this is our happily ever after

week 4: project 365

1.25.2010 I left school early so I could have more time at home.  What a gorgeous sunset to end the day.  I realize that I had a sunset photo yesterday...but sunsets are something that I see everyday out our back windows. 

1.26.2010  Stopped at Chick fil a to get breakfast this morning.  I've really been struggling with my energy level during the school day so I decided to get a large iced tea to drink throughout the day to see if it made a difference.  Boy did it ever!  It's amazing how a constant source of caffeine kept me going strong all day long! 

1.27.2010  photo taken at Sonic drive through on my way to school in the morning....Since I didn't use a flash I got this random lighted photo...but it's kind of cool regardless.  This is my "self portrait" for the week.

1.28.2010  My kids spent the morning working on several projects.  One project was to decorate a huge round sign for the school's upcoming "Wild West" winter carnival. 

1.29.2010  I love having fresh flowers in the house.

1.30.2010 because of the warm, springlike temperatures last week our maple trees are budding...although now it's in the 40's

1.31.2010  Laundry Day

hello Monday

I'm glad I survived you....

I REALLY didn't want to go to work today because of my short weekend due to my Saturday workshop, however I'm hoping to take a day off in Feb to scrapbook with Kelly and I really need to schedule some MD appointments which I know will take some of my days.  I did, however, leave at 3:45 today so I could get my car washed and be home by 5.  Zoe is playing outside, I've been reading Crazy Love, vegetables are roasting in the oven so I can make penne with roasted vegetables for dinner

and I'm taking time to blog random, everyday stuff.  I find that on these days when I dread going to work that I really need to nurture my creative side and seek God once I get home. 

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A few things from my reading in Crazy Love this evening really resonated with me...I've always struggled to have consistent quiet times...I do really well for a few weeks and then it seems that my snooze button gets easier and easier to hit in the morning....and I always feel guilty (although not guilty enough to get up earlier)  Well, I read this today and it really comforted me in a way...although I need to be careful not to use Chan's thoughts as an excuse for not having quiet times.  Here's what he says

"Most Christians have been taught in church or by their parents to set aside a daily time for prayer and Scripture reading.  It's what we are supposed to do, and so for a long time it's what I valiantly attempted.  When I didn't, I felt guilty.  (I know that feeling!)  Over time I realized that when we love God, we naturally run to Him--frequently and zealously.  Jesus didn't command that we have a quiet time with Him each day.  Rather, He tells us to "love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind."  He called this the "first and greatest commandment"  The results are intimate prayer and study of His Word.  Our motivation changes from guilt to love.  This is how God longs for us to respond to His extravagant, unending love; not with cursory "quiet time" plagued by guilt, but with true love expressed through our lives."    

So, although I do long to be that woman of God who has a fantastic quiet time each and  every day I realize that what really matters to God is that I love Him...great!!!  But wait, what does it look like to love God with all your heart and mind?  Seriously, I don't think loving Him is about having the perfect quiet time each morning or memorizing a Scripture verse.  Don't get me wrong all of those things are fantastic ways to grow as a believer, to gain knowledge about Him, to build discipline...but what does it mean to really LOVE God?   I am at awe of His creation, I marvel at the intricacies of his handiwork, I believe He still performs miracles, I have seen his grace and mercy in my life countless times...but is recognizing who He is and the Power He has the same as loving Him.  I am so thankful for everything He has done for me and those I love, but I guess my struggle is how do I love Him fully.  Can I love Him fully?  I guess these are my questions as I read on in Crazy Love.  What does loving God mean to you?  How does it look in your life?  I'd love to hear your thoughts...

what a week!!

I intended on blogging at least once last week, but each night I seemed to be busy with other tasks...except for Friday night when I was in bed and asleep at 8 pm.  It was THAT kind of week!  The weather was beautiful, which seemed to make the kids completely forget how to listen, behave, and focus on their work.  Lord, help me....it's way too early for spring fever!!!!  Although I think I have a bit of spring fever....I'm ready to buy some flowers and dig in the dirt, but I don't trust the weather here...I have a feeling we'll have another freeze before spring is here to stay.  So here is my week on photos....

wait here is the photo I was missing last week...when my 3rd graders were given the 5th grade reading test...completely by accident...

ok...now onto this week 1.18.2010 The season premiere of 24 (one of our favorite shows to watch together)

1.19.2010 couldn't pass up buying the Pepsi and Mountain Dew "throwback" soda made with cane sugar.  Note: Normally I would NEVER buy Pepsi, however I'm hoping Coke will come out with throwback products, so I tried to motivate them by purchasing Pepsi...does that make sense???

1.20.2010 Our 3rd graders are studying the solar system in Science right now, so why not invite a real live astronaut to share his experience with the kids.  Don Pettit is the father of twin boys in the 3rd grade, one of the boys is in my class.  This is the first time I've ever met an astronaut and I was super excited! In the photo: Stacie (my team teacher), Don Pettit, Me, and Christine (the teacher who has the other twin)

1.21.2010 weekly self portrait taken at school early in the morning

1.22.2010  I (heart) Starbucks...

1.23.2010 A classic Oliver pose

1.24.2010  The end of a lovely day...

project 365 week 3

Although i have taken a photo each day this week I don't have all of them with me right now.  I left my small camera at school, so the photos that are on that disk will be uploaded later. 

