"In the Morning, I'm Makin' Waffles!"

In my first period class today about five senior boys cooked breakfast for all of us. It was awesome! Seriously.

This was the last day of school before Spring Break, so rather than diving into all new material for my students to promptly forget before returning from vacation, I scheduled a Read-a-Thon. This basically means we spend the entire class period basking in the joy that is reading. Students can read whatever they want, as long as they're reading. Magazines, comics, novels, newspapers are all fair game. Anyway, I also told them they could bring snacks, pillows, blankets, etc., because really, if you're going to curl up with a good book, you need to do it right!

Well, a couple of my students asked if they could bring a waffle iron and make waffles. I said yes, provided that they bring enough to share with the entire class, and clean up any mess they made afterwards. In all honesty, I didn't expect them to follow through. They did.

About five minutes before the bell rang, one student showed up with a waffle iron. No batter. But the iron was there. I mentioned just having a waffle iron was going to prove a bit pointless, but he assured me that the rest of the supplies were on their way.

Over the course of the next 10 minutes, more students arrived with the following: a griddle, pancake/waffle batter, butter, maple syrup, two dozen eggs, Sunny D, plates, cups, napkins, forks, and knives.

We had a full on breakfast buffet! Waffles, pancakes, scrambled eggs, and juice. I don't know how much reading actually took place, but it was truly awesome. They orchestrated it beautifully! I was so proud of them. By some miracle, no member of the administration wandered in to ask me what in the heck I was doing. The fire alarm didn't go off. I didn't get fired. It was an all around good time.

Back to Reality

Well, we are now back from our beyond fabulous trip. We had a GREAT time, and the only bad part about it was having to come back. I told Chad he was on his own, that I was going to stay in North Carolina, and that he could figure out a way to pay the rent because I was quitting my job, but I still ended up getting on the plane anyway. After dealing with a snot of a sixteen-year-old (or sassy-mouthed, cell-phone using LIAR as I will choose to more affectionately call her) today, I feel the need to bask in more positive things. That is why you are now privileged to read about our exceptionally wonderful weekend. Here are the highlights, with the first being the BEST, and the rest being in no particular order:

1. The Performance. Watching a sensational performance by an amazing singer, accompanied by a killer jazz combo band. The singer, of course, was my beautiful mother-in-law. SHE WAS AMAZING! I am so thankful that we got to watch her perform; it is something I will never forget. I have heard her sing before, but this performance really highlighted how truly talented she is (and how FUNNY, my goodness, she had us all in stitches during some parts of her performance). I just wish they'd had a dance floor, because she had me wanting to get up and dance. (Chad, on the other hand was thankful that they DIDN'T, so that I couldn't force him to dance with me.) Can I just say, after watching her sing, I realized how truly thankful I am for the mother that she chose to be? She easily could have pursued a singing career. It is obvious that she gave up a lot of opportunities so that she could be an amazing mother, which is why I have such an amazing husband. Thanks, Joy!

2. The food. OH MY HEAVENS, THE FOOD! Did I ever eat!!! I think I probably gained back every pound I've lost since the summer. There was Bojangles, Carolina style BBQ, Andy's (five words: chili cheese burger and orangeade), and a plethora of food that came from the kitchens of Joy Reese and Prissy Hill, and what is NOT to savor about that? I don't regret a single calorie.

3. The weather. Everyone kept apologizing for the weather, but to us, it felt like a tropical paradise compared to Utah. We went for a drive with the top down, sat out on the back porch in shorts, and I got to wear sandals for the first time in ages. Plus, we got to listen to the rain, and oh how I do love sitting on the back porch and soaking in that sound. We loved it.

4. Shopping. Let's just say...I came back with more pairs of shoes than I left with...enough said.

5. The people. The people you know are happy to see you, and so are the people you don't. Everyone in the South is so friendly, and I love it. It was so fun to live in North Carolina last summer and really get to know so many people from Chad's home town. It was great to see so many people that we know and love. (Even though some visits were all too brief, sorry Wendi!)

6. Family. I always LOVE having time to spend together and this was no exception. It was especially wonderful to see Tyler, since we had not seen him since he got home from his mission.

So there you go, the memories of a wonderful weekend to console me after my encounter with aforementioned, hormone-driven teenager. AND, tomorrow is the last teaching day before Spring Break! YEA!!!

