Thursday, May 30, 2013

le menu de cette semaine

I have been all over some Pinterest over the past two weeks.  This week's menu is full of recipes found on Pinterest.  Here's what's for dinner:













  • Saturday - Beef Stew... can't find the link, but I'll update it soon











  • Sunday/Monday - (going to Mom and Dad's so Marcus is on his own lol)
Yum...  One of the best things about school being out is that I'm not too tired or making excuses not to cook.  Here's to a summer of new recipes!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Student Gift Bags (for the end of the year party)

On Teachers Pay Teachers, I found this really cute gift tag and I thought to myself "Hmmm... I can do that.  Cheap, easy, cute, funny..."  
So I got tie-dye party bags, white paper filler (although I should've just used paper from the shredder), iridescent white ribbon, kool-aid packs, and silly straws in coordinating colors.  I packed it all up with a cute summer to do list (above, and also found on Teachers Pay Teachers).  See the finished product below.  I have to admit, I'm kinda proud of this one...


But guess what!!! Only two and a half more days with students and two days of post-planning after Memorial Day.  :)


Monday, May 20, 2013

New look

Seeing as though Marcus and I will have been together a total of nine years in August and married for three years in December, I thought newlyweds didn't really apply anymore.  So, a new look with a new name was in order.

newlyweds at last is now www.lovinglifeinallmyroles.blogspot.com
Sorry it's so long, but blogger wouldn't accept any of my more concise name choices.


Sunday, May 19, 2013

A Productive Weekend

I learned the wonders of Modge Podge this weekend.  Having never tried it, but seen the awesome things people did with this magical potion I obviously wanted to try it out.  I've really gotten into making my own household cleaners and other things to have something unique and to save money.  What better way to try out modge podge than with something as simple as cute labels for my creations.  Check it out...

First I made some modge podge: (yes it's in a jelly jar) empty one bottle of school glue into your container, then fill the school glue bottle halfway up with warm water, add that to your jar/container, and SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE!  Voila... modge podge!


Then I started using it on all of my homemade house cleaners.  Below you'll see my Vinegar Spray Bottle which I used on weeds this morning, the linen spray I posted about before, and homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner which I'm still testing out.


I think these are probably the basic directions for modge podge, but I just painted the surface I wanted the label to go on with my glue solution, applied my label, and painted more glue solution over the top to seal it all in.  I'm extremely pleased with the results.  The paper is just from a pad of scrapbook paper I had from an old project.

I also made my menu and grocery list for the week, went to the Kroger, and prepped some things for cooking later.  Here's what's for dinner:
Saturday: Thai Quinoa Salad (this pic is from last night... it was freaking delicious!)

SundayChicken Ranch Pasta with a salad

Monday: Fava Bean Italian Salad
Tuesday: my Momma's Pasta with Lemon Cream Sauce and topped with salmon (one of my favorites)

Thursday: leftovers (we're leaving for Memorial Weekend the next day, and my husband works late on Thursdays)

 And we shaved the dog... hilarious amount of hair... My dad said "Did all that pine-straw and the pink ball fall out of her hair???" LOL Ladybird is oh so much happier!




Thursday, May 16, 2013

Great quote...

Marcus and I have always liked this quote.  Now I've found a cuter version which I will immediately print and put on our fridge.   :)

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Happy anniversary Mom and Dad!

I forgot to add that today is my parents 30th wedding anniversary!!!  So proud of my Momma and Daddy for sticking it out all these years and showing their kids what real love and hard work can do for a happy and long marriage.  I love them both SO SO SO much.

crochet projects

So I couldn't remember if I ever explained how I got into crochet... I don't think I did, so here goes
Marcus' favorite memories of his grandmother (who now lives with his mom) include a basket of yarn nearby and constantly moving crochet needles.  She would crochet on the plane as they flew to visit family... she would crochet at work... she would crochet as she watched the news... you get the picture.  Anyway, as we cleared out the house and began renovating we found TONS of yarn in every color you can imagine.  When I say TONS, I mean two walk-in closets FULL of yarn!  At first it just seemed kind of strange that someone could enjoy their hobby so much that they would need so much yarn, but now I understand.  You can literally crochet (almost) anything you need.
After my first school year in Augusta, I was a little stressed and needed an outlet (something that I could learn to do over the summer and continue as a hobby during upcoming school years). I just happened to have all this yarn lying around, so I walked around Hobby Lobby one afternoon and came across a crochet book.  It included several nice crochet hooks and plenty of patterns to start with so for only $10 I have a new lifelong hobby.
Here are some of the things I've made so far (all beginner patterns... now I'm on the "easy" patterns):
A small purse for Marcus' niece, Jenna
A bright pillowcase for my classroom
An Irish flag coozie for my hubbie
A "Le Sac" type purse for my Mom
and an iPad case for my sister.
 My goal is to keep improving and continue with different projects.  Marcus' grandmother is known for her afghans and they are absolutely gorgeous... we're lucky to have several of them.  So I'm hoping this summer I'll be talented enough to try one.   :)


Saturday, May 4, 2013

Yummy new candles make my world go round ;)

Just got this new candle and lit it for the first time... it smells uh-mazing!  I highly recommend it for summer:

Yankee Candle Co.  Black Coconut


I bought this candle to jumpstart my new cleaning schedule.  I may not have mentioned it before, but I really don't like to clean because I prefer relaxing to pretty much anything else (some might call this lazy).

