October Goals

Oh October..

This is possibly my favorite  second favorite month next to December of course. I have decided to make a list of goals each month and TRY to finish my list :) I love this month because it's when the weather finally decides to go from scorching hot to crispy cool with the scent of fall lingering in the air. I love all the pumpkins, scary movies, weather changes, fall clothes, and the slight anticipation of the holidays on my mind. Oh but probably the best part about this month is my anniversary :) My one year anniversary is coming up on the 19th. I cannot even begin to put into words how much I have learned over the past year. I really thought I had it all together...then marriage and life happened. I am so grateful for the struggles God has placed in our life, some small and some bigger than others. I learned to lean on God and my husband instead of myself. This past year has brought me so close to my sweet and wonderful husband (even though sometimes I want to punch his lights out) and to trust God's most perfect plan. My life has unfolded before my eyes and it has been so rewarding and beautiful because I finally just TRUSTED it to happen and left it in God's hands. I am a better wife, christian, friend, and woman because of this. We are celebrating our amazing first year together in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico and I am SOOOOO excited :):):) Here is my Bucket list

October Bucket List

1. Enjoy Pumpkin EVERYTHING!!!!

2. Find a new fall lipstick

3.  Christmas shopping

4. Bake a Fall "treat" each week for the teacher workroom

5. Finish my new novel "Julia/Julia"

6. Family Dinner walk after dinner each night

7. Paint my front door

8. Finish the backyard landscape

9. Enjoy staying home and doing "nothing" more on the weekends

10. Start a new woman's bible study once a week

A Day in the Life of a Pre-K Teacher

..I have been wanting to do a day in the life post for quite a while now and so today I linked up with @momfessionals to do a blog post on my oh so glamorous week day life :) I am pretty nosey so I like to take a peek into other people's days and find out what they do...here it is!!!!

5:30 AM alarm goes off and I press snooze .. eventually getting out of bed at 5:45-6 depending on how active I am feeling ( HA!)

Unlock puppy from his cage and watch him race down to his breakfast bowl, all while tormenting Calvin who is also waiting to be fed. 

 6:10 Feed the hungry beggars and make coffee

check on blog, emails, open up Jesus Calling and do a 15 minute study

6:20 Frantically remember that I need to leave by seven...race up stairs, attempt to fix hair and makeup, race back downstairs eat breakfast and head out the door.

7:30 -7:45 arrive at work and start morning car pool duty

7:55 class begins and the cherubs begin walking in one by one...I am telling you if it wasn't illegal to give kids coffee I would totally have a keurig in the classroom for some of my sleepy heads. My kids are NOT Morning people

we begin our day and usually head to a special or two

11:45 I take kiddos to lunch: I have lunch duty so this is the time where I gobble down my lunch while telling my kids to "sit still" "eat your lunch" " No, you may not eat cookies for lunch and thats it"

1:00 off work head home

usually take a 30 minute power nap while the dog is playing outside..fold laundry, empty dishwasher, prep dinner. 

4:30 If and only if aI am feeling energetic enough I will head to the gym for either Body Pump or Body Step

5:30 come home and start preparing dinner..usually Brandy is home by now so he takes Colt for a walk and helps me with some chores.

6:30-7 we eat dinner 

clean up dinner and literally COLLAPSE on the couch...we always watch a movie every night together so we will either watch a movie or show. I try and keep my eyelids open past eight.

in bed at 9:30 and out like a light.

a day in my oh so glamorous life :) 

Butterscotch Apple Breakfast Muffins

So true.....

Last night after cooking my very yummy homemade  Chicken Noodle Soup, I decided I had an itch to bake. I made my Apple Butterscotch Bundt Cake here and decided to revamp it just a little bit by making muffins. Because who doesn't enjoy a muffin that tastes like dessert for breakfast??? I am taking them to work this morning to test them on my very best taste testers...my teacher friends:) 

Shopping List

one box spice cake mix

two boxes instant butterscotch pudding

1/2 cup veggie oil

1 1/4 cup water

one cup of butterscotch chips

one grated large apple of your choice

cinnamon

four eggs

Procedure

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a non stick muffin or cupcake pan

mix oil, water, eggs, cake mix, and puddings together then add butterscotch chips and grated apple

mix together and then pour in your muffin tin. bake for about 40 minutes.