Sneaky, Sneaky

I am in North Carolina right now. Oh how sneaky, sneaky we are! We came to surprise my mother-in-law. She is singing at a huge event tonight, and we get to go cheer her on. She had NO CLUE we were coming. I love surprises, so today has been awesome! Can I just say, the weather is FABULOUS! I am going to Bojangles right now, so ta-ta, I shall talk to you later!

Since When Can't Rain be Moisture???

OK. I really hate to complain about Utah, yet again, but today it is unavoidable. I feel the need to complain. To vent. To wallow in my self-pity. This morning I woke up to get ready for church. Keep in mind, last Sunday was EASTER SUNDAY people. EASTER. As in, it's time time to break out the pastel colors and sandals in the wardrobe. But alas, while I was running around like a crazy person trying to make bed-head look presentable (we are always running late on Sunday mornings) Chad went to the window and informed me that there was about three inches of snow on the ground.

I laughed at this, knowing that, surely, he was just joking. Because, hey, as previously stated, last Sunday was Easter. And you can't wear pastels in the snow. After he coaxed me to come to the window to see for myself, I let out a scream of rage.

When we went to church, all the Utahans were elated. In heaven. On cloud nine. "When I woke up this morning, and saw the beautiful snow on my thirsty lawn, I knew today was going to be a great day," one man said. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???!!!

Here's the deal. I realize that we're in "a drought." That we need "moisture." (A word that I have never really liked very much by the way. Can't we just say we need water? Or rain?) Anyway, I realize the need for something falling from the sky to give us some water. BUT COME ON! Hasn't anyone here ever heard of rain? I love a good thunderstorm. I would adore seeing a light sprinkling, or even a brief downpour, of rain to wash away all the nasty inversion filling the valley and leaving behind a clean, fresh sky. What I don't want to see is SNOW covering the ground 2 DAYS BEFORE APRIL!!! COME ON, PEOPLE!!!

It has yet to stop snowing. Sadness fills my heart.

TAG!

Wendi left me some homework, and so here is my completed assignment:

10 Years ago:

I was 14. This meant I was living it up at Stake Dances! Oh the memories. I just could not wait for those, let me tell you. When I think of Stake Dances, a flood of Bryan Adam's songs, Savage Garden nightmares, and "YMCA" start playing on the memory soundtrack. Good times. Honestly though, I loved Stake Dances. My husband apparently hated them, but I just think that's because he didn't have me there to dance with! There were the creepy boys that you'd have to try to hide from on the long songs, but I got pretty skilled at avoiding those ones.

5 Things on My To-do List Today:

Well, let me just list the top five things from my planner today:
1. Make copies for sophomore El Greco analysis.
2. Check out TV and DVD player for classes on Monday and Wednesday.
3. Create rubric for sophomore American Dream project.
4. Call Andrea back about baby shower.
5. Start putting in Term Four grades.

Exciting, no???

Things I would do if I was suddenly a billionaire (I'm going to instead pretend that this means I suddenly have unlimited money that will never go away. I don't even know if billions would be enough for what I'm about to propose):

1. Buy a Jeep Wrangler, which has been my dream car since I can't even remember when, but is the most impractical vehicle I could possibly buy due to outrageous gas prices. But heck, if I'm a billionaire, who cares, right?

2. Buy a flat in London, and a private jet that convey myself, hubby, friends, and family there whenever we feel like a stroll through Kensington Gardens and a Flour Power brownie at Borough Market. The private jet would also fly us to other fantastic foreign destinations at a moment's notice.

3. Pay off my student loans. Yes. I have those.

4. Buy a beach house on Emerald Isle and decorate it beyond fabulously.

5. Buy and decorate my dream house. (Complete with circular driveway with fountain in the middle and cascading wall of water in the foyer.)

6. Go get my master's degree.

7. Donate money to some amazingly good causes.

8. Buy commercial real estate property. (Wow, have I become Chad's wife, or what?)

9. Buy a yacht and sail the Mediterranean. (The yacht will come in handy when flying places on the private jet gets old.)

10. Go to New York City, call Stacey and Clinton (who will, of course, want to be my friend since I have billions) and go on a shopping spree with their guidance.

11. Buy a library full of first editions.

12. Buy Chad his Porshe 911 Turbo GT2 so that we can drive around the countryside together. I will wear a big Audrey Hepburn hat and sunglasses while doing so, of course.

Hmmmm...that's not all, but it's a good start.