1.11.2010   I love making coffee in my Tassimo (a christmas gift from Brian)

1.12.2010 Valentine's Day decoration that I made last year. 

1.13.2010 I made a homemade salad dressing with meyer lemons...delish

1.14.2010 Half of my class was accidentaly given a 5th grade benchmark reading test that they worked for 4 hours on before Stacie realized it.  They then had to take the 3rd grade benchmark reading test and all of them got an A! What a day it was!  (photo coming soon)

1.15.2010 heart wreath on our pantry door

1.16.2010 A Saturday trip to Costco and Central Market.  I bought a lot of fruit, vegetables, whole grain bread, water, paper towels, fish, shrimp, hummus, etc.

1.17.2010  Spent the afternoon grading papers since report cards are going out this week.

divine dressing

I wanted to make a light, homemade salad dressing to go with the arugula I bought.  I looked up arugula salad on Food Network and found this Tyler Florence recipe.  It was so good and easy...and great on the arugula!  If you like to make your own dressing this is a must!

Arugula Salad and Ultimate Vinaigrette

this week in photos: project 365

1.4.2010  new Mazda CX 9 (our baby friendly car)

1.5.2010 "Project Life" finally arrived (a place to put all of my project 365 photos)

1.6.2010  Spent the evening putting together my project life album

1.7.2010  If you see a Coke on my desk....then it's been a rough day!

1.8.2010  A FREEZING morning...

1.9.2010  Meal Planning...Seeking Vitality

1.10.2010  Christmas all boxed up...house clean and organized!

seeking vitality: meal planning

meal planning is a large part of seeking vitality for me.  If I take the time to carefully plan meals and  intentionally grocery shop I am more apt to cook and eat healthier.  If I just try to figure out meals on the fly we end up eating too much carry out or unhealthy options like Marie Callendar chicken pot pies...bleck!  This morning I've spent a couple of hours looking through my newest food magazines, while watching Giada at Home, and planning meals...for those of you who don't enjoy this process or don't have time for this process keep a binder full of your favorite go to recipes (trust me I have one of these binders)

Below are a few things on my menu for this week

Salmon with Citrus Salsa by Giada De Laurentiis

Tuna Noodle Casserole from Cooking Light

Arugula, Carmelized Onion, and Goat Cheese "pizza" from Ellie Krieger

Grilled Portabello and Goat Cheese Pitas from Cooking Light

Note: two of these recipes are meat free, which is one way Brian and I try to not only help out our budget, but more importantly our health!  And yes, goat cheese is a favorite of mine!

new wheels

This past weekend Brian's old, ford taurus officially kicked the bucket...thankfully it happened in our driveway and not on a busy highway.  We could have fixed it, but frankly the cost of fixing it was way more than it was worth...which was next to nothing.  Plus, one of our goals this year was to get a new, more baby friendly car for me.  So Saturday evening and Sunday we spent some time perusing the internet for gently used Mazda CX 9s.  Truthfully, I had my heart set on a 2010 dolphin gray CX9 that I had seen a few months ago at the mazda dealership.  I had planned on saving up more money in order to convince Brian that we could get it.  BUT...his car didn't cooperate with my plan.  I asked if we could get a new car and he said no...and as his wife I submitted, with a pouty lip!  One of the CX9's that we saw on the internet was at Car Max near our house...so on Monday after picking Brian up at work we headed there to see this gray CX9.  We thought it was the color of my current car, which I liked so I was willing to take a look.  However, when we arrived we realized that it was not only gray..it was dolphin gray (greenish gray) with black leather interior exactly what I wanted!  So after taking it for a test drive we decided that this WAS the car...the exact color with all the specific options I wanted and none of the options I didn't care about.  It's just  year old and is in PERFECT condition inside and out...just like a  new car...minus about $9,000!  I've only taken a couple of photos of it....and you can bet these will be my picture of the day for Monday.

beef, mushroom, and barley soup

Beef, Mushroom, and Barley Soup

Makes 6-8 adult servings

4 tbsp olive oil

¾ lb. beef stew meat cut into ½ inch pieces

¼ tsp salt

Fresh ground black pepper

1 med onion, diced

8 oz. button mushrooms, coarsely chopped

2 med. carrots, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp herbs de Provence

6 cups low sodium beef broth

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes

½ cup barley

½ cup frozen peas

½ cup frozen or fresh black eyed peas

 

In a large soup pot heat 2 tbsp olive oil over med high heat.  Season beef with salt and pepper and add to hot soup pot.  Cook over med high heat, stirring as needed for about 10 minutes.  Remove meat and place in a bowl.  Add the other 2 tbsp of olive oil; add onion, mushrooms, carrots, celery, garlic and herbs.  Saute over med high heat for 7-10 minutes until vegetables are tender…being careful not to brown.  Return meat to pot, add beef broth, tomatoes, and barley.  Simmer over low heat for 50 minutes.  Add peas and black eyed peas and continue simmering for 30 minutes. 

Serve. 

project 365 {week one}

I began taking photos for project 365 on Monday 12/28 because the way I plan on putting my album together is Monday-Sunday.  This is the way I look at my weeks...I don't think of my week as beginning on Sunday, but rather Monday. 

Each Sunday afternoon I hope to upload, edit, and post my weekly project 365 photos here...

12.28.09 Celebrating Mom's Birthday (and my half birthday) at Outlaw Blues

12.29.09 one of Brian's gifts to me....we opened our gifts from each other when we returned from IL

12.30.09 A visit to Crave Cupcakes (vanilla is my favorite!)

12.31.09 A kiss (at 10:30 pm) to celebrate the New Year!

1.1.2010 A farewell party for our good friend Ken Oliver who is moving to Malaysia later this month.

1.2.2010  A great way to start the year, lunch at Red Robin...of course, all I had for dinner was a baked sweet potato..so it's all good, right?!

1.3.2010 my 2010 planner decorated and ready to use!