Fall Festivities/Happy Halloween!

I LOVE decorating for holidays/seasons.  The problem is: I don't have any decorations.  And I have never had a house to decorate before.  So, instead of spending a fortune on Halloween/Fall decorations, I will just do a little at a time and over the years I will collect enough stuff.  I am also considering going out tomorrow or later this week and buying up a bunch of clearance stuff and save it for next season.

But for now, here is the cheap-o method of decorating the table.

Take some of these from outside my house...

Not exactly sure what it's called, but it's meant to cover up the ugly electric box thing outside...

 

And  put them in a vase.  Add berries from the bushes outside, put some candy in a bowl, and buy those little pumpkins from Michael's for $1.50.  TA-DA.

 

Easy. Cheap.  Happy Halloween!

My History with The Devil Part Two: Autumn, The Season

As you can see from some of my previous posts, I really enjoy fall.  Actually, I enjoy every season for different reasons.  In Fall, I love the leaves, the colors, the crisp air, the pies, the first time I wear a sweater or a jacket, soup, etc.

That season has got it out for me.

It seems like I get a great head start on "being in shape" each and every Spring and Summer.  I lose weight, I begin running (again), I have motivation for being healthy.  It doesn't hurt that bathing suit season is coming up, either.

Another reason for this phenomenon is the abundance of delicious produce in the summer.  The berries, the corn, the watermelon, the peppers, they are so cheap and so good and so local that it's all I want to eat!  That's not a bad diet!

When autumn rolls around, so do the rolls and biscuits, so do the pasta dishes, so do the baked goods.  Why?  Because these things taste delicious when it is cold out!

And I suppose going back to school each and every fall has something to do with it, as well.  I have never worked a summer in my life.  (Summer jobs don't count).  I have never gone to school in the summer.  I am free and have lots of time to be healthy.  When works starts again, I get overwhelmed with things to do, and exercising just doesn't seem to be on the top of the list.  I say to myself every year, "Maria, you HAVE to keep working out this Fall!  For once in your life, please wear your summer clothes size in the winter!"

It's true, guys, all of my summer clothes are 1 (or 2) sizes smaller than my winter clothes.  And sure enough, I lose weight in the Summer EVERY YEAR, and I gain it back in the Fall EVERY YEAR.  For once I would like to buy new winter clothes... in my Summer size!

Is 2011 going to be the year when I turn this terrible habit around?  Who knows.

Part Three to follow...

Thanksgiving...

...is one of my least favorite holidays.  Turkey isn't really my thing.  But I do like pies :-)

Last Tuesday I woke up late and super sick.  It was literally the worst sinus infection EVER!  I got to school, walked right to the assistant principal's office and told her I had to go home.  It was that bad.  And people, I have great work ethic.  So that should tell you that I was really sick.  I went home and napped on the couch for hours!

When I got up, I was feeling a little better, so I packed my stuff and straightened the house up.  When Josh got home, we hopped in the car and drove to Cumberland for the holiday.  It only took about 4 1/2 hours, which is a little less than usual.  But it felt like the longest ever because I couldn't breathe!

We spent all of our time (from Tuesday night to Saturday morning) just visiting and spending time with family.  It was really nice. Our dinner was delicious and we had lots of people visiting.  It was also our first holiday without my pap, which I thought would seem really weird.  It was only like that when I was thinking about it.  The rest of the time was just happy and relaxing and fun!

I feel so much better now and so does Josh.  We came back Saturday and ran lots of errands.  We also hit up my favorite restaurant in Salisbury called Fratelli's:

It is the best Italian restaurant I have ever been to.  They make the best crab cakes I have ever had and they make all of their pasta homemade in the store.  They (the owners) are Greek.  I know, weird.

We bought our first Christmas tree and set it up.  We are going to decorate it tonight and I am sooooo excited!  I am seriously in the most Christmasy-wintery spirit this year!  Do you like my snowy blog background?

Mmmmm... apple pie.