3 Bad Habits:

1. Worrying too much.
2. Complaining about my job.
3. Road rage towards Utah drivers.

Places I Have Lived:

Moses Lake, Washington; Bountiful, Utah; Provo, Utah; London, England; Orem, Utah; Kinston, NC

Jobs I Have Had:

My first job at fourteen was weeding sugar beets. I did this bare-foot while I squished potato bugs between my toes, because I got blisters when I tried to wear shoes. I know...not a pretty visual. It was not a pleasant job, but I did it with a few friends and so we actually had a lot of fun together. Plus, I thought I was rolling in the dough by the end of the summer! In high school I also worked for my parents' garden/reception center and cleaned a dentist office and an orthodontist office. In college I was a waitress at IHOP (breakfast food is a white-trash magnet. They swarm like flies over pancakes and bacon..that's all I have to say), worked as a receptionist at a mail center, processed express mail at the same place a year later, and eventually worked as a beggar for BYU (called alumni and asked for donations, and eventually became a supervisor at the call center). And...now I teach high school English.

Thing Most People Don't Know About Me:

This is a hard one. I feel like I'm not very secretive, and so most people know about me. But I shall try.

I love to write and want to publish a book someday.

I want to be a stay-at-home mom someday.

I am a little bit OCD about certain things. Particularly about the way things are cleaned.

I love music. I play piano, guitar, and sing.

I am a perfectionist.

I am Obsessed With:

Gilmore Girls. I HAVE to watch the re-runs every night at 6:00. I know, I know. I'm pathetic. BUT I LOVE THE SHOW! I love the fast-paced dialog and the constant references to literature and pop-culture. I feel smart when I watch it. Right now I am a little distressed by the fact that I missed it tonight, but since Carolina was playing I took one for the team.

Blogging. Even when I go through a lapse where I have no time to blog, I am still READING blogs like crazy.

SHOES. Oh my, oh my! I do love me some shoes! But, despite what my husband may tell you, I really have cut back on my shoe fetish since getting married.

Thrift Stores: I love thrift store shopping, or really just finding a good deal anywhere!

When I was young I wanted to be:

A veterinarian. Which is INSANE! I don't even like animals! Go figure, huh?

So there you go, a little bit about me! I tag...Anyone who's feeling like they need something to write about!

I am ALIVE!

Hello, my fellow bloggers. I know you are shocked to see a new post. Many of you were probably thinking I was dead...you weren't too far off, but alas, I am alive. All of my zillions of papers are graded. The scores are in the computer. I have only to confirm my grades and I am done with term three forever! HALLELUJAH! I can't believe there is only one left.

We had a fabulous Easter weekend! Even though I was still slightly overwhelmed with school, we added some more craziness into the mix and went to my parents' house this weekend. Chad shot a wedding and I acted as the photographer's assistant. We even dressed the part--black, artsy clothing. I forgot to bring my glasses though, and was very disappointed that I didn't fully look the part of the focused artist.

I've decided a couple of things after shooting this wedding. 1) We make an excellent photography team. I did all of the positioning. As in "Father-of-the groom, let's have you right here, please...very nice...and, just a little to the left for me...there you go, very good" and "Can you give me a big smile, sweetie?! Perfect! Keep smiling!" and "Let's just take that whatever you're holding and put it over here so it's not in the photo, OK?" While I was arranging people, Chad was testing lighting, making sure everyone was actually in the photo screen, etc. We had a lot of fun together. And, I think came across as pretty darn professional. 2) When you are shooting people who aren't family, your credibility goes way up. Suddenly, people see a nice camera, a lighting set-up, and they just blindly trust you. People aren't putting their two-cents in, they just move where you tell them to, and trust you know what you're doing. 3) I am so glad I married who I did, where I did, when I did. The couple getting married are VERY young. It was quite apparent through many of the things said/done throughout the entire wedding process just how young they really are. Even though I got married a lot younger than I had ever originally planned to, I'm glad that I was mature and knew what I was getting into. I'm glad that I found someone I really love, who loves me, and who complements me so well. Sometimes seeing unbalanced relationships can make you really grateful for what you have, lol.

We also had plenty of time for fun with the family. On Saturday night after the wedding, we went out to eat with my brothers and had a lot of fun together. Then, on Sunday, the Easter Bunny brought Rock Band. Now, I am not a video gamer, but this game has convinced me that we need an X-Box 360 and this game. It is THAT FUN! We had a blast playing all together. I thought Guitar Hero was fun...then I met Rock Band. Meredith and Adam, please buy this game so we can come over and play, lol.

