Boredom....

So, can I tell you how much I loathe hurricanes/tropical storms? We have been out of school for the past 2 days for NOTHING! It barely rained here! And now, we will have to make up those days - yuck!!! There goes our first early release day and our first teacher work day! Boo! Anyway, the media just hypes these things up and makes everyone get panicked and then it causes us to have to sit home for two days when we could be working! I am at the point too where I am pretty bored - I'm definitely ready to go back to work tomorrow!

Oh well, nothing I can do now. At least I got to scrap a bit... I finished some assignments for Scrapjazz for the first of the month and also got to scrap a bit for myself! Yay!

Here's my favorite layout that I created during my "tropical storm break":

Card Parties

Yay, I am so excited for my card party tomorrow night! You see, about once a month a bunch of my local card-making buddies get together for a card party. Before hand we decide on a theme and each person makes a card and brings supplies for everyone else to duplicate that card. So, when you leave, you have like 10 different cards! We always have a blast - hanging out, gossiping, enjoying tasty beverages and delicious snacks! Everyone brings a dish to share as well. Last month, my sister Susan joined us for our card party when she was in town - it was great to be able to share this with her!

Here's my card for tomorrow's party - the theme is birthday cards:

-The Rooster-

"The Rooster" - as my friends Laura and Rick call it, "will never let you down!"

Since I started drinking wine a few years back, my wine tastes have indeed evolved. I used to only prefer white wines - Chardonnay or a nice Pinot Grigio. While, I still enjoy these wines, I have recently been introduced to a whole new world of red wine choices.

I have to say that my most favorite variety is Pinot Noir. And, my most favorite brand that I've sampled thus far is Rex Goliath "The Rooster". Now, this is not an extravagent wine by any means (it runs about $9 a bottle), but it is quite tasty!

So, for all of you wine-drinkers out there... what is your favorite? I may need to give it a whirl, so I can continue my evolution in wine consumption!

Oh, and if you try out "The Rooster", let me know what you think of it!

Cheers!

Back to School...

Oh my, how can it possibly be "Back to School" time again... Didn't we just get out for summer vacation? For the past week, Mindy and I have been HARD at work preparing our classroom for this coming school year. Today, I am happy to report, we finally finished (for the most part). I think we've created a warm and friendly atmosphere, it's home to us for the next 10 months!

Here are a few shots of our new room...

So.... would you want to spend 2nd grade with us????

**** A few of you have asked how Mindy and I share a classroom - we co-teach or team-teach. Basically we have 2 classes of kids put into one classroom. So, for example, in the past we've had 36 kids (18 each) but we all reside in one room. Mindy and I teach everything together all day long. Usually one of us will lead a lesson and the other will walk around and help kids or pull a small group, etc. It works out really well for us and we absolutely love this style of teaching!

what a day...

So, today was my first *official* day back to school (pre-planning)... Of course I was excited and anxious and ready to get back into a routine... Just like any other year. Anyway, this morning I woke up early (too early if you ask me), did my hair all cute, put on make up and a fun outfit (complete with a fun new necklace from target). Then I ran downstairs to put on my sandals, grab a diet coke and be outside in time for Mindy to pick me up. Thankfully I was ready in time and we left for school.

Fast forward 2 hours... I've walked all over the place, said hello to everyone, chatted it up with collegues, etc. I'm standing with Mindy talking to a few other teachers and one of them mentions, "Kristi... do you know that you are wearing two different shoes?" I'm like "HUH???"... Of course I then looked down at my mis-matched sandals and realized how silly I looked. It wasn't long before the rest of the faculty knew too... as my assistant principal then called me up for the "best dressed award of the day"... so, yes, I started out the school year as the ditzy blonde girl who can't match her shoes...

Regardless, it's good to be back... now I just need to pay attention to my shoes, as much as I pay attention to my hair and accessories! :) Oh, what a way to start off the school year!

Luau Fun...

If you are looking for a recipe for fun all you need is about 15 friends, lots of sangria and yummy drinks, some fun tropical lei necklaces, and a place to party... Yesterday we had a Luau - themed housewarming party and it was a blast (if I do say so myself!)... My sister and her boyfriend came as well as some of our best friends that we've made while living down here in West Palm Beach. This was the perfect end to summer - relaxing with good friends, good drinks, and good laughs!

Here are a few of the photo highlights from the party!

YUM-O!

So last weekend I was flipping through my Rachel Ray Everyday magazine and I discovered a recipe for the most delicious salsa EVER! I just had to make it for my parents who were coming over for dinner on Saturday! It was a huge hit!














Here's the recipe for Roasted Tomato Corn Salsa (if you'd like to try it):

1. First, you have to roast the tomatoes....
16 ripe plum tomatoes
EVOO
minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
a sprinkle of thyme (or about a Tbsp fresh thyme)

- Cut tomatoes length wise, gently squeeze or scoop out the seeds. Put tomatoes skin side down in a baking dish. Drizzle the tops with EVOO, add some minced garlic (about 1 clove) and the thyme. Bake at 375 for 40 minutes, turn up the temp to 400, bake 20 min more to let the tomatoes carmalize a bit, then turn the oven off and leave the tomatoes in for an additional 10 min. Take them out, let them cool, then chop them up!

2. Now, to make the salsa... you need:
2 ears corn
1 poblano pepper
the rest of the garlic
1 medium onion chopped
1/4 cup tightly packed cilantro
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
the juice of one lime
salt and pepper

-First, cut the pepper lengthwise, seed and stem it. Put the pepper skin side down in a skillet over med to med-high heat. Put the 2 ears of corn in the skillet too. Keep the pepper and corn on for about 10 min to brown the skin a bit and make the corn golden brown (you will have to turn it as you go).
- Cut the kernels off the cob, add to the tomatoes, discard the black portion of the pepper skin and chop the pepper and add it to the mixture.
- Chop the onion and cilantro - add the onion, garlic, cilantro, pepper, lime juice, and a dash of salt and pepper to the mixture.

Enjoy! Let me know if you try it - trust me, it's delish! It will keep for 4-5 days in your fridge!