Friday's Fancies: Watermelon Inspiration

Happy Friday, everyone!
Today I'm linking up with {av} at {long distance loving} for another edition of Friday's Fancies!
This week, I decided to make an outfit based on one of my favorite summertime treats: watermelon! So, this outfit is my Watermelon Inspiration outfit. What do you think?

Friday's Fancies: Watermelon Inspiration


Dorothy Perkins stripe dress
£40 - dorothyperkins.com




Clutch bag
blueheavenboutique.com


Pieces metal bangle
$28 - asos.com


Miss Selfridge oval ring
£8.50 - missselfridge.com


Larkspur & Hawk button earrings
$1,100 - barneys.com


Wet Seal belt
$6.99 - wetseal.com

I'm loving Ashley Greene's hair...To. Die. For.
If you like my outfit, hit the "like" button over on {av}'s link up (I'm the 24th post!)
What are you fancying this Friday? Head over and link up!
Hope you all have great weekends!!
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Pinterest: not just a good waste of time

Hey, lovies! Happy Thursday to ya! Only one more day until the glorious weekend and I can not wait! :)

So, as many of you are aware, Pinterest is kind of addicting. And by kind of, I mean INSANELY. When I have some down time at work, or just need a break from whatever I'm doing, I'll peruse the site for a little bit and I always find something that I enjoy.

Yesterday proved to be my most productive Pinterest day, yet! I found SO many cute ideas for my office at work, AND I found a really yummy looking recipe that I wanted to try. I copied the link, and sent it to MP in an email, who quickly replied and said "Let's make it tonight!!"  All of these things made me feel completely justified in spending almost every second some my "office set up" time searching through the Pinterest depths!

Let's revisit what I found:
I loved this idea, but printing it out on a single sheet of paper looked small, and I wanted something more.
So, I used my handy picasa skills, and cut out each square, saved them as their own files, and then inserted each onto their own page in Word. Printed them out and am now waiting for the laminator at my school to get film so I can laminate and hang them above my white-board!



My second find was this:

It'sa friend tree! A-dor-a-ble! So, I went to Google, and found a blank tree with only trunk and limbs (no leaves), and printed it out:
Once I start seeing my kiddos, I'll have them ink up and fingerprint themselves onto our own Speech Room Friend Tree. Once done, I'll get it framed and hang it on the wall in my room! Love it!

My last find had nothing to do with work, but made my stomach growl just looking at it. It's Tomato, shrimp, and feta, baked: 
Recipe
Omg, I'm drooling again. 
So, I emailed the site to MP and he was all over it. He picked me up from the metro, grabbed my overnight bag and my pup, went by the grocery store for all of the stuff we needed (and we added baby spinach to the recipe as well,which was a good choice) and went to his place to make it. OMG, SOOOOO good. The recipe says to serve it with crunchy bread, and I highly recommend it. It's like shrimp bruschetta. It's SUPER light, you don't end up feeling like a fat cow when you're done eating, and it's really not that bad for you! Along with a nice glass of red wine (or two, hehe), it was perfect and really really easy! This is what ours looked like:


So, I continue my love affair with Pinterest, especially since it has made itself an awesome resource for things for work, which means I can totally justify being on the site AT work! haha

What's YOUR favorite thing about Pinterest?? I have sooooo many! :)


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Oh, how Pinteresting!



Ok, instead of doing work as I said, I'm linking up for the first time with Michelle at The Vintage Apple for Oh, How Pinteresting!

This week, I'm enjoying these pins (all via Pinterest):
Loving the colors in this picture!

What a great idea to capture each anniversary!

Cuz, I love Harry Potter, and am seeing the movie this weekend! So excited!!


This mirror is just awesome!

Tomato, Shrimp, Feta....My mouth is watering and it's not even 10am...
That's it for me! What are YOU finding "pinteresting"? Head over and link up!!




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What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday, lovies! Today I am in a fabulous mood and have a bunch of things that Im thankful for today. And, I'm in luck, because I'm linking up with Jamie at this kind of love for What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm loving that this morning I was able to walk out of my apartment, feel a breeze, and not feel like I was getting hit in the face with steam from an oven. The weather this morning is like 0% humidity and 70's. It's supposed to get into the 90's but I'll take this over the awful Heat Dome (of Doom) anyday!


