Wordless Wednesday ...again

Wordless Wednesday

These are the art stools for kids at the Port Discovery in Baltimore. 

Saturday 1 miles

Sunday 2 miles

Monday 1 miles

Tuesday 6  miles

Wednesday 1miles

Thursday 2 miles 

Friday  2 miles

Total this week 15  miles 
Total last week 10 miles
Total in 2011 234 miles this year

Teacher Throwback Thursday

A few more things around the house that remind me of my teaching days.  Thought I'd share.

Clip Rings:: I used to organize a lot using these when I was teaching.  They kept index cards, papers and homemade books in a neat little package.  Recently, I was cleaning up the same pack of cards for the third time.  It hit me, punch a hole clip these together and I won't have to do this...EVER...again.  Now we organize pictures, flashcards and books on these rings.  Super easy for them to use and clean up! 

Labeling:: The room was always well labeled when I taught.  It helped a ton for the kids to see the words and use it in their writing.  We've got most stuff labeled around here.  My daughter will now look at the word, announce the first letter, say the sound  and then happily call out what must be inside. Such fun!  I found post its where the whole sheet is stick, so these are easy to change out and no mess. 

Magnet Boards::We had a large white board just sitting in our bedroom.  The kids had tons and tons of magnets everywhere.  It was like the marriage of peanut butter and chocolate to put the two together.  Now the kids have a magnetic white board in their toy room for their magnets.  We make animal stories on here, play zoo and just have fun.

WIWW

So, I love Wednesdays now.  Not because I get to put pics of my outfits up.  But because I go to Pleated Poppy a few times today to check out the clothes.    Also loving the accountability.  This week I was able to snag pics of  more outfits.  I also turned off the flash and had hubby take a few. 

Heading out in the evening to meet up with my mentor.  Figured I would try a new combo.

Jeans: Old Navy

Sweater: Kmart

Shirt: Costco

Necklace: ?

This is the day I headed into work to sit floor and answer phones.  

Sweater and Tee: Old Navy

Skirt: Oldie but Goodie...?

Shoes: DSW

 This was a preschool day.  My son and I ran a lot of errands while the princess was in school. 

Khaki Pants: Kohls 

Pink Tee: Gap outlet

Jean shirt/jacket:  ?  dunno

Necklace: me

Made the necklace over the weekend and just looking for reasons to wear it, what a geek.  Saw Holly Robinson Pete wear one during an episode of celebrity apprentice (last year) and couldn't get the color combo out of my mind. Michael's was having a sale on beads...so I made it!

Jeans: Levi

Plain White t: ?

New Navy Wrap Sweatshirt: Lucky Brand from Costco

Shoes: Lands End

Even though this outfit is boring (did try it with scarves, necklaces and other shirts) I love it a lot.  I have been drooling over this Lucky sweatshirt since fall 2009 when I tried it on at a GNO.  Saw it at Costco and snatched it up quick...since it was now a reasonable price.  Any ideas of what to put it with?

Tried and True Tuesday.....Milk, Egg and Nut Free

Many of the recipes I use are adapted from recipes I find in books and on the internet.  We adapt because of the food allergies in our home.  At this point we keep our home free of her allergens.  So even if it is a recipe just for Chris and I , I make it safe.  Here are three of our most used recipes.

Pancakes

2 cups flour 4 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 2 Tbsp sugar

½ tsp vanilla extract 3 Tbsp oil or applesauce 1½-2 cups water (this really varies....sometimes I use silk)

These babies freeze really well.  I make a large amount when I have time, we eat another serving a few days later and I freeze the rest.  It's also fun to make them into sandwiches or cut them into strips for easy dipping.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

½ C butter (Earth Balance-vegan)

9 T sugar

½ C light brown sugar

3T silk

1 1/3 C flour

1 t baking powder

½ t salt

Choco chips (Enjoy Life-milk and egg free)

350 for 15 minutes

This recipe is super easy and makes great cookies.  But I have found if I put the dough in a brownie pan, they are completely amazing cookie bars.  These also freeze really well.  If you store them in an airtight container with a slice of bread they stay moist for most of a week.

WIWW..only two outfits

This weekend I was either away or sick.  This is a photo of me sitting by the fire at our mountain home. 

  Boots: Xmas present from kids

Dress: Gap Outlet

Scarf: Gap Outlet

Sweater: Lands End

Boots: Target

Not sure if this outfit goes, but I wanted to wear my knee high boots.  This dress looks sort of blah like this, but it had adorable short sleeves and neckline for spring weather.

