Reading Challenge '12 -- March & April Update

WOW.  It has been an incredibly busy few months.  There is so much going on around here, the days are flying by too quickly, and I am barely keeping up. 

While I haven't been able to devote a lot of time to reading, March and April were earmarked for Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series.  Nine books toward my challenge, done!

My grandmother gave me this set of books for Christmas when I was around seven years old... and I have only just chosen to read them... nutty!  I was never a fan of the Little House television show and I think watching it turned me off reading the books... now that I have read them I would like to go back and watch some of the series.

Overall, the story is really enjoyable... except for The Long Winter... so many blizzards made for a really repetitive (boring) novel.  Being an autobiography, these books really gave accurate insight into life during the late 1800s... there were lots of parts I would love to use in my classroom in the future (should I return to teaching U.S. History).

The last book, The First Four Years, was quite sad.  I won't say anything here to avoid spoiling it for anyone interested in reading them, but it was a bittersweet ending.  After finishing I did some additional research on the Ingalls' family and there is lots of interesting (and unexpected) information out there!

Have you read the Little House books?  Did you enjoy them?

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Who loves tacos?  I do, I do!

As I am sure everyone can gather from several of my previous posts, I love Mexican food... and I especially love easy dishes I can make at home!  Since I am now obsessed with my slow cooker I tried this awesome chicken taco recipe I stumbled across on Pinterest... courtesy of Chocolate Therapy.  Click here for the recipe and directions! (Sarah, the author, has tons of de-lite-ful recipes, be sure to browse around her blog!)

Best part?  Only three ingredients for the chicken.  Yep.  Three.  Chicken breasts, taco seasoning, and the salsa of your choice.  Done... then you can decorate them any way you want!  I personally have a weakness for sour cream  :  )  You can use corn or flour tortillas... I used flour here but not sure why as I am a Corn Tortilla Girl for sure!  (Sidenote: nothing beats a warm corn tortilla with melted butter!  Yum.  I could eat some now.)

As you can see from the photos, I added refried beans (I usually turn to Gebhardt's but recently tried Bush's and I much prefer them)... and Spanish rice (from a family recipe that was probably snagged from somewhere else at some point in time, ha!)

Try these tacos... they are awesome!

Top Five Tuesday: Best Things About Summer

Linking up with Just Peachy for Top Five Tuesday!

Lovely Little Details

Summer is almost here!  Well, for those of us here in North Texas it has pretty much arrived... temps are already in the 80s and 90s... sheesh!

1.  Shorts and flip flops... All. The. Time.

Shorts and flip flops are two of my greatest loves.  Despite my obsession with New England I really do not think I could survive anywhere the mercury drops too low.  I cannot stand having my feet covered :  )

Here is a pic of the super comfy flip flops I purchased recently at a J.Crew Factory store as well as the fabulous LOFT shorts in white and green... The Search for Shorts has ended :  )

2.  Fireflies

I think the firefly population is dwindling... it may be almost non-existant now.  I remember as a child in San Antonio running around outside and seeing lightning bugs all over.  I am not sure I can even tell you the last time I saw one... but I think they are de-lite-ful and oh-so-summery!

As We Write It

Since I could not locate a fun photos of fireflies, here is a photo from the scene in Sweet Home Alabama where they mention lightning bugs... and kiss :  )

3.  Swimming

I love pools... here is a photo of CB in her wading pool last year... she is much bigger now and we are going to have to invest in a new one!  Her swimsuit this year is white with navy anchors... I am way too excited to watch her splash around in all that preppiness!

4.  The feeling of total freedom!

Photo taken at Oasis in Austin

Late nights.  Lounging mornings.  Relaxing.  Slower pace.  Drinking wine outside.  Evening chats.  Family reunions.  Late sunsets.  Road trips.  Being a teacher and not having to go to work for three months.  It is all fabulous!

5.  College football is even closer :  )

Photo taken at Kyle Field, Texas A&M University

I love the lazy days of summer as much as anyone... but the onset of June, July, and August means September is that much closer... and so is college football with the Fightin' Texas Aggies!  Whoop!

What are your favorite things about summer?

May Books

I am obsessed with the adorable notebooks from Dallas-based May Books.  Paper is one of my favorite things... cannot live without my planner and lists and I am always on the lookout for a good pad to keep on me at all times.  You never know when you are going to need to make a note!

I stumbled across May Books a while back and fell in love with their colors, monograms, and the fact they are made of canvas... super durable and able to withstand being tossed around, thrown in bags, and, hopefully, my toddler.