I'm also loving that this nice break in humidity came on Teacher Picture Day! My photo last year has some awful hair curling and a general look of "Hey, it's humid out." I'm looking forward to my picture looking like me, and not some other hot, humid, dragged-through-the-city-in-the-heat version! Wahoooo! (The picture to the right was just taken...)What do you think of it???


I'm loving that my hair salon is having a reception for its patrons on Thursday, where there will be food, adult beverages, and mingling among all types of fancy people. I feel chic just thinking about it! I've invited my friend and roommate to go, and it should be a good time. My hair dresser, Sam, is the owner of the salon, and he is FABULOUS! His salon, which he opened two years ago, is already making headlines in the DC area. I followed him over from a Bubbles salon in the mall, and I'm SO glad that I did!
That's him in the middle, you know, just hangin with celebs...




I'm loving that I'm finally going to go see Harry Potter this Friday with my roommate and her sister. I have been DYING to see it, and no one will go with me (or have already gone). MP said he would go, but that he wanted to see the other movies first. Hello! Does he not know that that will take forever!! Sweet of him to offer, but I need to get on seeing this movie pronto! Totally looking forward to it!


I'm loving that my office is pretty much set up. Which means that I have almost no excuse NOT to be working on my schedule (which I am dreading). But, alas, I find things to distract myself from scheduling...like blogging, online shopping, learning about different programs to try with my kiddos (I swear I actually DO do work). But, everyone keeps coming by and telling me how nice my office looks, so I'm hoping the kiddies like it, too! I'm planning on having them draw pictures of themselves and the goals they want to accomplish this year in Speech and hanging them around the ceiling border around the room (above the whiteboard). Can't wait to see what it looks like when they are done!

(PS, don't mind that awful stain on the carpet. It was inherited with the room. Ew.)



There are a bunch more things I'm loving today but I need to get my butt in gear and get to work. Maybe on that schedule......maybe not. hehe.
Hope you all have wonderful Wednesdays!!
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Tom ta-Tom Tom Tommmmms!

(that was to the tune of the Tums commercial, in case you didn't pick up my wacky-ness)


Happy Tuesday!! Hopefully your weeks are off to a good start, ready to charge through to the much-anticipated weekend relaxation! I spent part of my morning working on my schedule and preparing a presentation for my fellow teachers on things to consider and implement for their speech and language kids in the classroom! I think, so far, I have some good stuff, but I'm definitely nervous to present to all of my coworkers!

After I worked on that, I decided to take a little online shopping break and purchase my first and very own pair of TOMS!
After being in a school where everybody and their mother (ok, not really) is wearing Toms, I thought it might be time to bite the bullet and purchase a pair. I've heard they are uber comfy and Ive seen them worn with a variety of clothes so I thought it was a good purchase. And, if nothing else, at least I helped someone else get a pair of shoes somewhere in the world, right??

if only this was the view outside
 of my office window

Meanwhile, from my new office window (from which I was able to see the massive storm that brought us a respite from this awful Heat Dome yesterday), I am seeing construction and feeling the floor shake from jack-hammering. Never a really good thing when you feel like the floor could cave in at any moment....but, at least I can SEE what is happening now!! :)



Alright, it's time for this slacker to get back to work, making sure the youth of America (and those who teach them) are educated properly in Speech and Language ideas!

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The Hunger Games

Happy Monday, all!  I'm back at work (with some morning free-time!Woohoo!), and suffering through some lower back pain that I got when walking back to my car last night carrying my "weekend bag" while walking Cooper (and trying to keep him in check). It's gotten slightly better overnight but I still hit certain points where my body goes "OW OW OW!!!"

But, to distract myself from that and other things going on, I'm going to share with you my new-found love of the book The Hunger Games!
Holy crap! It was SOOOOO good! I had been being told about the book from several different people, and the more people who read it, the more people said how good it was. At first when my friend described what the book was about, I was like "really? That doesn't sound good at all." But, everyone praised it, so, on a trip to Target one weekend, I picked it up for something like 7 bucks and figured I'd give it a shot.

I started it last Thursday on the metro, and finished it Sunday. Given, it wasn't a hard read at all, but I was SO engaged with it that I just wanted to keep reading to find out what happens. Now I am trying to get my hands on Catching Fire, the 2nd book in the series, and am debating bumping that up in my queue of books to be read, since I am in love with the first book.