All-in-all it was a good weekend. I'm still a little behind with my lesson planning at school, but I figure after this week things should be a lot more relaxed.

I'm BACK!

Worrying

I am a worrier. I just am. It's part of my nature. It's the end of the term, which means it is a time of intense stress, and thus worry for me. Here are things I'm overly concerned about at the moment:

1. The huge stack of essay tests I have yet to grade.

2. The huge stack of LATE WORK papers I have yet to grade.

3. The huge stack of book reports that are being turned in next week that I will need to grade.

4. The huge stack of Writers' Notebooks that are also being turned in next week that I need to grade.

5. The fact that my sophomores are about two weeks behind where I wanted them to be by this point in the term.

6. Knowing that the school year is nearly over (1 term to go!!!) and having no idea how I'm going to get through everything that I need to before it does, particularly because most of my students seem to ALREADY be on a mental summer vacation and it's not even spring yet.

7. Having no CLUE what to do about next year. Am I teaching in Lehi? Am I teaching at all? Is my husband going to be able to find a job?

8. Feeling incredibly guilty that my house has needed to be vacuumed for the last five days and that it has yet to be done.

9. The fact that I have to pay a stinking late fee for the piece-of-crap Jane Austen's Book Club because I forgot to return it yesterday.

10. Is my body ever going to adjust to the new time change? Because seriously...I'M EXHAUSTED!

11. Wondering how I'm going to accomplish everything I need to without a lot of time this weekend, since I'm helping with the Utah State Junior Miss program.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Seriously. I'm going INSANE! All I want to do is call in sick, forget about the papers sending off bad writing vibes from the corner, and curl up in front of the television in my pajamas. Not gonna happen, unfortunately.

Complete Waste of Time

I officially just wasted one-hour-forty-two-minutes-and-thirty-seconds of my time. How? By watching The Jane Austen Book Club my friends. If you want to see it (which, as your friend, I need to tell you--you don't), then do not read this. It might spoil the pure idiocy of the entire film.

I am fuming right now. Absolutely livid. HOW DARE THEY SLANDER AUSTEN'S GOOD NAME BY PUTTING IT ON THE COVER OF THIS SLOPPY, IDIOTIC FILTH!

I rented the movie because I thought I might be able to use a few scenes from it in my upcoming Persuasion unit. I am going to be incorporating a lot of film segments into the final writing assignment. When I taught Pride and Prejudice last year, I used a few clips from that BYU version from a few years ago. My students really liked seeing the characters transported into a more modern context. I thought this flick might give me a few scenes that might do the same thing for Persuasion.

Unfortunately, unless I've completely misread Austen, and this film is correct, there is no possible way I could ever use this film in my class. According to the film, the tormented love of Anne Eliot and Frederick Wentworth can be compared to a middle-aged couple in the midst of divorce because the husband has decided to be with another woman. A woman who, when the wife finds out about the affair, the husband refuses to give up. These are his exact words, "I'm not giving her up. That's not negotiable." Brilliant. Practically Shakespearean, I know. Anyway, she TOTALLY TAKES THE SCUM BAG BACK! Why? Well, because he writes her a letter of course. And we all know, that is the only reason Anne and Captain Wentworth end up back together, because he writes her a letter. It has nothing to do with the fact that THE SITUATION IN THE NOVEL IS NOT EVEN COMPARABLE WITH THE ONE PORTRAYED IN THE MOVIE!

Oh, don't worry. It gets better. The plot of Persuasion also, apparently, parallels the story of a married high school French teacher being seduced by (and somewhat seducing) her STUDENT! EW! Of course, it all turns out all right in the end, because she and her husband (who has absolutely no common interests with her, and leaves you constantly wondering how in heaven's name they ended up together in the first place) cuddle in bed and read Persuasion together. Thus solving all their marital issues...including her making out with a high school senior in her car and planning to meet up with him in a dirty motel room. (Which was BY FAR my favorite scene in the movie by the way. That scene concludes with her looking at a crosswalk sign that begins to flash "What would Jane do?" No. I'm not joking. That really DOES happen in the movie.)

I understand this one-hour-forty-two-minutes-thirty-seconds disaster is based on a book. Let us hope it is either completely different from the novel, or that the woman who wrote it starts to beg for forgiveness. I'm sure writing such trash purely justifies Austen's haunting her for the rest of her career.

On second thought, maybe there's some hope in this travesty. If an idiot like that can get published, well then why can't I? It's motivation to start scribling again!