I had not ordered one yet because I was not completely sold on any of the designs the last time I looked.  However... they have launched some new options and they are fabulous!  I seriously cannot decide which one I like best... but I know I really want one!

Here are the new covers I like best... too many amazing choices!  You can also choose your monogram type and font colors, as well as the type of pages inside such as calendars, meal planners, lines, or dots.  Perfect.

Greek Key Pink

Moroccon Lattice Green

Nautical Rope Navy

Pineapples Pink

In addition to being eco-friendly, preppy, and Texan... I love how the company allows you to view what your cover would look like online prior to purchasing.  I have been to many sites offering custom goods without this feature and it certainly deters me from purchasing.  Here are some samples!

Do you have a notebook from May Books?  Don't you want one now?!



Classic Minestrone Soup

So... I heard today (or yesterday) was National Grilled Cheese Day... I wish I had known earlier or we would have eaten some for dinner!  Next year :  )  No grilled cheese for us lately, but we have been enjoying lots of new recipes as part of my slow cooker experiment. 

Here is a photo of the delicious minestrone soup we had a couple of weeks ago.  Yes, I made it in the slow cooker... the only way to go!

I swiped the recipe from MyRecipes.com (this link should take you directly to the soup) and it was so simple (which is my goal when it comes to cooking).  I made two minor changes to the recipe, using diced celery instead of sliced celery (such a rebel, huh?) and garlic powder instead of cloves (because I am not a fan of mincing) and no one would ever have known the difference had I not just confessed :  )

In addition to making a hearty meal, this soup fared well in the freezer, too.  I enjoyed some for lunch yesterday and it tasted just as good the second time around.  Highly recommend!

Pink & Green Easter

Happy Easter!  I hope everyone had a blessed day :  ) 

Ours was relaxing!  We enjoyed Easter activities at church, both lunch and dinner at my parents' house, watching the final round of the Master's, and indulging in too many yummy treats!  I am still nibbling and it is way too late for such things :  )

I have decided being the Easter Bunny is a tad difficult, ha!  My original plan was for CB to have an entirely pink and green basket but finding everything I wanted in pink and green only was challenging.

She did have a super preppy grosgrain bow, though...

... and Lilly Pulitzer animal crackers!

Here is her new bunny... named Hopsy... (obviously not pink or green)...

... and a few other treats... banana cookies, chalk, and stickers :  )

Finally... here is the adorable dress my mother made her for Easter... she was so bright and festive today!  She had a green cardigan to wear but it was so warm today it was not even close to being needed.

How did you celebrate Easter?

Top Five Tuesday: Books

I am linking up again with Just Peachy for Top Five Tuesday!  This week's list: books... one of my favorite things!  I think I will have to include more than five :  )

AND... I apologize for the lack of an authentic photo of these book covers.  I own all of these except one but when I went to gather them for their photo shoot some of them appear to be missing in action!  Must locate them!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Awesome story, awesome movie.  Love, love, love.

The Jellyfish Season by Mary Downing Hahn

I have read this book every year since I was about 10 years old.  Highly recommend!

The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

Really good Austen-esque story... but readable :  )  If you love Jane, Downton Abbey, the English aristocracy in general and the like, this book is for you.

The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman

I read this one a while back and the details are fuzzy... but I remember it being the first book in a very long time I could not put down... very captivating.

The Entire Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

There is not even enough I can say about these.  LOVE.

Harvard Yard

Treasure hunt through American history and New England... perfection :  )

Austenland by Shannon Hale

This one was silly fun but was an entertaining read.  I think it would make a good chick flick!

Colored People by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

I read this as part of my American Lit class as an undergrad. 

Amazing story, everyone should read.

The Price of Admission by Daniel Golden

Great non-fiction read that provides insight into the admissions policies and practices of the Ivy League and other top schools... very interesting and informative look to who gets in... and who doesn't.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

One of my favorite childhood books... who wouldn't want to run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art?

The Education of Henry Adams by Henry Adams

I have a love-hate relationship with this book and with Henry Adams... he caused me post-graduate stress (in the form of research papers, ha!) but his ideas are extremely relevant today... very interesting views on progress and technology.

The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde

Clever murder mystery with nursery rhyme and fairy tale characters.  Sounds odd?  It is, but good, imaginative fun.  What if there was a fourth bear?

Okay... 12 books is probably enough for my Top Five!

What are your favorite books?  Recommendations are always welcome!