When the tooth pick comes out clean they are done!!!

SO easy! 

WIWW-Teacher Style :)

Hey Fellow Teachers....

Today I am doing a little post on my teacher style AKA what I wear to work.  Alot of people give me grief because I teach Pre-K yet I dress up and look cute. UMMM why wouldn't I?? Yes I am constantly chasing after four year olds, wiping messy faces and hands, and sweating severe back sweat during recess but I like to look nice doing it. For starters I pretty much LIVE at GAP and LOFT. They have the comfiest clothes and they always have a teacher discount..which I love:) I like to be cute but also super comfortable since I am always bending down and running around..GAP and LOFT offer these types of pieces all the time. I am also pretty lucky because I work at a school that allows us to wear jeans on Friday..HALLELUJAH!!!! Staples that I am constantly wearing each week vary from layering tanks with t-shirts, comfy capris of may colors, TOMS TOMS TOMS-I live in my toms- maxi Dresses with a jean jacket is also another staple in my work closetI.  feel as though it is a part of my job to look professional and I have learned to do it in a comfortable and "preschool appropriate" way. here are some of my looks I pulled together. 

I love this outfit because even though its really simple it is pulled together by a cute necklace making it stand out a little bit more:) Plus I have my cute TOMS.

SHIRT GAP

JEANS RALPH LAUREN

SHOES TOMS

NECKLACE KENDRA SCOTT

Adding scarves to any plain or boring tee instantly add a bit of oomph to your outfit. This day I paired my Loft basic black tank with my favorite leopard scarf I found at Nordstroms recently. I paired black and brown (GASP) but found that it worked nicely because the leopard scarf tied in the two colors. 

Pants GAP

Shirt LOFT

SCARF NORDSTROMS

SHOES NORDSTROMS

My Kendra necklaces are a HUGE staple in my closet because I literally wear then with EVERYTHING!!!! I add them to the most plain shirt and it looks awesome!! My neon pink Rayne necklace really adds a pop of color!

SHIRT LOFT

JEANS GAP

NECKLACE KENDRA SCOTT

SHOES TORY BURCH

Skirts are not something to be afraid of if you teach little ones!!! I find that if you find a length that you can at least sit " criss cross applesauce" in you will be good to go:) I love skirts because they are breezy...people its HOTT chasing kids around :) get yourself some skirts!!!

ENTIRE OUTFIT FROM LOFT

SHOES MICHAEL KORS

This is a Friday staple...Layred shirts..jeans..and toms ..and a cute necklace :)

ENTIRE OUTFIT GAP

Flourless Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins

I found this little recipe off of Pinterest and it looked simple and easy so I of course had to test it out! I was pretty impressed! I have been looking to switch up my boing breakfast routine of a smoothie and boiled egg to something else easy and quick since I have to be out the door at 7 am ...ummmm early.... and not a lot of time for thinking about food! I made these yummy muffins in less than 20 minutes and have enough for  the entire week :) This morning I topped it with peanut butter and drank my yummy coffee with it...

Shopping List

Two cups Rolled Oats

two eggs

one cup of greek yogurt

pinch of cinnamon

half cup of honey

two mashed bananas-make sure they are ripe when you mash them

Flax seed

teaspoon of vanilla

teaspoon of baking powere

Procedure:

mix all ingredients together

 grease a muffin pan

Pour ingredients inside! 

bake at 350 for 20 minutes

It is that simple :)

Happy Friday!!!

I don't have a really great new recipe today since I don't plan on cooking tonight buttttt Monday I am doing a new post about "A day in the life"...and I will probably post a pretty yummy recipe too!!! My mama is coming to stay with me this weekend for a girls weekend since Brandon is at a golf tournament! I am so excited! I Love time with my mama! Have a fabulous weekend!!!!!!

Bell Pepper Chicken Pasta

On Sundays after church Brandon and I will occasionally mosey on over to the Farmer's Market nearby. I always want to go and usually beg Brandy to walk around with me instead of racing home so he can watch his beloved golf show..and this time he agreed :) and even bought me my favorite Salted Caramel Mocha from Starbucks. We came across the fruit and veggie stand where I generously selected squash, zucchini, butternut squash, fresh cucumbers, and tomatoes...all of my favorites. Then we came to an interesting pasta booth..all of the pasta was home made, gluten free, whole wheat..and infused with a plethora of flavors. I chose the red bell pepper one and therefore this dish was created :) I knew with just a simple meat and some veggies this would be a great and easy pasta dish!! 

