Spring Break Fun

Hands down, the best part of being a teacher is all the breaks.  Why would I ever choose a job that doesn't give me Spring Break?!?

I kept getting asked what I was doing over Spring Break.  My answer: not much.  But I still had fun.  Here's 10 things I did with my days off.

1.  Leaned a new trick.

Did you know you can fire roast peppers on your stove?!?  If you have a gas stove, you can roast the peppers on the flame until they are nice and charred.  Then you put them in a paper bag to steam so the skin comes off easily.  So quick and easy!

This technique is NOT Drew-approved.

2.  Broke in my new running shoes.

Mizuno is finally making my running shoes in fun colors!!!  I did my first 20-miler in this round of training.  It's always fun to run in new shoes.

So pretty!

3.  Napped.

I love napping.  I almost never get to!  So I like to take advantage during breaks from school and cuddle up with these fools.  They make great napping buddies.

4.  Spring Cleaning.

I seriously got rid of half of my closet.  Now it's time to go shopping, right?

5.  Drove the shoe-lady crazy at Nordstrom.

After getting rid of all those shoes, I felt I needed to get some new ones.  I went into Nordstrom set on some red Toms... ya know, something fun for Spring.  Whenever it decides to show up.

The poor gal was just trying to help, but she brought me the red ones, some denim ones, and some striped ones.  I don't do well with choices.  I am actually paralyzed with indecision and often will just not buy anything because I can't make a choice.  It's bad.

I was determined to make a choice, but that required me to walk around the store looking in all the mirrors while wearing two different shoes.  They were all so cute!  After about 30 minutes and changing my mind about a million times, I ended up with the red ones.  She really should have just brought those in the first place.

Can I just get one of each???

6.  Pedicure.

After spending so much time staring at my horrifying feet, I decided it was time for a pedi.  Katy & I tried out a new place and the guy massaged my feet with hot stones!  What?!?  I was thrilled, and tried really hard not to kick him in the face for tickling me.

Much better.

7.  March Madness.

Oh dear.  I was so excited to go to my first NCAA Tournament game with Brooke.  I was not expecting the stress and eventual heart-break that ensued.  It was awesome to be there and to see so many K-Staters come together to support our boys.  But it was gut-wrenching for the season to end that way.  So so so sad.

EMAW.

8.  Twins turn 30.

My favorite twins Melinda & Melissa turned 30 this weekend and we celebrated with a surprise party at Blue Grotto.  Have you been?  It's amazing.  Pizza, wine, yum.

Love these girls!

9.  Won Played the Lottery.

Can you believe Katy had never played the lottery before?!?  We fixed that real quick with a trip to the Lottery Ticket Store.  They have those, right? 

Lucky Lady!

10.  Bagel-making.

My students really want to make bagels.  I had never made them, but was super intimidated by the process.  I mean, you have to boil them!  It just seems wrong. 

Not wrong, so right.  The bagels were super easy and turned out awesome.  I only wished I had bought some cream cheese before it snowed like 3 feet and I couldn't wouldn't go to the store. 



It's as big as my head.

And that's it friends.  Those are the 10 things I did over Spring Break.  Maybe not the 10 most exciting things... just 10 things.  And now, it's back to the grind.  I gotta teach these kids how to make bagels.

Bun Head

One of the things, maybe the only thing, that I did with all those snow days, was to learn a new trick with my hair.  Okay, this is new-to-me.  I've seen it all over Pinterest for a long time now.  But I was astounded at how easy the sock bun really is.

 

This is my astounded face.

 

 

I mean, let's be real.  I love anything that allows me to not wash my hair.  I've worn the bun several times since then, and I always get lots of questions.  Here are some answers.

 

Yes, there really is a sock in my hair.

 

The sock is pink and sparkly.

 

The sock is from Target or Old Navy.  Go figure.

 

Yes, the sock is clean.

 

And, in case you want to try it for yourself, here's the video that taught me how it works.

 

Enjoy!

Do You Want To Destroy My Sweater?

I'm reading a book right now called, Happier At Home by Gretchen Rubin.  It's a story about how she commits a year to making herself and her family happier at home by focusing on one aspect of home each month.  I really like it.  I was inspired by Gretchen's first month's focus on possessions and how to gain control over them. 

Part of this project was cleaning out her closet.  She tried on every single thing in her closet and, with the help of her mother, ditched anything that wasn't useful or that she didn't love.  I decided to take a look at my closet. 

Horror.

Luckily, DeAnna and Jana were coming over for wine dinner and I knew I could rely on them to help me out with my closet clearing.  Rather than make them suffer through every item in my closet, I decided to focus on the 10 black cardigans consuming precious real estate space. 

That's right!  I own 10 black cardigans!  What?!? 