Just Not the Same

I have written a lengthy tribute to one of my favorite parts about North Carolina before, so I will spare you the repeat. It's in my archive if you are dying to read it. The thing I am referring to is Bojangles.

I have been craving Bojangles for about the last three weeks. Well, really, I crave it all the time, but I try not to think of it too often because it lessens my withdrawals. Today, I decided to try to create some homemade Bojangles.

I'm much too lazy to really put a lot of effort into something like this, so I didn't make homemade biscuits or anything, but I did somewhat try to recreate my favorite Cajun fillet biscuit.

I went to Smiths and bought the frozen Pillsbury biscuits (Southern style). This was a tip I got from my mother-in-law, who got it from Prissy. And I'm sorry, even though Chad told me I was being prejudice and only thought they would be better because Prissy said so, HELLO...PRISSY SAID SO. And that girl knows what she's talking about when it comes to things like this!

I also bought some frozen chicken tenders.

I came home and cooked them up.

I even used the last of the Bojangles honey mustard I have been salvaging since Thanksgiving.

I sandwiched my chicken in between two halves of flaky biscuit. I smothered both sides with honey mustard. I took a bite.

And.

It totally wasn't the same.

I so want to be in North Carolina.

The bitter-cold wind that greeted me this morning only further convinces me of this fact.

And I Became a Traitor . . .

Last night Chad and I went to the BYU vs UVU hockey game. I absolutely LOVE hockey! I don't normally promote violence, but in my opinion, hockey is exempt from the rules of peace I usually prefer. I love to see a good fight on the ice.

Chad and I first started going to hockey games when we were dating...well, even before we were dating. One of Chad's roommates was one of the announcers and knew all of the BYU players, so we were always getting free tickets and seats right next to the penalty box (again, I usually am nice to complete strangers, but strangers in the penalty box are, again, exempt from that rule).

Well, last night, everything changed. We sat on the UVU side. I wore a UVU hoodie. I rooted for the team that was playing AGAINST my alma mater! WHO AM I? A traitor, that's who. UVU won, because I left my cougars out in the cold.

It was still an absolute blast. The place was completely packed, and I only saw one friend from BYU, and thus avoided the harsh scolding I really deserved.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a single fight! I was so disapointed!

Ben Folds Five - Brick (Live at The Wireless Triple J Radio)

And a good Ben Folds Five oldie as well. Just for good measure.

Ben Folds - The Luckiest

That is right. I just ordered two tickets online. Chad and I are going to see him in Salt Lake in April. SO EXCITED!!!

The YouTube above is Ben singing Chad and my wedding song live with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

I'm Lizzie

Came across this fun link while doing some research for my upcoming Persuasion unit. Thought some of you Austen fans also might enjoy!

Take the Quiz here!

What I Didn't Expect

When I signed up to become a teacher, there were a lot of things I expected. There were also some things I didn't expect. A lot of the things I didn't expect are quite negative, and I vent about these probably more frequently than necessary. So, even though a long string of those negatives is ever-present in my mind currently (I just finished a grueling 5 hours of parent-teacher conferences this week), today was a good teaching day, and thus I'm thinking about some of the positive things about my job that I didn't expect.

I didn't expect to laugh so much. My students are HYSTERICAL. SERIOUSLY. So. Incredibly. Funny. My seniors just finished writing satirical papers, and I have never laughed so hard. I'm just going to think of them all as little Jon Stewarts. Some of their writing was just that good. The things they say in class also frequently crack me up. They're just, fun! I like that we can laugh together and I can still feel like they are learning.

I didn't expect to work with so many cool people. Seriously, so many of my co-workers are amazing people. They are so talented, intelligent, and fun! It sometimes makes me feel incredibly intimidated, but I'm trying to work on my inferiority complex and just learn from them.

I didn't expect to really love my students as much as I do. I knew I would like them. But I didn't know I would love them. Seriously. I cry over these kids when I watch them going through unbelievably hard things. I get so excited when I watch them succeed.

So there you go, just a few of the positive things I didn't expect when I started walking the halls of the high school this year. Try to savor this post, and possibly remind me of it, the next time I am spouting off numerous complaints.

