~thankfulness~

I know I shouldn't be admitting this, but it has been hard to think of so many things I am grateful for.  I can always think of a million things I'm "ungrateful" for-- like certain hellion children in my class, cold weather, etc.  BUT I am grateful that I challenged myself to think of at least one thing I'm thankful for every day.   I know some of them are materialistic things, but hey, there are just some things I can't survive without!  So here goes another list...

15.   Tomorrow is my last day of work for a whole entire month!! These are the perks of teaching year-round school.  It's the best Christmas present ever!  I love teaching, but it definitely wears me out! So ready to relax, celebrate my birthday, get ready for Christmas, go to Christmas parties and go on our real honeymoon  Crusie in the Carribean!!!

16.  I am thankful for my cozy cabin in Island Park.  We will be feasting together here on Thanksgiving with my family.  NOT looking forward to the -3 high temp on Wednesday though.  Yuck!

 17.  Minnetonka Moccasins.   The first thing I do when I get home from work is put these little guys on.   I don't really like wearing socks and I hate it when I have to walk on the cold floor.  These moccasins are so soft and comfy inside and I love the rubber sole so I can wear them outside too!

18.   Target.  Target is honestly the best store in the world.  They have EVERYTHING here!  I could go here every day and be happy; and I don't even have to buy anything.  Now that's true love!

19.   The Utes finally won another game! They had a slow start but at least we had a real game to watch in the end!

20.  Hip and Humble.  I LOVE this store.  Everything about it.  You can buy me anything in this store and I would be a happy girl!  My favorite is the Meyer's dish soap in the Basil flavor.  I swear I would drink that stuff if I could! And good news for me, they actually sell this stuff at Wal-Mart now and it's cheaper! Who knows, maybe it's a little watered down or something but it goes in water eventually anyway so who cares!

22.  My clock that shines the time on the ceiling.  I know you're probably thinking this is a grandma thing to have, but I have had this clock since about 9th grade I think and I can't sleep without it.  I hate waking up in the middle of the night not knowing what time it is.  The clock shows the time on the ceiling all night, but the good thing is it's not bright so it doesn't bother me.  Love it.  Ya'll should invest in one too.   This isn't the one I have, as mine is a little dated, but I would like this one if mine ever breaks?

22.  My husband who likes to cook with me.  I don't think many women can say this.  It's our "bonding" time and we have fun doing it.  We are both learning, but thankfully no horrible meals yet! (knock on wood).  Two brains in the kitchen are better than one right?  We made yummy sweet and sour chicken the other night and it was so delicious!  Here is the recipe:

Sweet and Sour Chicken

from My Kitchen Cafe (www.melskitchencafe.com)

*Note: if you like extra sauce, double the sauce ingredients - pour half over the chicken and follow the baking directions in the recipe and pour the other half in a small saucepan. Cook the sauce on the stovetop at medium heat for 8-10 minutes until it simmers and thickens. Serve it on the side of the chicken.

*Serves 4-6

Chicken:

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Salt and pepper

1 cup cornstarch

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup canola oil

Cut boneless chicken breasts into chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in cornstarch and then in egg. Fry in a little oil until brown but not cooked through. Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Mix sauce ingredients (below) together and pour over chicken.

Sauce:

¾ cup sugar

4 tablespoons ketchup

½ cup vinegar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon garlic salt

Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. Turn chicken every 15 minutes so it is evenly coated with the sauce. Serve the chicken over rice. 

This was our final product. It was very tasty!

I hope you all have a happy and safe Thanksgiving! 

~I'm a Few Days Behind~

I have been really busy this week with parent teacher conferences so I haven't updated for a few days, but parent teacher conferences are over now.  Be glad you don't have to deal with those.  And if you do, I feel you're pain! There's nothing like trying to politely tell someone that every day you go home wanting to quit your job because of their child. So fun.  One more week and one and a 1/2 days and I'll be off track until January 3rd.  Hallelujah! So excited! We get to go on our real honeymoon in the Carribean in December! 

