Pintadicted

Pintest is so Pinteresting wouldn't you agree. 

I first learned of the addicting website about a year ago, just before it EXPLODED in our country.  I started pinning school ideas, and things that I might do if I had the time, or the money, and of course YUMMY FOOD!  I know I am not as much of an addict as many of the pinterest users out there.  I go through waves.  I use Pinterest when I have free time, when I am bored, or when I actually need ideas!!!  I have used many of the school related pins.  They lead me to blogs and free printables that I can use in my classroom, such an amazing resource! 

I have pinned many foods, but before this weekend, I think I have only used one or two of the recipes.  This weekend, I sat down and did something I haven't done in years (yes I am embarrassed to admit this).....  I planned meals BEFORE my trip to the grocery store!  I sat down and said this is what I will make the next 4 days and I made a grocery list to ensure the ingredients were on hand.  I printed the pinterest recipes and wrote the day I planned on cooking them at the top of the page.  I searched for new recipes and looked at the ones I had pinned in the past.  Last night I made Creole Cod (pinned), I cooked mine on the grill rather than baked in the oven, but it was YUMMY and C thought so as well.  Along with the Cod, I made a broccoli slaw and used some of the creole seasoning on some grill fries (pinned).  This morning, I made some egg muffins (pinned), a yummy and easy go to breakfast food.  I hope they also taste yummy cold like a quiche does?  Tonight I am making a recipe I found years ago in Cooking Light Magazine and I know is SOO hot and yummy, Honey Chipotle chicken sandwiches, but I found the recipe online and pinned it for all to repin (I hope the sauce makes my fake vegetarian chicken taste good, C will love the real chicken).  I am so happy I set myself up for a little cooking success this week.  If you want to check out the recipes feel free to follow me on Pinterest..... PINTASTIC! 

Weight Lifting or Carrying a Handbag?

After reading a blog post about the inventory of one woman's handbag by Tales from a Cafe' Chick, I felt compelled to weigh my own bag and also was reminded I need to clean out the beast.  Like Cafe' Chick, I too feel as if I may be swallowed by my bag while searching for that one important item. 

Just the other day I was out shopping, I used my debit card at one store and returned it to my purse.  Thirty minutes later, I was at the next store buying some more cute clothes when at the register, I was unable to locate my debit card.  I checked with my gift cards, in my open wallet, my smaller change purse, the pockets, the clumps of receipts... my card was no where to be found!!!  I pulled out the credit card that I could find, paid for my items and went to my car to tear apart my disaster bag and successfully found the card I thought my bag had eaten.

So as I sit here and procrastinate my day away, I weighed my purse.  It weighs 5.7 lbs!!!!  A sack of flour or potatoes weigh 5 lbs, a half gallon of milk only weighs 4, new born babies could weigh 5.7lbs, but we are talking about my purse!!!  Something I primarily use to carry keys, a phone and a wallet (which I really only need a card or two).  I asked myself how on earth did I go from the girl who carried the mini bag, to a mid sized, and now a bigger bag carrier?  I know plenty of women who carry bigger bags, and in addition to my handbag, I do carry a work bag, for things like my umbrella, school books, lunch extra pens etc.  But the amount of time I carry that is minimal.  What could be in a 5.7lb bag?  How important are these items?  Do I really need them all?

INVENTORY:

•  Inhaler
• bean-o
• deodorant
• pack of gum
• tube of lipstick
• wisp (for clean teeth)
• floss card
• listerine strips
• pocket mirror
• chap stick
• hand cream
• 4 glass wipes
•  2 alcohol swabs
• nail file
• vision case (eyeglasses in case, contacts, contact case, travel sized contact solution)
• hair ties (12    
• 2 work badge lanyards (Coach)
• 11 quarters
• change purse
• 8 band aids
• check book
• wallet
• expired coupons
• 6 store gift card
• 6 current coupon cards
• wallet (which carries too many store discount cards)
• store flyer
• 3 previous to do lists
• pen
• school photos of the girls
• far too many store receipts to count.

YIKES!!!!  I can't live without carrying any of these things, well besides the expired coupons, lists and receipts..  How about you?  What do you carry?  Can you live with a lighter bag?

