Monday, August 29, 2011

Simple as Pie

Key Lime Pie

This pie couldn’t be any simpler to make. I have made it numerous times, and it always seems to go over great with those inhaling it. Some slices even disappear and are hid so that others do not eat it all before they get a chance to get a piece. There’s nothing to making it though. If you’re looking for a quick pie to whip up in 15 minutes, back in 15 minutes, and let refrigerate for the rest of the time…..this is the pie you’ve been looking for.

Ingredients:

Graham cracker pie crust

(2) 14 oz. cans of Eagle Brand condensed milk

1 cup key lime or regular lime juice

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 lime

Directions:

Heat the oven to 325 degrees.

In a bowl, combine the condensed milk, eggs, and lime juice together. Whisk until well blended. Add to pie shell and bake for 15 minutes.

After the pie has baked, refrigerate for at least 2 hours. After it is chilled, combine the sour cream and powdered sugar in a bowl and mix together. Spread the topping on top of the pie. Then, cut the lime into wedges and add to the top.

Note:

I sometimes add a little more powdered sugar to the sour cream. I also do not put nearly all of the topping on the pie. I am not a huge fan of tons of the topping, so I just put enough to give the taste and cover it properly. It’s not “gooped” on.

Try it and let me know what you think!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Check, Check, and Check

Last week {or was it the week before?}, I promised you the fruit recipe that was served at a shower that I recently co-hosted for my dear friend, Erin. I’m doing some cleaning up around the house and am ready to toss this recipe that is scratched on paper. The only way to do that though is to record it permanently on here.

fruit

Ingredients:

Fruit:  Strawberries, Blueberries, Grapes {Red and white}, Kiwi, & Peaches

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon corn starch

1/2 cup orange juice

1/3 cup water

1/8 cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons flour

Directions:

Cut fruit and set aside.

Mix other ingredients into a saucepan. Heat until thick. Pour over the fruit.

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In other news, I have checked a couple of more things off of the 101 Things to Do in 1,001 Days.

Number 28 on the list was to take the GRE. After doing a little research, I decided that I’d rather take the shorter route, so I opted for the MAT instead. I’m not going to lie. That test was no joke. I just did the best I could and didn’t worry about it after that. From what I’ve understood, they really don’t hold it against you as long as you take your course work seriously and make good grades. Seeing as how I’ve made it through my first semester with a 4.0 with three classes, I don’t think they’re going to kick me out.

MAT Scores

Also, I’ve checked off number 54, which was to go to a concert. While I have no pictures to prove it, over the summer a friend and I went to see Sara Evans. Great concert! The girl has quite a voice on her!

Key Lime Pie

Last, today I checked off number 78, which was to send a treat to the fire department. Colby has been gone for well over a week now, but has thankfully returned home. As a welcome back and I’m-so-glad-to-see-you’re-back surprise, I made a key lime pie. Folks, you won’t believe how easy it is to make! I’m hoping it was devoured by the boys tonight, and I sincerely hope that it tasted as good as it usually does. I’ll share the recipe with you later. Maybe it won’t take me until next week to get to it again.

I can’t wait until next weekend. It’s the first shower that I’m hosting on my own at my own house. Plus, it is a three-day weekend. I’m thinking that there’s going to be a lot of fall crafting going on and possibly planting of some new, fresh flowers. I’m in the crafting mood, and I’m simply waiting on pay day to be able to fulfill my need.

I hope you all have a terrific week!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

And Football Begins

Last night, I ventured out of the house {like across the street} to the school’s first football game. My parents and Aly were going to go cheer on the Eagles, so I figured that I would join them.

I had big plans for Aly at the game last night. I had went and picked up a cute dress for her from her mom’s house and had sent a request to my mom to bring a bow and coordinating sandals. Pictures were going to be made at the game, and I wanted them to be super cute. Unfortunately, my plan failed miserably. Aly wasn’t in the best mood, and mom couldn’t find the bow. Alas, she came to the game with the outfit on in the following pictures. While she’s still cute, it was not what I had in mind.