Favorite Photos

I can only pick 10? My friend tagged me. Here are 10 of my favorite photos. I'm a bit camera happy, so there are SO many photos on our computer that chosing 10 was close to impossible, but here it goes:



Chad and I emerald mining this summer. We went with Chad's dad and had a fantastic time. I EVEN FOUND AN EMERALD! It was cut down into about a 3/4 carat stone. I'm about the unluckiest girl I know, so this picture is proof that my husband's good luck has started to rub off on me since we've been married.

With Emily and Lacey at some waterfall in Idaho. We hiked down it the summer before I left for London. Even though this is not the most fantastic photo of us, I adore it because of the memories from the trip.

With three of my beyond darling roommates. Bri, unfortunately, is taking the photo so she's not pictured. I LOVE these girls. We had a great time living in the hood together.

This is a photo I snapped of a bird lady in Kensington Gardens when I was living in London. I love it.

Mi familia.

In one of the "windows" at Arches National Park.

Sunrise on the Thames...In MY city. Sigh.

With two of the most amazing girls on earth. I miss them both terribly. Even though I have a horendous chroat in this picture, I still adore it. We met in London and were destined to be friends. This is from one of my favorite days at St. Michael's Mount.

With my darling husband, at my favorite place: the beach.

Mom's graduation with Grandma Joy and Aunt Laura. I was SO PROUD OF HER!

So there you go, 10 of my favorites. I really wanted to post a picture from our wedding but don't have any digital ones.

What a Day With No Eye Liner Gets You

Because I have jinxed myself into getting some kind of NASTY cough/throat/want to roll over and die thing, I haven't been getting the best sleep. I wake up every couple of hours coughing. Last night, I woke up in the middle of a coughing fit, and Chad had to coach me, so that I could start breathing again. It was sad. Anyway, because my sleep (which we all know I need an abnormal amount of) has been so constantly interrupted lately, getting up in the morning has been even more difficult than normal. Then, when I do get up, I can't get my body to MOVE fast enough. Even though I'm running late. Today went something like this:

6:00 a.m. - Alarm goes off. Snooze button is hit.
6:10 a.m. - Alarm goes off. Snooze button is hit.
6:20 a.m. - Alarm goes off. Again, snooze button is hit.
6:30 a.m. - Aarm goes off. Snooze button is hit. I groggily realize that I REALLY need to get up if I'm going to be ready by the time my ride comes.
6:40 a.m. - Alarm goes off AGAIN. I hit the snooze button. I lie there, trying to tell my body to leave the security of the covers, and get ready to deal with teenagers all day.
6:45 a.m. - I finally pull myself out of bed, leaving me with less than FIFTEEN mintues to get ready.
7:00 a.m. - My phone rings. My ride is here. I have no makeup on. I toss some mascara and eyeshadow in a makeup bag and jet out the door. I get ready in the car...yea...
7:20 a.m. - Arrive 5 minutes late to school.


Needless to say, I wasn't looking like a runway model today.

7:45 a.m. - Student interrupts me mid-sentence to say, "Something's different about you today, Mrs. Reese...What is it?" To which I want to respond, "MAYBE IT'S THE FACT THAT I FEEL LIKE CRAP and LOOK LIKE CRAP!" but I really respond, "I don't know..." Other students then begin to chime in, speculating about what COULD be different about my appearance today, until I finally stop the debate and force them to start learning again.

Chad, the eternal optomist, says I should be GLAD they noticed I look different when I look crappy. That means that I usually look nice, and that they notice when I don't.

I vote this horrible virus thing needs to kick the bucket, before I do!

Three Exciting Things

Thing One: In 5 months we will be celebrating our THREE YEAR anniversary. Yet, until yesterday, we didn't own a cheese grater. That's right, folks, through more than two-and-a-half years of marriage, we have managed to survive without a pretty necessary kitchen gadget. Well, yesterday we bought one. And this is it:

We bought it at Bed Bath and Beyond, along with this little gem:

Thing Two: A grill pan. We watch way too much Food Network not to own one of these. We used the two exciting things mentioned above to create this:

Thing Three: Beyond fabulous orzo-stuffed peppers and balsamic grilled chicken. SOOOOO unbelievably yummy. We watched Giada make the peppers a few days ago and decided we had to try them. Because we are carnivors and can't make a meal without some kind of meat, we added the balsamic chicken on the side, because we thought the flavors would complement eachother. Of course, we are kitchen geniuses and were correct. Chad and I both agreed this is the best new recipe we've tried in awhile. If you want to give these dishes a shot, here's how:

For the chicken:

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup honey

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tsp. garlic

salt and pepper

Marinade the chicken for about 30 minutes, then grill it.