Waiting for a wedding

Tomorrow C and I will attend a wedding.  This is the first wedding we have been invited to as a couple and I am so excited.  I know it is incredibly girlie of me to be excited, but we do not get many opportunities to get fussed up and enjoy an evening together.  I am looking forward to seeing my handsome man in a suit.  I'm looking forward to dancing with my sweetie.  Laughing with him and some good friends.  I know that a wedding in a guys eye is just a waste of time that they could be doing other things.  I have one thing to say to this... "WRONG, the chores can wait!"  So we will venture north, enjoy a lovely summer night by the lake and watch as two people promise to love one another for life. <3

Slow Motion

As the summer comes to an end, school teachers across the US are taking time to venture into their classrooms and prepare for the upcoming school year.  That is exactly how I spent my time this week.  The last 3 days I was busy peeling back the tape, opening cupboards, unpacking boxes and reorganizing my classroom supplies.  Today, I am attempting to give my home that super clean it so desperately needs, however, I am in slow motion.  I am feeling extremely lazy.  I am taking more breaks than I am spending time cleaning.  This may be a two day project if I don't get my rear in gear!

Reading Quotes

“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”
― Marilyn Monroe

 

“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.”
― Robert Frost 

 

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

 

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”
― Mother Teresa

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

― Dr. Seus=

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Where there is love there is life.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

Dial 0 for Operator

The two people in the world that I talk to everything about are both traveling.  <insert sigh here>  

C is working abroad and his cell phone does not work outside the US.  So I rely on calls from him which he makes from a work line, emails, Skype etc.  As I mentioned, my cell phone stopped working yesterday, so I sent him an email with the phone number here.  He has not check his email, but has tried to call me.  So he has no idea why I am not answering the phone <insert sigh here>.  I can't talk to him and I can't talk to my bestie about this.  So my mind is racing.  I  have sent emails to his personal and work accounts, left a voicemail on his phone knowing he can't hear it.  I am about to email his supervisor....  ARGH!

Dog Days Of Summer

This weekend, I am dog sitting.  My bestie is taking her summer family vacation.  While her family is sailing the Atlantic, Archie and I are keeping her old girl Dutchess company.  Dutchie is a 15 year old German Shepard who requires meds 3 times a day.  She also has a little incontinence issue when left alone for hours.  Archie and Dutchie get along nicely (Archie tries to get along with every dog he meets, I can't say the same for birds or squirrels).  Archie has learned that the old girl doesn't want to play 24/7 and every once in a while Dutchie will show her playful side and turn herself around in a circle as Archie runs his crazy circles in the yard.  Of course today the two dogs are just trying to figure out why it is so quite here.  Dutchess lives with a LOUD family of 4, the two children are usually running, jumping yelling and laughing throughout the house.  When Archie and I are here we usually have C and the girls with us ( 8 adults and 4 kids can get pretty crazy)

After Archie and I arrived, I did a few chores for my bestie before I took a float in the pool and soaked up some rays.  Then I decided I would take out my laptop and check my email to see if C had sent me an email.  He had to fly out of the country at the beginning of the week.  He was in Germany until today.  He and his coworkers were called to another job in Belgium. Back here states side, hooking up to the internet was a challenge because of a new internet carrier and a standard issued password.  While I was trying to read the passwords on the back of the modem, my cell phone decided to go BONKERS!  It locked up.  I removed the battery and turned it back on.  It started the process of turning on, white screen black screen red circle DROID, <repeat>, white screen black screen red circle DROID, <repeat>, white screen black screen red circle DROID, <repeat>, white screen black screen red circle DROID, <repeat>.  Needless to say it took some time and a call to my cellular carrier before I was connected to the world again.  Actually the phone is currently on the table with the battery removed because it continues to loop rather than turn on.  The dogs are settling in rather than pacing around and following me, oh wait... maybe it is because I have settled in? ;-)

Time Has Past

Nearly 11 months have gone by since I last sat down and shared my Random Thoughts.  Many things in my life have changed and many things remain the same.  11 months ago, I was beginning a new job.  I still hold that job, and thankfully did not need to spend the summer searching for a new teaching position.  C and I are still in love, however his house in Connecticut sold and he lives here in NH with me and Archibald my sweet puppy dog.  We will soon be refinancing the mortgage so I can sever the last tie that holds my EX and I to one another.  The girls are now 7 & 9.... going on 17 & 19.  YIKES they are coming into their independence as adolescence - we'll make it through.    C is making my house 'our home' everyday.  He has built a deck with a slider door off the dining room, pulled the bushes out of the front yard, cut the bushes in the back yard, power washed the house, worked on the electrical and central air.  He is extremely handy and I feel  a tad bit useless when it come to everything.  I hate cleaning (always have), I no longer enjoy cooking (could be my dreadful kitchen), and well my thumbs are flesh colored, NOT green at all.  Is there anything else girly I am supposed to do/love, but don't?  Taking care of children... but we don't have any (full time), nor are we expecting any at this time.  C knows what I want out of our relationship and life and he is slowly working towards my dream.  His dream includes a log home on many acres, that is also something we are working towards.  Step by step we will follow the path and hopefully arrive at all of our destinations