And worse than that, I don't love a single one.  There's actually only a couple that I really even like.  Why do I own 10 black cardigans that I don't even love???

Please take a moment and guess the year the oldest cardigan was purchased.  Do it.  Guess.

Without further ado, here are 10 black cardigans, the year & store they are from, and if they made the cut or are getting the boot.

Cardigan 1:

This cardigan is from Banana Republic circa 2011.  After closer inspection, this black cardigan was found to be navy blue.  What can I say?  I've never claimed to be observant.

Verdict: She's a keeper.

 Cardigan #2:

This "boyfriend" style cardigan is from Target from a couple of years back.  While I really like throwing it over a dress with leggings, it has a hole in it.  I know I should throw it out, but you can't really see the hole.  So, I'm looking for a replacement.

Verdict: Keep for now, but find a replacement.

Cardigan #3:

This black cardigan has a fun silvery ruffle down the front.  It's Old Navy from 2010.  I don't wear it very often, but I kinda like it.

Verdict:  We'll keep it for awhile.

Cardigan #4:

This one is weird.  It has a funny shape and ties in the front.  It's from Francesca's 2010-ish.  I may have worn it once.  Why do I still own this???

Verdict:  Throw it out!

Cardigan #5:

This is a hard one.  I bought this cardigan for my engagement pics from Anthropologie in 2007.  I haven't worn it since and have no plans to.  But it holds so much sentimental value!  I'm having a hard time parting with it.  By the way, I wore it with a black tank, buttoned up.  It looked way cuter than it does in this pic. 

Verdict:  Okay, okay!  It will go!

Cardigan #6:

This is an Old Navy special from who knows when.  I don't seem to remember a time when I didn't own this cardigan.  I must have purchased it in college.  It fits, is still in decent shape, but the buttons are weird.  They are black and square and I feel like it screams, "I'm from Old Navy 10 years ago!!!"

Verdict:  Keep, but find a suitable replacement.

Cardigan #7:

This embroidered number incited a debate over the validity of short cardigans.  Jana & I don't like them.  DeAnna does.  We decided it's because she's got the boobs to pull them off.  Short cardis just hang on me.  This one is from Anthropologie 2007, purchased at the same time as #5.  It was expensive*, which is probably why I haven't gotten rid of it despite never wearing it.

Verdict: Away she goes.

Cardigan #8:

Another Old Navy special.  This Cable Knit is from 2010-ish and is a little bit shabby.  But it's my go-to when I need to throw on a black cardi.

Verdict:  Keep.

Cardigan #9:

Oh dear.  Another Old Navy black cardigan.  This one doesn't button, is a weird length, AND has a hole.  I don't think we need to discuss any longer.  Oh, and it's maybe from 2008.

Verdict:  Should have been thrown out a LONG time ago!

Cardigan #10:

When counting cardigans, I got really excited that I could do a Top 10, but only found 9 in my closet.  I was totally bummed and even thought, "I'll go out and buy another black cardigan".  Then I was like, "You can't go buy another cardigan just to blog about it and then get rid of it!  The point is to only own things you love!"  I have problems.

Luckily I remembered that I DO OWN A TENTH CARDIGAN!!!  This my friends, is the first cardigan I ever owned.  I remember ordering it... from the Delia's catalog, before there was such a thing as online shopping.  Did you guess a year????

1997!  I bought this cardigan** my freshman year in high school!  I remember the dress, tights, and shoes that I ordered with it.  I bet that dress is still at my parents' house.  I used to really really love Delia's catalogs.  Oh, how the internet has changed things. 

As for the details, this cardigan is a cable knit, missing a button, and totally still fits***.

Verdict:  Please don't make me get rid of it!!!

After that, Jana hung up all of my sweaters.  And then it dawned on me that this is probably the reason her house is tidier than mine.  She hangs up sweaters.  I throw them around.

We totally need curtains.

After the cardigan hoopla was over, we proceeded on to more important topics... none of which I can remember.  The wine was flowing.

Serious and important things are happening here.

We drank so much that I don't even remember taking this next photo.  But I did, so we might as well show you.  Did you know Jana & I have matching tattoos???  That's another story for another time.

Teeny tiny crescent moons.

 

I will totally let you know how the rest of the closet-clearing goes.  And then we'll move on to the fun part:  Shopping!  I am determined to become a better shopper.  And to stop exclusively shopping at Old Navy.

 

What's your favorite place to buy cardigans?

 

 

*Well, more expensive than Old Navy.

**More like, my mom bought me this cardigan.

***ish.

10 Questions about cleaning

I know, right?  We're talking about cleaning.  Snooze-fest.  But I seriously need your help!

I've repeatedly admitted to being completely clueless when it comes to keeping house.  I fear the day we upgrade from our tiny ranch because if I can't keep this place clean, how could I manage a house with even more rooms and square feet?!? 

