Happy 2011!!!

Nice day

Yesterday was my clean-up-the-last-minute-wrapping-crafting-miscellaneous-accumulated-stuff.
Today is my stay-in-my-pajamas-and-play-on-the-computer-day.
Ahhhhhh . . .

Merry Christmas to All!

Busy, busy, busy

'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house,
Were crafts piled high that might not get done.
As I looked at all the things to do, I started to grouse,
"NEXT year I'll start earlier, and it will be more fun!"

Okay, that's not really how it went, but I am busy working on all the things I need to finish before now and the end of the week.  Haven't mailed the packages I need to mail yet, nor done even one card.  Oh well, it IS the thought that counts, right?!?!

Ho, Ho, ho!!!!!!!!!!

Something I'm loving right now . . .

Something new I'm loving right now . . .   the SEAT WARMERS in my "new" car (the car is a used car, but it's new to me). 

Yes, I KNOW I live in Southern California.  Yes, I KNOW it doesn't get that cold here --- especially compared to the cold and snow I've been seeing on the news in other places in the U.S.

But there's something really FABULOUS about getting in a car on a morning that is registering 45 or 50 degrees and switching on a button and having the seats warm up, ever so slightly, and taking that extra chill out.

Loving it!!!!

Eat. Repeat.

Had a great Thanksgiving.

Ate a lot.
Still eating a lot.
Have a feeling I'll keep this up until Christmas.
Eat.
Repeat.

Yum.
New Year's resolution:

stop eating,

resume diet.

Happy Halloween!



Welcome October!

Ohhh!!  My favorite time of the year is here!
October.

Pumpkins.

Orange.

Fall decorating.

I love it all!!!!!

(Thank goodness the weather is somewhat cooperating;
feels more like fall is coming now that the days are not 100+ degrees!)

Welcome, October!!
Happy Fall!

I'm still here!

I'm still here! 
New school year --- 5th grade, 36 kids. 
Whew; keeps me BUSY!!!

More to come (hopefully soon!)

Diet dilemma

Last night I blew my diet, big time.  Dave & I went to The Prado restaurant (in Balboa Park) with some friends for a wine dinner.  I thought I could be semi-good, but the menu I thought they were serving was not the one they had last night.  This was the menu:

"Reception" --- Pommes Frites with Romesco Sauce   (Okay, these were glorified french fries!!)  served with Moet and Chandon champagne.

First Course --- Seared Diver Caught Maine Scallops wrapped with Prosciutto, black truffles, wild Oregon mushrooms, red wine reduction, rosemary oil --- served with a Pinot Grigio

Second Course ---  California Spiny Lobster Salad, apricot & fennel, dressed in a dijon truffle vinaigrette --- served with a Bordeaux Blanc    (Our least favorite course)

Third Course --- Foie Gras Crusted Organic Veal Chop, grilled peaches and summer corn, blueberry gastrique --- served with a Bordeaux Rogue   (Everyone raved about this dish --- the veal chopped was excellent!)

Dessert ---  Ricotta Cheesecake Tart, dark Belgian spiced sauce, pear crisp & seasonal berries --- served with a port-like dessert wine.    (At this point, I figured I might as well eat some of this too, since I had eaten all the other courses & had the wine.  I'm glad I did . . . it was absolutely delicious!!)


Now, back to yogurt and oatmeal, and lean and green meals.   Yummy!    

Be careful what you wish for!!!

Never mind what I said about it being cold.  The weather is more than making up for being cold by being HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT!!  (Did I mention that it is HOT?!?!?!)  Today our temperature gauge showed 104 degrees.  HOT!!

Do you know what this is???

I had to wear one today.

A windbreaker.

IN JULY!

It was downright COLD today!!

What's up with that??

My brother-in-law in Maryland is roasting with 100 degree weather.

I had to put on a windbreaker in southern California in July.

Very WEIRD!!

Happy Independence Day!