Bad picture...still haven't perfected getting the right picture with flashes and doing it myself.  May have to drag the hubby into taking the pictures.  I am wearing this for a fun day with the kids. We're hitting the playground store (which lets the kids play on their equipment free on Wed.) and gymnastics/ballet class.  Later I have a work meeting so I may switch into a skirt or do another outfit.

Sweater: target

teal tee: kohls

Jeans: Old navy

Flats: DSW

It is very hard to see my accessories.  I've been trying hard to wear more. Love how people on the pleated poppy  wear such cute combos of things.    But...wait I'll take another picture, because this is today..

 Necklace and earrings:?

Last but not least a photo of new shoes I bought over the winter.  In fact it was my sweet hubby who called me (we were shopping in different sections of the outlets with the kids) to have me come look at a great deal.  My feet have been itching for warmer weather and a chance to wear these shoes.

Check out some of the awesome things people are wearing this week at The Pleated Poppy

Fitness Friday...a playlist

Saturday  5 miles

Sunday  6 miles

Monday 3 miles

Tuesday  5 miles

Wednesday   2 miles

Thursday 3 miles 

Friday 5 miles

Total this week 29  miles 
Total in 2011 209 miles this year

Have you been dying to know what is on my play list as I walk the streets of King of Prussia?  I sort of consider my tunes as the soundtrack to a good movie.  I change them every so often.  Some friends I know change theirs for almost every workout.  I'm not that good, but aspire to be someday.  Here is what is in the file known as "walking" on my phone


Take a chance on me ABBA
King of Anything Sara Bareilles
Stacy's Mom Fountains of Wayne
Dream a little dream of me Michael Buble
Stuck like Glue Sugarland
Kiss a Girl Keith Urban
Around the way Girl  LL Cool J
Lisztomania Pheonix
Friends in low places Garth Brooks
Shake it Metro Station
Upside Down Jack Johnson
She's Country Jason Aldean
Toes Zac Brown Band
Gives you Hell The All- American Rejects
Boom Boom Pow Black Eyed Peas
Out Last Night Kenny Chesney
New York Groove Ace Frehley

What's for lunch Wednesday

Still love the bentos, just been forgetting to post them.  In fact many times I forget to take a picture. So here are a few I made this week.

Flower Show bento.  Flower shaped tofutti and jam sandwiches, apples cut into flowers, pineapple and bagel chips.

 

Restaurant Bento: Tortillas with marinated meat and lettuce, pineapples and graham crackers

Top Ten Tuesday...ways to feel wonderful

Even if you know me, you may not know that I'm confident when it comes to my looks.  Never been asked to model, never been in a pageant....so I don't mean that sort of confident.  What I'm referring to is when I look in the mirror, I am pleased with what I see. Yes, there are days when I would rather be slimmer, taller or have some sort of different physical attributes.  But I like myself, there I said it.  I like me, just as I am.  Here are top ten ways I encourage myself to feel pretty

1. I say (out loud or to myself) in the mirror, "you are beautiful".  I also try to tell my kids this everyday too...or some version of it.  Telling the kids is the easy part!

2. Make up, clothes and hair.  I'll only do one on these topics.  I wear what I like.  I put time and effort into myself on most days.  It used to make me feel selfish to take longer than 5 minutes getting ready.  Now I relish trying to whip up cute looks fast!

3. I listen to what my husband says.  What on earth does that one mean?  He tells me I look pretty or nice and I believe him.  Enough said.  This goes for what my friends say too.  I try hard to know how to take a compliment.

4. I mostly do things I am good at and things I like.  Love to try new things, love to take on new hobbies. But if you ask me to go out for Sushi, I say no.  Want to jump out of plane?  You got the wrong lady.  Now that I am 35, I know myself well and I generally try to do things I like. Who has time to waste?

5. I usually wear beautiful pajamas.  A few years back I ditched most of my uggo pjs and went with pretty sets that look and feel good.  No, I'm not talking about lingerie.  But I am talking about florals, striped,soft, silky,  cozy sets with feminine flair. It's fun to feel cute before hitting the sack.

6.I've mentioned this before on my blog.  But with all the hustle and bustles a young family provides, I try to do something for myself daily.  Sometimes, it is just sitting to type this.  Other days it's a bubble bath, time to read, walking alone or time with friends.  Come to think of it.  I probably do several things a day just for me!  Go me!