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She was so excited about getting to sit by her cousin. She was even more excited though to see the band. I must admit that I was excited to see them, too. I hear them practice every afternoon, so I knew that they had a good show.

While we waited patiently, Neal scored a touchdown. The cheerleaders threw the footballs like I did once upon a time. Folks, I didn’t even stand up to catch on because I know of my lacking ability in the hand-eye coordination department. It’s nearly impossible for me to catch something, and usually when I am close to catching something, I let it go right by me because I’m afraid it’s going to hit me. It’s sad really. Low and behold though, the football landed right in my lap, which I in turn gave to Aly. It couldn’t have happened any better.

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Finally, we made it to half-time. The band approached the field. While I thought that she would have a more excited reaction since it’s what she’d been waiting the whole game for. Her reaction consisted of this stance the entire time.

Football 2011 Collage

The effect of Alabama heat and humidity = Hair is all over the place & Sweat

Overall, I think she had a good time, and that’s what it was all about to begin with.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Fall

If you’re not wanting to hear about my desperate plea for fall to arrive, you may want to ignore my posts at least until the beginning of September. I simply don’t think I’m going to wait until the first official day of fall to break out the décor.

{Don’t worry Andrea. I won’t break it out until after the shower.}

Anyhow….last time I posted I was thinking about all of the wonderful aspects of life that fall brings with it. While I was browsing Pinterest today {big surprise…ha!}, I found the most perfect description of fall and felt the need to share it with you.

I’ll probably be printing this and framing it somewhere in the house as part of my fall art.

Fall

Isn’t it just perfect?

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

What I Desperately Want

 I think we’ve all been noticing it. Slowly, but surely we are all noticing it. It’s the little hints that make us wish for it. As for me, I’m about to burst wide open hoping for more of it. Some of you are wondering what in the world I’m talking about, and I’ll tell you.

FALL

I want it to be here so bad that I’m having to resist slapping my fall wreath on the door and putting up all of my fall decorations that I’ve stuffed away waiting for the right time. I’m thinking about all of the wonderful Scentsy smells that I can turn on in the afternoon when I get home which feels my house with a different kind of coziness and warmth that no other season can bring.

I love summer. I do. I love that I’m out for the summer, and I get to spend hours on the water somewhere and have no guilt about it. I love it.

However, I believe fall is my favorite season of the year. I adore the feeling it gives me. Spring is a strong front runner, but in the end I think fall takes the cake.

Today, my friend and I were taking our three mile walk, and I could tell that fall was closer. There was a nice breeze blowing, and you could just hear the leaves in the trees. Plus, by the time we were done, we weren’t near as hot from the intoxicating heat. I’m telling you that fall is right around the corner.

Fall

{and yes it is driving me crazy that there is a misspelled word in that picture!}

Here’s just a few things of what I love about fall:

  • Jeans
  • Boots
  • S’mores
  • College Football
  • Autumn scents
  • Fall Décor
  • Camp fires
  • Hunting season {believe it or not}
  • Pumpkins
  • Halloween
  • Thanksgiving
  • High school football in our town

The list could really go on for a while, but I am so exhausted that I can hardly think to make a nice, lovely list. Comment and tell me your favorite things about fall, and I’ll add them to my list. I’d love to hear why you like this time of year.

Monday, August 15, 2011

It’s Busy Season!

School is officially back in session in more than one way! I’m back at work teaching 2nd grade for the first time, which is a learning experience in itself. The kids are back in school building on their knowledge, and Colby is back in school for and EMT-Advanced class that will last until December. Plus, I’ll be back to the Master’s program starting in mid-October. Needless to say, the stress is running high around this household. By December, we should all be much more educated. By May, I should know much more about 2nd grade, and by August of next year, I’ll be completely done with my master’s degree.