I hope you all had a Happy 4th of July Independence Day!
(My husband refuses to say, "Happy 4th of July".  He says we're celebrating because it's our Independence Day, and that it should be referred to as such.)

I'm not as picky, but I guess he does have a point. 

We had a nice day, enjoying the beautiful, sunny weather, but
the only fireworks we watched were ones on TV.
Happy Birthday, America!!

(I think that will be okay with my husband, too).

Vote early! Vote often!!

Don't forget to vote for my friend Sarah's TV show!  She really is a dynamic personality, and her dedication to kids is inspiring!

Sarah's Audition: Show for Kids-(Sarah Hernholm) - OWN TV    

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day
to my awesome dad!

It's finally here!

Here's to summer!

Dave and I went out to La Quinta
for a few days, and soaked up the sun.
It was fabulous!

Here's to summer sun and fun!

Kids can change the world!

Please take a look at my friend Sarah's audition for Oprah's show and place a vote for her. This is a great concept for getting kids involved in community service! 


Sarah's Audition: Show for Kids-(Sarah Hernholm) - OWN TV  

myown.oprah.com


You can vote as often as you'd like!  Sarah and I used to teach together, and she started a non-profit organization to empower kids to change the world --- Whatever it Takes.  Her organization is called WitKids, and my students did a bunch of projects during the school year.  You can learn more about WitKids by visiting her website, www.witkids.org     If you click on the Blog button, you can scroll down to "Westwood WitKids 2009-2010" and see a video tribute to my students.  : )
 
Now, go vote for Sarah's video!

Summer. Is. Almost. Here!!!

Only TWO more days of school left.
Monday, the 5th graders have their Promotion ceremony.
Tuesday, they have games & a picnic.

Then,

summer!

Aaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

We don't have anything major planned; no big trips.

But just having time to sleep in will be a luxury!

First up on my list of "to do" is to redo our master bedroom.

Move furniture around.

Repaint.

Probably new curtains.

Next is to read.  A lot.  The pile of books I have stacked on my headboard.

And the new book my friend Sarah lent me, The Help.

And visit friends I don't see most of the year, because I'm too busy

with all of the school stuff.  Can't wait to start making our "lunch dates."

Only two. more. days.

Happy Birthday!

                                              Happy Birthday to my "baby," Nicholas. 
                                                           He is 23 years old today! 
                                                                  Love you, Nick!

Lost

It ends.

Tonight.

After six years.

Many unanswered questions.

Hopefully, answers will be provided tonight.

If not, there will be a LOT of unhappy viewers!

I'm just hoping that however it ends, it makes sense to me!!

Me with the boys. Camera not working very well,
so picture quality isn't that great.

The occasion was celebrating my dad's 80th birthday.

Happy birthday, dad! You look great!

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Easter!!!

Sorry I haven't posted in so long . . . WAAAYYY too much work to do on the on-line classes I have to take for my California Teachers of English Learners certificate.  On week 5 (out of 6) of my 3rd class; only ONE more 6-week class after this!!!

The haircut!

BEFORE:

DURING:

   

AFTER:

And yes, Nick donated all of his hair to Locks of Love.

I am a Phoenix . . . again.

I've started my last two on-line classes that I need to take

for a Certificate to teach English Language Learners in California.

Yes, I've been teaching for 14 years now.

Yes, I've taught English Language Learners (ELL's) along the way.

Yes, I have my Master's degree, and am a National Board Certified Teacher.

But I'm still required to have this certificate.

The reading is interesting and I like learning.  But having to write papers (APA style, of course) and post responses to questions and 'discuss' things with classmates for four to seven days out of the week is hard, especially when I'm teaching 5th graders full time!

Oh well.  These two classes should be the last two I need to take.

And then, I'll get to take a pay cut, because of the awful mess California is in.

Ah, the joys of teaching . . .

I AM A PHOENIX

(although a tired one!)

Much as I dislike the snow and cold in person,

I enjoy watching the Winter Olympics when they roll around.

Such dedication of those athletes!
Who do it for the love of the sport, not the money.