For the peppers:

1 14-ounce can Italian tomatoes (we used the diced ones and drained them)

1 zucchini, grated

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves (we used 1 tablespoon dried mint)

1/4 cup grated Ramano, plus more for sprinkling (we used about a 1/2 cup and some more)

1/8 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 and a half cloves garlic, minced (we used 1 tsp. of the jar we have in our refrigerator)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup orzo

4 sweet bell peppers (red or yellow)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Pour the tomatoes into a large bowl. Add the zucchini, mint, cheese, olive oil, garlic, salt, and

pepper. Stir to combine.

Meanwhile, bring the chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the orzo and cook for 4 minutes. The orzo should be only partially cooked. Use a fine mesh sieve (we used a slotted spoon) to transfer the orzo to the large bowl with the other vegetables. Stir the orzo into the vegetable mix to combine. Transfer the warm chicken broth to a 3-quart baking dish.

Slice the tops of the peppers and remove all ribs and seeds.

Place the peppers in the baking dish with the warm chicken broth. Spoon the orzo mixture into the peppers. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle the top of each pepper with cheese, and continue baking until the cheese is golden, about 15 minutes.

Seriously. This is SO GOOD!

P.S. I am having some formatting issues with my blog. It won't let me paragraph ANYTHING. If I indent at all, or add spaces after paragraphs, they are gone once I post the blog. Does anyone know how to fix this problem? Because I am a little OCD about these kinds of things. Thanks.

Need to Stick to the Clearance Racks

So, I attempted to buy a dress online. This is what it looked like:


Adorable, no?

If you know me, you know I usually buy clothing on clearance. As in, "This is still $20?!?!" It's the way I was raised. You just don't BUY something that's full price. Why would you do that? In a couple of months, it will be on sale. I like a good deal. I like to be on the prowl in a store, searching for that one special find (oh, who am I kidding? ONE special find? OK, so MULTIPLE special findS) with my name on it. That's why stores like Ross and TJ Max appeal to me. It's also why I like thrift stores. Stores like that are like the safari of shopping. It's like a jungle hunt. You never know what you're going to find, how cheap you're going to find it for, or how hard you'll have to look to find it. It's always an adventure.

Anyway, the above mentioned dress was not my idea of a "deal." It was on sale, but I am too ashamed to say how much that "sale" price was. I bought it because I figured I could justify the price for three reasons. 1) It is ALREADY modest. I wouldn't have to add a camisole underneath or a sweater over the top to wear it. 2) It's a lovely purple color, and I have been trying to add more color to my wardrobe. 3) I still have Christmas money...we'll call it a late Christmas present to myself.

Well, the dress came today, and it really IS a cute dress, just not what I expected. ESPECIALLY when it wasn't too much of a steal. So, I am sending it back. The color is more of a maroonish than it appears in the photo (doing nothing for my skin color), and the sleeves are too puffy (Chad's qualm with the ensemble). I am out the shipping and handling, but they pay for the return postage, and will refund my money completely. I thought about exchanging (they do have some adorable dresses on the website...check it out at http://www.shabbyapple.com/) but I'm nervous I will only end up disapointed again.

I have learned my lesson. I am just a girl who needs to try on merchandise before purchasing. I need to stick to the clearance racks where I belong.

Things on My Mind

So, I've been thinking about a lot of things lately. Some of them somewhat excessively. In no particular order, here are some of the things I've been thinking about:

1. How do you know when you're ready to be a mom? No, seriously. I'd like to know. It seems like everyone and their little sister is getting pregnant right now. I'm surrounded by women carrying fetuses. And I am beyond thrilled for each one of them! I can't wait to go to their baby showers, hold the little bundles of joy when they get here, snap a gazillion photos of the little tykes. But the thing is, even though I'm excited for them, the thought of having a baby of my own beyond freaks me out. I know I want to be a mom eventually, but I really don't feel ready to be a mom right now. I have no idea what to do with a baby. A toddler, I can handle. But a baby? What scares me about this, is that most of the women I am surrounded by who are about to become moms (some of them for the second time) are my age or younger. Am I supposed to feel ready to be a mom now? Because other people seem to think so. That's probably why I keep getting asked when I'm going to have a kid (not by everyone, but by some people). Is it bad that I don't feel ready? Does that mean I'm not ever going to be ready to be a mom? And if that's the case, does that mean I will eventually become a mom, without feeling ready, and thereby become an incompetent and horrible mother? Scary thought.