I am currently enjoying a hot piece of apple pie.  My second of the night.  And I am pairing it with a nice glass of red wine.  Not sure if they go together or not... they do in my book :-)

I had a very loonnnnggg Monday and Tuesday at school and today after work I made dinner for josh and a new friend :-)  Jenny is the elementary music teacher in Josh's district and came over to talk lessons.  We had chicken carbonara, rice pilaf, and steamed broccoli... and homemade apple pie.

This past weekend we took a trip to Cumberland to visit my family.  Here are the details of the last few days:

Friday: Go to work early and teach all day.  Get off at 4pm.  Go home and pack the car.  Drive 5 hours to Cumberland.  Get there and bake a cake.  Go to bed.

Saturday: Wake up at 5:45am, pack the car, drive to Morgantown for the game.  Pick up my sister (yay!), tailgate, game, birthday for step-dad and brother-in-law, go to dinner with Josh's family, drive back to Cumberland by 9pm, have a campfire with grandma, go to bed around 12.

Sunday: Wake up, do laundry, have breakfast/lunch at mom's house, pack the car AGAIN, drive the 5 hours back to Salisbury, unpack, get ready for school on Monday.

Monday: Wake up as usual for school, get ready, get in the car and.... it won't start.  Dead battery.  Call a taxi.  Late for work.  Get there flustered.  Teach 10 classes.  Go home.  Go to the gym for a class.  Have dinner.  Go to the grocery store while Josh goes to get me a new battery.  His Check Engine Light lights up on the way.  Replace the battery. Go to bed.

Tuesday: Go to school. Teach a bunch of classes, come home, start dinner, have dinner, talk about school stuff, eat apple pie, drink wine, blog.  Tonight I will pass outtt.......


Goodnight, world :-)

Weekend is Over :-(

This weekend was a really nice one, though, I wish it would last longer.

Josh's parents, brother, and puppy came to visit.  They got here Friday evening.  On Saturday, we hung out, took a nice walk, watched the Mountaineer game, and had lasagna and wine for dinner.  But before all of that, I had my first performance with my new students!

I was asked to have a group perform at a local church for "Community Fest"... basically a carnival-type thing minus rides.  Since our arts-integration theme this year is China, I had kindergarten do an "authentic" Chinese ribbon dance to some really cool Chinese music.  I have two deaf students in kindergarten, so to highlight them, I decided we would do the entire performance based on visual cue cards.  I sent the permission slips home.  Out of 90-ish students, only 25 kids signed up.  Sad face.  Only one of the deaf students signed up.  Super sad face. ANNNDDDD.... only 6 kids actually showed up.  Very sad face.  But they were still cute and did a great job.  I will post some photos soon!

Today, Josh's parents left and I went to the gym, we had leftover lasagna, I bought my first yoga mat, we started to plan Josh's Holiday Program, and now I am relaxing and getting ready for bed.  And I am sad that the weekend is over...

I always say that.  Me:  "I hate waking up early"  "I don't want the weekend to end"  "Why can't we have three day weekends?"  Then come Monday morning when I get to my very own classroom: "I love this job"  "This is fun"  "Look at those cute kids!"

Although we do have a three day weekend this weekend AND next Monday is a professional day!

Kindergarten Quote of the Week:
Mrs. Mengel is getting very annoyed with one particular student, "A", who is constantly talking and bothering other kids.


Me: A, Zip it!
A: Oops, sorry! (And zips up his pants)

I Heart Fall

Although summer is definitely my favorite season, I LOVE Fall!!!  Look at these images and try to tell me that this doesn't make you feel great.

On the list for this month:  Make lots of soups.  Go on some walks in the local parks and take pictures of leaves :-)  Break out some sweaters.  Watch movies under a blanket.  Roast chestnuts.  Buy a scarf.  Make pumpkin stuff (pie, cookies, pancakes, etc.)  Go to a WVU game.  Travel and visit some family.   Wish us luck!