I'm rooting for Apolo Ohno to win a record amount
of medals at the Winter Olympics.

He is awesome to watch, so smooth on the ice.
(And cute, too!)

So here's to the athletes from all of the countries,
for their dedication and hard work.

Who Dat????

Who dat says they're going to beat the Saints?

Not the Colts.

"It was all meant to be. It was destiny,'' said Drew Brees,
after leading his New Orleans Saints to a win,
and being named the MVP of the Super Bowl!

Congratulations Drew Brees and New Orleans.

You deserve it!

Are you ready for some football . . .

I'm ready for today's Super Bowl, even though my beloved Chargers are not in it.  (Nor do they deserve to be, after their loss in the playoffs.)

But I digress.  I'm excited to be rooting for the New Orleans Saints.

Mostly, because of this guy:

Quarterback Dree Brews.

Who used to play for the Chargers.

But got injured, and subsequently got let go by the Chargers.

And who today may lead his new team, the Saints,
to victory in the Super Bowl.

Good for him!  AND, he is an awesome presence in the city of New Orleans, who is still trying to recover from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

So, my heart goes to the Saints.

They have a tough fight today, as Peyton Manning is one heck of a quarterback!  But I'm pulling for Dree and the Saints to pull it off.

GO SAINTS!!

To do . . .

boo - hoo !!!!

My beloved Chargers LOST to the Jets yesterday in the playoffs.

They actually beat themselves.

Interceptions.

Lots of penalties.

(Including ones for unsportsmanlike conduct!)

A kicker who forgot how to get the ball through the uprights.

Stupid mistakes.

Boo-hoo!

So, the fans of San Diego are starting their familiar chant,

"There's always next year."

(Which is true, expect poor LaDanian Tomlinson

probably won't be on the team;

this was his chance to get a Super Bowl ring.)

Oh well.

There are bigger issues.

Donate to Haiti relief!

just a thought

design by Stephanie Ackerman @ Homegrown Hospitality

Why didn't I think of that!

Why didn't I think of doing this book?  Robyn Okrant followed all of Oprah's "best life" advice for a year, and then wrote about it.  I love that idea!  In fact, I wish I had thought of it!  I guess I'll have to add this book to my reading list!

Starting a new year

We had an absolutely fabulous New Year's Eve, spent with friends and neighbors, enjoying great food & wine (diet? what diet?)

Now, of course, comes the reflection part of starting a new year. Resolutions. The time-honored tradition of thinking about changes you want to make in a brand new, unspoiled new year.

My resolutions always seem to center around (1) losing weight, and (2) getting organized/decluttered. This year will be a bit different. For one, I've lost weight, so now my goal will be to KEEP IT OFF! I'll be getting back to sensible portions, little or no bread and potatoes, no sugar, and stepping up my exercise routine. (diet? what diet? I thought there was a rule about not dieting over Christmas and New Years . . . )

As far as getting rid of all of my clutter, my new obsession is watching the show Hoarders. Okay, I'm not saying I AM a hoarder . . . but I'm afraid I could grow up to be a hoarder, since I seem to have zillions of reasons why I like to keep stuff . . . the "I might need it someday" syndrome. I also become very emotionally attached to my stuff. So, I watch Hoarders to pick up on any warning signs . . . I've already asked my neighbors to watch for signs --- for instance, if I start accumulating cats (which apparently is typical of hoarders). Having one --- fine . . . more than five, they'd better get me help! : )

In the meantime, I'm getting rid of a lot of my 'things' that I haven't been using, as a way to start the new year less cluttered and more organized.

What are you going to work on this year? If you want some advice for a multitude of issues, go to this article, Handbook for Life: 52 Tips for Happiness and Productivity, on the ZenHabits site. It's a list "common-sense tips that we often forget about." And if any of them interest you, there are links for you to further explore the topic. And then, check out The Essential Zen Habits of 2009 for more good advice.

Happy reflecting and resolving!