2. The incident I had with the couple in my parking lot. Last weekend my friend Callie came over to dye my hair (and did a smashing job, by the way). We have two reserved parking spaces. Since Chad and I only have one car, anytime anyone comes to visit they use our extra parking space. Callie called me when she got to our complex and asked where to park, because someone was parked in our extra space. Well, this just flat out makes me MAD! What's the point of having reserved spaces if random people are just going to use them?! So, I called the towing company to come and take away the car. I was not being malicious and mean; I just wanted to use my ASSIGNED parking space. Well, when the man got there to tow the car, the couple who had parked there came out. Needless to say, they were not happy campers. The lady proceeded to call me a b**** repeatedly. The best part though, was when they were getting in their car to leave. That's when the man turned to Callie and me and said, "Way to be LDS, ladies, way to be LDS." To which I responded, "Excuse me, maybe you need to think about that, considering you're the people CUSSING ME OUT when I have done nothing wrong." To which he responded, "Shut up, b****" before getting in his car (with an LDS sticker on the dashboard) and driving away. They were clearly intellectuals with a vocabulary like that. Callie got an apology letter on her car windshield that night from him (but not from her, she didn't strike me as the apologizing type). So, this incident (besides upsetting me terribly because I've never really thought of myself as a person who would be called a "b" repeatedly, plus I'm a blue who thinks everything is her fault, which means I must have done SOMETHING to deserve such rude behavior) has made me think about a few things. First of all, it sparked an entire conversation while getting my haircut about me being intimidating. WHAT THE HECK?!? Am I? Honestly? Because first the psycho family in Bountiful called me that, which I just thought was because they were psycho and from Bountiful, but my friend Callie telling me that means it might be true. Secondly, do people really think that they are entitled to be the exception to the rule? I mean, I know my students do, but they are in HIGH SCHOOL, that's an excuse. Do adult people really think they can park in an assigned spot and nothing should happen to them, even though there is a warning sign posted by the entrance to the parking lot? We live in a sad world. Lastly, I must be in Utah when a man with a LDS sticker on his dashboard feels the need to scream cuss words and tell ME, "Way to be LDS." Seriously. It's time to get out of this state.

3. I am organizing my lesson plan binders from last term right now. I'm a good teacher. I really am. I work hard. My students are learning. Even though things didn't go perfectly the last two terms, I feel like I've really built some strong relationships with my students. I really care about them. I really do like my job, even though I want to quit about every third day, and cry about it a lot. Some of my students really have made progress, even though most of the time I look at their writing and want to die. I had my second evaluation of the year with my vice principal last week, and she really made me feel good. She says I have been blessed with a talent, and I think I agree with her. I just hope that I'm making a difference for my students. And I wish some of them would get transferred out of my classes, because then I'd feel even better about myself, lol.

4. This summer is going to be UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME! First of all, it will be SUMMER which means it won't be 5 FREAKING DEGREES every day. I will have 3 glorious months off to sleep in, read whatever I want, and finish the next NY Times bestseller. Chad is also graduating, HALLELUJAH! We are going to be buying our first place, somewhere, we don't know where yet. We're going to ITALY!!! I am going to soak up fabulous sites and works of art. AND I AM GOING TO EAT GELLATO AT LEAST ONCE A DAY WHILE THERE!!! (But we'll be walking so much it won't matter.) AND I just found out my family is having a reunion on the Oregon Coast this summer, which is one of my most favorite places on earth, and will soon be one of my husband's once he goes there, too.

So there you go. Just a few things I've been thinking about lately. Kinda random. Forgive me!

Moment of Infuriation

I am SO aggravated right now. We have ONE writing lab for our school. That's right, ONE! For a school that is so unbelievably overcrowded I don't even get my own classroom. To use the writing lab, you have to sign up ahead of time. The lady in charge prints out a schedule, posts it, and then you can sign up for time slots. The list went up YESTERDAY. I went in TODAY and there are NO SLOTS AVAILABLE! That's right, NO SLOTS! I spent my entire prep period today scheduling out the entire next term, only to realize that half the projects I had planned for my classes will no longer work. What am I supposed to do? I thought I was ahead of the game. It's only the second day the list is up, we still aren't done with second term, and frankly, as a first year teacher, it's almost impossible to plan an entire semester ahead anyway. I want to cry. But students are coming in 8 minutes, so I will have to put my game face on and pretend everything's OK before then. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!