After lots of arguments with my perfectionist/OCD husband and honestly some soul-searching, I made the decision that some type of schedule needed to be created in order for me to get on top of the cleaning and organization needed in our home.  So... I did some blog surfing and found some really good checklists and schedules.  Here are some of the ones I hope will be really helpful:


This one is labeled as a "Spring Cleaning List" but I probably won't get down and dirty with this deep of a clean until school's out.  So for me, it's more of a "Summer Cleaning List".  I really like home it's broken down into different sections, but it still seems a little overwhelming.

This one is labeled as a "Weekly Cleaning Schedule".  I like it so much that it's already printed and posted on  the refrigerator.  After my deeper clean is done today, I'll be trying this as a strategy for keeping on top of it all.  But to be more realistic... when I get home from work, I'm tired!  So the stuff to the right will more than likely still get done on the weekend.  

This is a speed cleaning schedule and it's the one I'll be trying out today.  I promise I'll post about how it goes.  It's from the FLY Lady (FLY stands for Finally Loving Yourself... following her schedule is supposed to give you more time with the family and her theory is sort of "clean house, clean mind, clean life."

So, like the document says... it's time for me to get off the computer and get to work!

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

24 more days until school's out!!!

As you know, I teach elementary school and while working in the classroom is amazing there are certain times of the year when the students seem to lose their minds... i.e. right before Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer Break.  So this is when the light and warmth of summer is so close the teachers start to get a little giddy.  For example, I went out to eat with my team mates tonight and had a great time.  We laughed and joked and tried to lessen the stress we're feeling about paperwork (more on that later).  We had a great time but didn't discuss any fun plans we have for this summer, and that got me thinking... what do I want to do this summer?

Well, there are things that must be done and then there are things that I want to do.  Last year I taught myself to crochet so either I'll be crocheting all summer or maybe I can get other stuff done.  Here goes:

MUST DO

  • Marcus and I must paint the upstairs trim... we've put it off for 2 years now!
  • We need to repaint the spots where our dry-wall was repaired (once from when we re-insulated the attic ourselves and once from a crazy lightning strike that took out an ancient pine tree and destroyed our entertainment system electrically).
  • I need to clean the house top to bottom: fans, baseboards, windows, vacuuming furniture, sweep, mop, wiping/cleaning surfaces, etc.
  • We need to repair and repaint the furniture spots that puppy-Birdie chewed.
  • I need to go through all my clothes, shoes, accessories, and other stuff for Goodwill (I do this once or twice a year).
  • I'm sure there's more...
WANT TO DO
  • I want to crochet pillow cases for our sofa pillows in the den.
  • I need to finish crocheting the large blanket I've been working on.
  • I want to learn how to use crochet thread and take over my Grandmama's tradition of making baby blankets for the family (and my friends).
  • Again, I'm sure there's more... maybe I can update later.



Sunday, April 28, 2013

Homemaker Tips and DIY

For most of this afternoon, I surfed the internet for cool homemaking and DIY tips.  There are so many great ideas out there!  You can find a homemade recipe for pretty much anything you need.  Some of my favorite blogs and sites are:
DIY: Home Sweet Home
Carolina Charm
I Heart Organizing
Here are the two I tried today:

DIY Salt Scrub (found through a link on Carolina Charm's Blog)

5 Tablespoons of Sea Salt
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
Juice of 1 lemon

Mix Sea Salt and Olive Oil together first (this way lemon juice isn't just soaked up into salt).  Then mix in lemon juice.  Voila!
I tried it out this afternoon... works and smells great!


DIY Linen Spray (another one from Carolina Charm's Blog)

1/2 teaspoon of your favorite scented oil (she suggests lavender, I used "love" from a hippie store)
1 oz vodka or rubbing alcohol
2 cups distilled water (I used tap water and it was fine)

Combine in a spray bottle and enjoy!

Updated pics of Ladybird...

I have never felt this way about any animal.  This puppy is my baby, and probably the reason why I haven't written in over a year (sorry!!!).  Here are some new(ish) pictures of her...


  I know... she's gorgeous!


  love the lighting in this photo

  Bat dog, lol


  Her first experience at the beach, Hilton Head Island



  This dog LOVES to swim in Aunt Tiffany's pool!


Are we still considered "newlyweds" if we've been married for two and a half years?

I don't know, but I feel like it's more a state of mind and less an amount of time...  Speaking of state of mind, here's how I see our marriage:

  • We've got our issues, like any couple, but with open communication we will get through anything.
  • Although it drives me nuts sometimes, we spend a lot of time alone.  I cook, work on school stuff (teach elementary school), and surf the internet.  He reads, studies, and plays video games.
  • We also spend time together.  My husband and I like the same kinds of shows so we have a set time together almost everyday... a lot of times we end up eating dinner in front of the TV though (bad habit!!!).
  • My parents will be celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks.  I am so proud of them!  Congratulations Momma and Daddy!!!  We have learned so much from them.  Mostly what TO do but honestly also some things NOT to do.  The key is, some things that work for other couples (even your parents) may not necessarily work for you.