I won't try and explain to you what the book is about, because you will probably have the same reaction that MP did "Uhh, why would you want to read about THAT?" But, it's good. I promise.

Now I'm really looking forward to the movie coming out! And, have you all seen the new "motion poster" that Lionsgate did for the movie? Check it out here. (The music chosen with it is slightly creepy, too....as it's playing in the background while I write this! Eep!)

Alright, that's it for me! Hope you guys have a great Monday!
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Friday's Fancies: Little White Dress

Happy Friday, all! Hope you guys had good weeks. Mine has been filled with busy-ness as my school and I get ready for another year with kiddos. So, with all of the chaos and such, it was nice to take some time to link up with {av} at {long distance loving} for Friday's Fancies. This week's theme is the Little White Dress!


I absolutely loved the bag and tried to tie it all together with a simple but similarly colored belt. Some fun bangle bracelets and earrings, with some nude shoes and I felt like this was a super cute outfit! What do you think? If you like it, go on over and hit the "like" button by my post on {av}'s page!

Happy Friday!
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WILW

Happy hump day, bloggie friends!  And since it's Wednesday, I'm linking up with Jamie for another edition of What I'm Loving Wednesday!



I'm loving that as I'm writing this, I'm eating a delicious burrito bol from Chipotle. Mmmm. My previous roomie and I would go to Chipotle weekly (and sometimes bi-weekly) and since she has moved out, those trips have not happened nearly as frequently as I want them to. So, today, during lunch at work, a couple coworkers and I decided to brave the heat and get some yummy Chipotle. It's fantastic!

I'm loving that I'm getting time to set up my office, look at files, and kind of prepare myself for making my schedule with the other service providers this week. I HATE making a schedule...in fact it's one of my least favorite parts about starting another school year. So, to have the time to prep is absolutely wonderful!

I'm loving  that MP picked me up after work yesterday from the metro, took me and my pup back to his place, and made me dinner, despite being hot, hungry and cranky (which I have been the last two days at the end of work). The fact that he dealt with the cranky and was still nice enough to make me dinner won him mega points in my book. (I suppose now that work is started the REAL me is coming out more and more haha).
I'm loving my new, huge, office...with the window!!! I'm posting a picture of it here, but PLEASE don't judge. I'm still in the midst of unpacking and tons of paperwork all over my desk. I'll take another picture of it once it's more organized and set up, just so that you don't think I'm a complete slob! :)

There's also a table with a desktop computer off to the left of where I'm standing taking the picture, and a book case next to the filing cabinet that you can't see either! Tonnnnns of space!

I would spend more time writing more about what I'm loving, but I need to get back to work now that I'm done eating my lunch! Hope you guys have some awesome things that you're loving today. Head over and link up!


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It's only Tuesday??

Hey,my bloggie friends! So, apparently today is Tuesday. After the first day back to work yesterday, I would have put money down that today was at LEAST Thursday.

I got home after work yesterday and was BEAT! We had meetings ALL day, a "working lunch" (aka, a not real lunch break, but more of a "we'll let you eat while we make you work"), and not to mention the crappy-ness of me being separated from all of my teacher-friends for the whole day. Since I'm a "resource" person (aka, not a classroom teacher), they separated us (as usual) so that we could get more out of the training. When, in reality, I got the same out of it that I did when we did it last year, and our group was not the one with the specialist. Oh, and to top off the whole day? We had to do a scavenger hunt through DC from 2-4pm (the heat of the day) when it was over 100 degrees outside with the heat index. Can you say 'sweaty mess'?

So, after a day of meetings, and no major breaks (other than for bathroom breaks), and running/sweating through DC, I got home and was exhausted. And I had homework to read stuff for whatever we're doing today. I could barely keep my eyes open through it. Heck, I could barely keep my eyes open through the Bachelorette (now you KNOW I'm serious about the tired level). My sorry butt was in bed before 10 and out within a few minutes of my head hitting the pillow.

So, I'm back at work now, ready for another day of meetings. At least they're actually giving us a lunch break today!

Hope your Tuesdays are awesome!!
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Back to the Grind....

