Thursday's Treat

As this Thursday is our Friday (since we are off for Good Friday), I figured my fellow educators could use a treat... so I made an orange cake... although, it is more lemon than orange... Here is the recipe:

Preheat oven to 325

1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 pkg. lemon pudding mix
3/4 C. orange juice
1/2 C. vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 t. lemon extract

1/3 C. orange juice
2/3 C. sugar
1/4 C. butter

Mix cake mix, pudding mix, 3/4 c. OJ, oil, eggs, and lemon extract. Pour into a greased bundt pan. Bake for 50-60 mins. (I baked mine 50 mins.)  Let cool.

In a saucepan, cook 1/3 c. OJ, sugar, and butter for 2 minutes. Drizzle over cake. (I punched holes first using a toothpick)

Book Club 2010: Update

1. Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs
2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (audiobook)
3. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd (audiobook)
4. The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson (audiobook)
6. The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy (2nd Edition) by Vicki Iovine
7. Holes by Louis Sachar (school)
8. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich (audiobook)
9. Real Murders by Charlaine Harris (audiobook)
10. The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley (audiobook)
11. Key Lime Murder by Joanne Fluke (audiobook)



Currently Reading:

The Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke -- if I ever find it again!! AND if I can ever stay awake long enough to read more than a few pages! (Hence why most of my books this year are audiobooks!)


Currently listening to:


Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris-- this is the first in the Sookie Stackhouse series that has inspired the True Blood tv series. I have tried to watch the show and HATED it. However, I have had many recommend the books. So far, so good.

Links:

Audible.com 

Goodreads.com
If you join, let me know-- we can be friends!

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag

The Cream Puff Murder


Dead Until Dark

Spring Cleaning!

In keeping with my theme that Spring is for renewal... I have changed up the blog backround and layout... Thought we could use a splash of color!

And in keeping with my entry title... I hope to get some cleaning done around the house today-- just as soon as I recover from the HUGE, carb-loaded IHOP breakfast I had this AM.   :)

I've had a great weekend-- which I needed desperately! Looking forward to a SHORT week at school, and another FUN weekend coming up!

Security Blanket

What a week! I feel like I say that every week lately. As I have already mentioned, this is a very trying school year.

Today was especially rough at school... all sorts of nonsense. Plus I was really tired to begin with-- was up late (after dozing off on the couch only to be awoken by a major Thunderstorm...) Then the internet was down, so I couldn't chat with the hubby-- always a downer!

During these tough times I like to identify and focus on things that make me feel better. Growing up I, like my buddy Linus here, had a security blanket. (well, I STILL have it but do not carry it around-- though maybe it would make me feel better at school!)

So I have decided to make a list of some of my grown-up "Security Blankets":

*Matt... I cannot wait for him to be here! I will be much calmer and much happier I am sure!

* My cats... yes, I am a crazy cat lady! But after a crappy day at school, it's nice to have some unconditional love from the furry children. They know when I am upset, and will just come sit with me.

* My family... They are awesome... from advice from Gma to help moving things & heavy lifting from the brothers, everyone has been most helpful.

* Audible.com... I don't have much time to read lately-- something I have always used as an escape... but audiobooks on the iPod seriously help. I love to get lost in a great story, especially if it takes my mind off other worries, commutes to school, or household tasks.

* My friends... Like the fam, my friends have been a huge help during this stressful time. Luckily I have some amazing friends at school that help out when I am about to fall apart. Outside of school I have also called more upon the friend brigade... from changing litter, to taking junk to Goodwill for me... from taking me out to eat to offering to paint the nursery... I've got AWESOME friends!

*My kitchen... baking always calms me down... and luckily, I have some GREAT taste-testers at school!

Sometimes life is hard... and often it is not fair. But when those hurdles continually pop up in my way, I turn to these things that give me comfort or make me feel better, even if just temporarily.

There are not words for how ready I am for some CHANGE! And isn't that what Spring is all about-- change... rebirth... new beginnings? BRING IT ON, I say!

First of all, I am so frustrated with the whole immigration process for the hubby. I won't bore you with the ugly details, but SERIOUSLY! Something's got to give! The process is long and tedious on it's own... throw in hormones, stress, and good ol' fashioned impatience-- and it's a NIGHTMARE! I need him here! I can't do all this on my own much longer! And it seems it has been one obstacle after another. I'm not an overly political person-- but YES, there needs to be some immigration reform-- and SOON!

Next, school is on my last nerve. I have some FANTASTIC students-- a few. But overall this year has been a headache. I have never been around this much apathy in my life. And yes I know, they're just children. But even children should have some dreams... a goal... a desire to succeed. (sigh)  Sometimes I feel like I am Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day.... It's the same crap everyday-- nothing changes, no one remembers details from one day to the next, and no one cares. I am just ready for this group to move on.

Is it too late for a new career? Guess this really isn't the time to look into that seriously...

And the weather! Honestly-- just pick one! Hot or cold... this back and forth is killing me. It's passed the point of hoping for snow days-- not that many of those worked out for us this year anyway! So let's just get warm and stay warm already! Besides, my feet are starting to swell-- it'd be awesome, and MUCH more comfy, to just wear flip flops!

My Random Thought for the Day...

What if celebrities had to get REAL jobs?

*Jessica Simpson as a school teacher
*Kirstie Alley as a UPS delivery person
*Kim Kardashian as a day care worker
*Tom Cruise as a car salesman
*Madonna as a server at Applebees
*Kanye as a Waffle House cook
*Lindsay Lohan as a secretary
*Spencer Pratt as a gas station attendant/ clerk
*Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, any of the Jonas Bros, etc working at McDonald's or Taco Bell
*Kristen Stewart delivering pizza
*Jennifer Love Hewitt as a cashier at Food Lion
*Heidi Montag stocking shelves at Walmart


And yes, I realize that most all celebrities (minus those BORN into it-- I'm talking to YOU Hilton & Kardashian girls!) have had REAL jobs at some time in their life. And many have worked their way up to where they are now-- and kudos to them. But sometimes I get so sick and tired of hearing them bitch about their HARD lives and all they go through. Try teaching 5th grade, 6 months preganant while dealing with your husband going through immigration-- meanwhile living 4000 miles away... paying all your OWN bills with the piddly salary you make... keeping your house clean/ clutter free, doing your own dishes, laundry, etc... I guarantee you some of them woudn't stand a chance!


Maybe I shouldn't read Perez anymore today...


What REAL jobs would you like to see celebrities attempt??

Do-Over!

So I am thinking of reviving ye ol' blog... some buddies at school have become bloggers and I feel re-inspired. Plus, I have SO much going through my mind at the present time, another outlet for my thoughts is welcoming!

(more on all THAT later)

So yes, I think we will give this another go... I created this blog originally when I had applied to teach school in England. I used it to communicate with other "ex-pat" teachers, etc. Now that is no longer my goal, so the aim of the blog has shifted... but hey, flexibility is a lifeskill!

OK, I will work on organizing my thoughts-- as much as possible. I look forward to getting back into this!

:)