7. I'm a cheerleader.  Not the pom pom types.  But I like to encourage others (or at least try to). What is awesome about this is that I hear that positive cheerleadery type voice most of the time.  When I'm trying to get something done my inner voice says "you can do it".  If I've finished all the laundry she says" you are a rock star."  Sounds funny but it helps my confidence tons!

8. My kids go to bed almost every night by 8:00.  this means time with my husband.  Some nights it means guilt free night out with friends.  Either way, I enjoy the time with the kids, but we stay stern on their bedtime so we have time together.

9. I eat and drink things that are good for me.  This is a tough one, it  happens the majority of the time.  Usually when I'm home I eat well.  But it feels awesome to take good care of yourself.

10. I laugh as often as I can.  Life is tough.  There are lots of reasons to get down.  But when a good reason to laugh comes along, I let go and laugh.

 

Last tip is to get at least 6 hugs a day.  Learned this as a teacher and it works!

Fitness Friday...low numbers

Saturday  0 miles

Sunday 1 mile

Monday 2 miles

Tuesday 2 miles

Wednesday 1 mile

Thursday  0 miles 

Friday 2 miles

Total this week  10 miles 
Total in 2011 180 miles this year

Boo!  How did I only walk 12 miles this week?  Well, to be honest, every time my early alarm went off, I didn't get up. This week none of my walks were in the morning.  I either went for a walk after Chris got home or I snuck some walks in during outings.  This is fine, but I'm not getting the quiet alone benefits of my previous weeks.  And guess what?  I notice the difference...not in how my clothes fit or on the scale.  But in how my body and mind feel.  Usually with a full week of walking I have a nice gentle sore feeling in my legs.  I love that feeling.  On my early morning walks, I have time to clear my head.  Which, in turn, makes me more ready to face the day.  This week felt a bit like the movie Groundhog's Day.  Each morning G would wake up before the second alarm would go off.  I'd drag myself to the shower, always wishing I had walked.  I'd rush through getting ready before my kids got out of their rooms.  But what was more tangible was my feeling.  I was in general annoyed with something the kids had done by 8:00 am.  

I am happy to have this blog, because it made me sit down and write out how this week was different.  With so many negatives, I am going to try to get back on track.  When my first alarm goes off, I'm hoping to get out and on the street!  Walking is one of the ways I take good care of myself.  When I don't do it, I suffer.  My mother had a sign that said "When Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."  How true and fitting for this week.

WIWW

So, I love the idea of WIWW.  I knew it would make me think a bit more about what I put on each day.  But it goes a step further.  Not only did I look in the mirror, but I photographed myself. My photog skills stink, big time.  Need to clean my mirror, and work on the self portrait, but this is something I will do again!
 

This was for my day of doctors, school, lunch and playgrounds. Lands End Cardi, Old Navy Tee,  Levi Jeans, Shoes from DSW

 

Levi  Jeans, Eddie Bauer Shirt,  Dress Barn Jacket

 Hanging at the house Day: Levi Jeans and a sweatshirt I snagged at Costco

 Saturday with the family:  Levi Jeans, Eddie Bauer Sweater Wrap Vest

This was me trying to figure out how to take a good picture.  These pics are so blurry..WIWW will be a work in progress.   Love going to the website http://thepleatedpoppy.com/blog/ to see some inspirational outfits.  I generally think I look pretty cute every day.  My clothes definitely express my personality, but not completely. I love the way the other ladies put their ensembles together.

Tried and True Tuesday....Lettuce Cups

I love, love, love recreating restaurant food.

First I searched the internet for a recipe.  Had to doctor it up a bit because I never have exactly the right ingredients.  This is the recipe I came up with.

• 16 Green Lettuce leaves
• 1 pound ground chicken breast 
• 1 large onion -- chopped 
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic 
• 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Asian chili pepper sauce 
• 1 can (8 ounce size) sliced water chestnuts
• 1 bunch green onions -- thinly sliced 
• 1 head mini bok choy-- diced
• 1 cup shitaki mushrooms--diced 
• 2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil 
.  The first time I made it added more than 2 ts of the chili pepper sauce (which I am in love with by the way).  The second time I stuck to the recipe, much better. Also I couldn't find ground organic chicken so I used my food processor.  I ended up liking the texture better that way.  I've made them several times and loved them!