So, aside from all of the schooling we’re all participating in….here’s what’s been going on!

First of all, I have been relentlessly working on my classroom over the past little while, and I can proudly say that it is finally completed {at least most of it}.

My Classroom Collage

Second, I planned on doing some blogging this past weekend, but if you are a fan of the blog on Facebook then you know that my computer crashed. I worked and worked on it until I finally gave up and made a trip to Milton for a new one. That was the major letdown of the weekend!

The good part to this past weekend is taking a relaxing trip to the farm for the boys {Terry and Colby} to throw a few casts in hopes for a big fish. While there was no such luck, I still enjoyed the time I got to not look at a computer or document for school. Instead, I read The Help. I’ve only read about six or seven chapter, but it is delightfully good. I have a feeling that it will take me quite some time to read it with all of the craziness going on in our lives, but slowly I will finish it. I MUST!

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Oh, and I almost forgot! We celebrated Colby’s grandmother’s 90th birthday!

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Oh, and don’t think I’ve forgotten that fruit recipe! I haven’t, and it will be on here sometime in the coming week.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Here’s The Deal, People!

In just a matter of hours it seems, my life has went from nice and relaxing to crazy and hectic! Summer is officially over for this teacher. Tomorrow, we all start back to work for four days of preparing without all of the little children. Without them, it doesn’t really feel like work though. After all, most of us work on things for our classroom year ‘round.

All I have to do is put the finishing touches on my classroom before I share it with you. It’s the little things like putting the kids’ names on the one thousand and one things that personalize the room and organizing all of my books and making sure the closet has some sort of organization to it. Oh, dear! I might have more to do than I thought. It never ends though. It’s a constantly growing list.

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Over the weekend, I helped host a wedding shower for my dear friend, Erin.

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Overall, I think she had a terrific time and got lots of great things to start the married life off with.

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I also made a recipe that some people were asking about. I’ll save that for another day this week though, so come back by.

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On another note, am I the only person who is wishing fall would hurry up and get here? I’m not sure if it’s the fact that school started later once upon a time, which meant that it was almost fall back then, or if I am just sick of the heat. I am seriously about to have fits to break out the fall decor and watch some college football on the tube. It’s calling my name! I guess it will all be here soon enough.

That’s just one of the many blessings from God….the changing of the seasons. We love each season for different reasons. Just about the time we get tired of one season, another comes sneaking in. Oh, and now I’m thinking about campfires and s’mores!!!

Oh, hurry up fall!

Friday, August 5, 2011

An Empowering Speech

This past week my life was officially overtaken by preparing for this upcoming school year, which will begin for me on August 9th. The students do make their appearance until August 15th though, which is a relief since I feel like I only have a gazillion things to do before they come.

I’ve had way more time this year to prepare, yet I feel like I still have the few days I was left with last year. I’m the victim of procrastination, but to my defense I’ve been slowly learning and understanding the ways of 2nd grade. Let me tell you….I’ve still got a ways to go, but I feel confident that I’ll catch on quickly.

Some people have the crazy idea that teachers actually get two whole months off, but what they don’t realize is that we’re still preparing {even if it’s just a little bit here and there} throughout the summer. We’re putting in countless hours and money, for that matter. We do it because we love our jobs, and we love our students. We want to provide them with the best education possible  in the best environment we can provide, which is why we don’t mind what we do.

I’ve always appreciated teachers, but now that I’m a part of this profession, I have a whole new respect for all of the men and women that taught me over the years.

Today, I was made aware of a speech that Matt Damon made in the defense of the teachers of our country at a Save Our Schools rally. It is certainly motivation for me, and I’m sure it is for many other teachers. It’s nice to know that we do get support outside of the school system.

Please watch this video. It’s certainly not a waste of anyone’s time.

Make sure you say thank you to a teacher, too. It will make their day! Sometimes it’s just the little things that make us feel appreciated =)