Anyway, here are a few more things I'm thankful for this week!

7.  Dark Chocolate Pomegranates.  So addicting.  If you haven't gotten started, you should.  They're really good for you.  They make you really skinny.  If you eat a whole bag, you'll be in swimsuit shape in no time!
HA! I wish!

8.  I know I already mentioned the beauty of the earth in an earlier post, but I came across this video and I wanted to share.  I am thankful that I live in such a beautiful place close to the mountains.


9.  My cozy house.  It's so nice to have a place to call home.  It's my save haven. 
 

10.  My Amazing Family.  I have the best family in the whole world.  It's growing really fast! I would be one lost girl without these amazing people who have raised me.  I love them! 

11.  Return Policies.  Yes, I know this is
weird, but if it weren't for this, I would have a broken fridge and a lot of wedding gifts I don't need!  Long story short, they are coming to get the crappy broken fridge tomorrow and giving us our money back.  Too bad the new one doesn't come until Friday!  It's amazing how my life gets so handicapped without these simple pleasures.  I never thought I would be so excited about a working fridge, but I am and I'm ready to stop living out of a peanut sized cooler. 

12.  OPI Nail Polish Remover.  Once again, I know what you're thinking.  This is weird, why would she post this?  Well let me explain.  I paint my nails quite a bit and I can't stand when the polish starts chipping.  It looks horrible.  I hate removers where you have to sit and scrub to get it off.  OPI remover gets the job done in like 2 swipes instead of 40!  Love this stuff! I also really like this color too.  It's a good fall color. 

You Don't Know Jacques OPI color

13.  Veteran's Day.  I am thankful for all those who fought for our country to fight for our freedom.  I like this little video clip.  Very powerful. 


14.  One Blissful Month!  I have been married to my best friend for one month today!  I am so happy and life just gets better every day! 

~More Thanks~

4. Fall. I love the fall. The warm colored leaves, crisp air, and the crunchy sound beneath my feet as I walk. I love the autumn glow in the sky as the sun sets. And most of all, I am loving this Indian Summer we've been having all week! I am thankful that God created such beautiful things for us to enjoy! True happiness!

I stole the pic from Steph Stringham.  It's so beautiful.  I'm so lucky to have grown up in such a beautiful place!

5.  Giggling First Graders.  I am thankful for the funny moments I get to share with my little cuties. The best parts of my day are when we get caught up in little moments that make us giggle for a few moments.  Sometimes they say the funniest things and I am so lucky I get to be a part of it every day! 

6.  My Husband Didn't Sell our Utah Tickets!  He almost sold our tickets for $500.  Yes, we need the $$$.  Who doesn't when they first get married, but what sounds better? Sitting home on the couch watching the game, or being in the game wearing all black with proud Utah fans?  I'll take the latter.  See you at the Blackout game.  GO UTES!!!

~I am Thankful~

Since it's November, I felt it would be appropriate to express what I am thankful for. My goal is to write down something I'm thankful for every day. I know I am three days late, but hey, better late than never!

1. MY AMAZING HUSBAND. I really can't picture my life without him in it! He really is the best dude around. Love ya Jakers.

2. TRANSLATORS. Yes I know this is a bit odd and random, but if you worked where I work, you would totally understand. (I mean you live in the U.S. we wouldn't want to learn the language right?) Just glad to have 'em around to help me communicate with parents.

3. MY JOB. With this economy and people losing their jobs, I am so grateful that I have my job to go to every day. I know it can be hard and yes the kids wear the crap out of me every day, but I definitely look forward to being with them every day. Especially when a student takes a class poll on "who likes teachers hair straight raise your hand?" Poor kids have a homeless looking curly-haired teacher most of the time. They were excited with I actually did my hair this week. Love the little guys.

I hope you will be inspired to think about what you are thankful for this month because we all have LOTS to be thankful for!