Shopping List

one package of whole wheat linguini-if you happen to be at an awesome farmers market and can find bell pepper infused pasta more power!

one red and one yellow bell pepper cut and diced

two yellow squash cut and diced 

one half of a large yellow onion cut and diced

salt/pepper/tonys

one package of boneless skinless chicken breasts-about four or five

one tablespoon of heavy cream-optional

olive oil

Procedure

Start by sautéing your veggies in a heavy drizzle of olive oil

add some salt and pepper and wait for them to brown

while your veggies are browning you can grill your chicken

I pre marinated mine with salt/pepper/tonys and a little italian dressing for about 3 hours before we made this but it doesn't matter. 

take chicken off the grill and while you are waiting for it to cool add your pasta and cook it until al dente -I like to add olive oil and salt to my water for extra flavor-

cut your your chicken into small strips or chunks for easy bite sized yumminess!

drain your pasta and add the veggies, and chicken, stir in a little more olive oil..add the creme if you choose and a touch more salt and pepper! YUM

Serve with a salad:) ENJOY!

Garlic Shrimp in a Mushroom and Vodka Sauce

I know the word "mushroom" turns most people off but the truth about this dinner is that the mushrooms are completely infused in the delicious sauce so a mushroom flavor is totally absent! If you reallllyy hate mushrooms you could try substituting them for an eggplant, sweet potato, bok choy, asparagus, or another favorite veggie. Mushrooms tend to soak up the flavors and spices that are used in a dish therefore I like that the mushrooms aren't the show stopper in this dish...the shrimp and sauce is! However it is your choice :)! This was a crowd pleaser!

Shopping List

1 lb deveined shrimp

one medium onion diced

12 campari tomatoes diced and or crushed 

1 lb mushrooms- I buy the pre packaged kind that are already washed and sliced

five cloves of garlic-smashed

1/2 cup vodka-or red wine if you like that better

one teaspoon of chili sauce 

1/2 cup of sour cream

1 cup of chicken broth 

salt/pepper/tony sacherys

Procedure

Over medium high heat start by cooking your tomatoes down in a generous drizzle of olive oil

once the tomatoes start to release their juices add in the onions and mushrooms..add a little more olive oil

once those start to simmer together add the garlic and chili sauce and cook until onions are clear

once veggies have cooked together add the sour cream and fold into the mixture

once sour cream is added-color should look like a flesh pink- then you can add in your chicken broth

flavor it with salt/pepper/tonys and your vodka/redwine

cook down and allow the flavors to marry.

add in your shrimp and only cook until pink...turning them once. We don't want rubbery shrimp! Turn  down heat and allow sauce to thicken.

Serve over white rice!

Peanut Butter Banana Bundt Cake

 Okay peanut butter lovers...this one is for you.

I am a huge peanut butter lover.. even better than peanut butter..is peanut butter and chocolate..or wait.. peanut butter and banana! Yeah you know when you were a little kid you LOVED that peanut butter and banana sandwich that mama made! I know I did :) This is a fabulous cake to make for any occasion. I actually made it for my little brothers birthday since he is peanut butter freak. Must run in the family :) There was not one slice left over the two day vacation.....

Here ya go! Courtesey of @mixandmatchmama

Ingredients:

one box yellow cake mix

two small boxes of instant banana pudding 

1/2 cup veggie oil

1 1/4 cup water

4 eggs

2 mashed bananas

1 1/2 cups peanut butter divided

buttercream frosting- I used duncan hines

one sliced banana

Procedure:

preheat oven to 350 degrees

grease your bundt pan

in a medium sized bowl combine cake mix, oil, puddings, water, eggs, and banana. beat in 3/4 cup of peanut butter. Pour butter in pan and bake for 45 minutes

for the frosting: simply combine the butter cream and the rest of the peanut butter...frost cooled cake and garnish with sliced bananas!!

and just for grins a couple of pictures of us at the beach :)