So, today marks my return to school. My oh my how quickly a month flies by! And so much has happened over the last month.

Although I feel like I've taken the lazy factor to the ultimate level this summer, I could do with ONE more week of it before going back. But, alas, that is not to be. Now it is 2 weeks of re-introduction to work, meetings, planning, data discussions, etc etc etc. And then the kiddos come on the 1st of August.

So, due to all of the meetings during the days (and me not knowing when Ill have down-time), don't be surprised if I'm a little MIA from the blogging world for a bit. I'll be back when I can!!! :)

In the meantime, this chicky is going "back to school"....wah. haha.

Have a good start to the week!

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Friday's Fancies, Summertime Chic

Happy Friday everyone! Since it's Friday (and I'm actually near my computer), I'm linking up with {av} over at {long distance loving} for Friday's Fancies. This week's theme is a summer chic outfit (but you can do whatever outfit you'd like).

I figured, what's better than a cute and comfy maxi dress, some cute sandals, low key but pretty jewelry and a nice bag to carry all of your summer time goodies? What do you think?


Head on over, link up, and share what you're fancying this Friday!
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Chicken Parmesan Bundles-lower calorie version

Hey all! Happy Thursday to ya! Here in DC, it is bright and sunshiney, 80 degrees and like no humidity. This means Jenn is one happy girl (and will be sitting poolside in a little over an hour!!)

Some of you asked me to post the recipe for the Chicken Parmesan Bundles that I saw on Pinterest and wrote about in yesterday's post, so here it is.

MP and I had planned on making these together but I got restless when he got home from work late, and then wanted to go workout. With a tummy grumbling, I set out on making these bad boys all by myself, and they turned out reeeeeally good!  (I put in parenthesis the lower calorie choices that I made in the ingredients listed below.)

Ingredients you will need:
  • 4
    oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened (I did the 1/3 less fat kind)
  • 1
    pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
  • 1 1/4
    cups KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese, divided (I did the 2% kind)
  • 6
    tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided (I did the Fat-free grated parm)
  • 6
    small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.), pounded to 1/4-inch thickness (I just bought the thin-sliced ones because I'm lazy and don't have a meat mallet)
  • 1
    egg
  • 10
    RITZ Crackers, crushed (about 1/2 cup) 
  • 1 1/2
    cups spaghetti sauce, heated
    Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

    First you have to mix the cream cheese, spinach, 3 tbsp of the parmesan cheese and 1 Cup of the mozzarella cheese until it's really well mixed together. This is easier when the cream cheese is softer, like the directions say.

    I laid out the chicken pieces on foil mainly so I could do it all in one step and easy clean up after.
    Then, you start from the smallest end of the chicken and roll them up tightly. You can pin them with toothpicks (if you have a super fat one that might be helpful--only one of mine came open while baking).

    Next you need two shallow dishes. In one, beat the egg in. In the other, mix the 3 tbsp of parmesan cheese and the crushed Ritz crackers ( I just put them between two paper towels and smooshed them with my hands...worked quite well and no mess).  Take each of the chicken roll-ups and dip it in the egg mixture all around, and then run it through the crumb/cheese mixture. 

    Add these to an already sprayed with cooking spray baking dish (I forgot that part til after I added the chicken pieces and said "F it" and they all came out easily). It recommends 9x13 baking dish but I didnt have one so we used two 8x8s and that worked out well. Add to the oven for 30 minutes.

    It comes out looking like this:

    See the fat one that opened?? It was still good tho.


    Right before the stuff is all ready in the oven. Heat up the tomato sauce and get the remaining cheese ready (should be about 1/4 of a cup, but I like cheese so I just used what was left). While the chicken was cooling, once out of the oven, I added the warmed up sauce and the cheese, and it looked like this:



Then, just pop them off the plate, and serve up with salad or something. We also had ours with some yummy Malbec wine from the grocery store which was perfect.

Despite the lower fat substitutions (which is not something I usually worry about), it was still really tasty and it cooked really nicely. (The hardest part was keeping my dog away from my feet when I rolled the chicken through the crumbs and they went splattering on the floor lol). I'd totally recommend this recipe! MP liked it too (and even left me a nice comment on my FB wall this morning thanking me for dinner...so sweet hehe).

If you all try it, you'll have to let me know what you think!!

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