It's not like I wasn't made to clean when I was growing up.  But I never really excelled at it then.  And I think I spent more time trying to get out of it than it should have actually taken to do the job well*.  For instance, there was a good length of time in middle school that I wasn't allowed to do anything until my room was cleaned.  So Nicky would come over weekly to clean my room.  Not only was she good at it, but she enjoyed it too**.

After about a month, my Dad realized what was going on and Nicky was banned from cleaning my room.  It was the best month ever.

So as I struggle to keep up the illusion that we are not living in squalor, I've come up with some questions that I need answered.  Please help me out and share if you've got answers.  I'm really striving to improve at this whole domestic thing (says the Home Ec teacher).

1.  How often do you clean?  And what is on your regular schedule?  I try to do the basics (sweep, dust, clean the bathroom) once a week.  But I even struggle with that.  And I feel like I'm probably missing something.

2.  What about clutter?  I always hear, "A place for everything and everything in its place".  How do you know where it's supposed to go?  I tend to pile things up on the kitchen table.  Hence the reason we always eat on the couch.

3.  How many "junk" rooms is too many?  Our office accumulates all the junk that doesn't have a place and our guest room is basically one big laundry basket.  And let's not even think about the basement.  Do you have a room that collects all your junk?  And if not, why don't you have junk?  Or do you?  And where do you put it?

4.  Speaking of laundry, how the hell do 2 people accumulate so. much. laundry?  I can't even fathom how parents do it.  I feel like I spend so much time sorting, washing, folding laundry.  And there are only 2 of us!!!  How do you handle the laundry???

5.  What's the best way to clean wood floors?  I am constantly sweeping up after the mutts, but I rarely ever mop.  It's got to be a germ-fest down there.

6.  What is Spring cleaning?  What am I supposed to clean during Spring cleaning?

7.  How do you store your shoes?  How do you know when to get rid of shoes?  I have a problem of hanging on to shoes "just in case" I have an occasion to wear them. 

8.  Where do you keep books, magazines, and mail?  I feel like they just pile up everywhere creating clutter and collecting dust.

9.  What products should I be using?  What are your faves?

10.  Do you have a number for a cleaning service that will not laugh at me for being unable to keep such a small home clean?  Maybe I need a personal organizer.  I should call AshLee from the Bachelor!!!

If only Martha Stewart would come over and give me a lesson on cleaning.  That's not happening, so I need your help!  If you give me answers, I promise next week's Top Ten will be much more interesting.  Pinky promise.

*My poor mother.
**Freak.

St. Patty's Day Run

The Westport St. Patrick's Day Run has become a bit of a tradition.  Okay, this is just the second year that we've done it, but I foresee it being an annual thing.  It is so much fun! 

 

 

Last year Katy, Melinda, and I randomly decided to run the 4-mile race and had such a good time that we had to repeat this year.  We donned our green and headed to Westport.

So many people do this race!  Westport is seriously packed with runners of all levels with one thing in common: we're wearing green!

You see all kinds of costumes.  Plus you can register as a "centipede" where you tie yourself to your friends and all run together.  This can be pretty hilarious, but I always wonder what happens if someone has to take a potty break?

The woman above dressed as a cupcake was celebrating her 50th birthday with a centipede of friends.  So cute & fun!

Irish Fairy.

Those are Coors Light cans, not Diet Coke as I originally thought.

Irish Puppy!!!

We decided that everyone with a big ol' house in the Westport area must have a guard dog.  This guy was vicious but had the sweetest face!  You know I'm a sucker for Boxers. :)

Hi Sweetheart!

And... the neighborhood provides unofficial aid stations, complete with Jello shots and green beer.

Love being Irish!

Rather than fight the crowds in Westport, we've made it our tradition to head back to the Village to... you guessed it: BRGR.  Bloody Mary's for all!

These are actually Bloody Marias.  Jalapeno Tequila instead of vodka.

And of course we refuel with BRGR's wide variety of fried snacks. 

Pretzels & Cheese, Fried Pickles, and Blue Cheese Chips.  Delish.

Chapter Titles In My Memoir

1.  Not Everything In Kansas Is Flat.  Now Take that Rug Back to Dara's.

2.  Your Head Will Look Great on a Stick.

3.  Virgins Who Talk a Big Game.

4.  Mis Abuelos Son Verdes! Spanish Power Hour.

5.  Internet Stalking & Wine: A Typical Friday Night.

6.  Adventures of Debbie Gibson.

7.  Tattooed in the Night.

8.  So You've Decided to Build a Beeramid.

9.  Your Gynocolgist Knows All Your Friends.  How to Make Important Life Decisions.

10.  Hitch-Hiking With Foreigners; The Lies We Tell.