I don't have a wide cooking range.  However, one of my favorite meals to make takes no time and I can get work done while it's cooking.  Sorry, I have no pictures!

Chili (makes about 8 servings?  I have no idea!)

1 lb. ground turkey (you could easily use ground beef...that's what my mom uses!)

1/2 packet chili seasoning (I use Chil-O because it has no onions!)

1 can tomato sauce

2 cans Bush's Chili Beans (I use the hot.  You can use mild or none at all.  You want 3 total cans of beans though)

1 can pinto beans

Chili powder to taste.

Directions: 

1. In large pot or skillet, cook ground turkey until done and drain off any fat.  Add 1/2 packet of chili seasoning to meat.
2. Add tomato sauce and beans to meat.  Stir and cook on low to medium heat, stirring often. 
3. Taste occasionally and add in chili powder to taste. 
4. Chili is done when it is heated through.  We normally add a little shredded cheese to ours when we eat it :)

That's it!  It's really easy and allows me to do some work while it's cooking.  I would say from start to finish it takes around 30 minutes.  You can easily double the recipe.  This recipe is actually half of my mom's original.  We normally both eat 2 bowls and there is plenty leftover for lunch the next day.  Since there are no onions or greens in it, your kids will probably enjoy it too!

I'm linking up to The Clutter-Free Classroom....check out all of the great recipes here!