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!

Arroz con Queso

Tex-Mex is the best food ever created... especially if you can prepare it yourself in your slow cooker!

A few months ago I used my slow cooker for the first time.  Ever.  I have been married for almost eight years... it had been collecting dust in the cabinet above our stovetop all this time. 

As a general rule I have never been a fan of food prepared in a Crock Pot.  Something about food (especially meat) sitting in water cooking really makes me want to be ill.  Also, it seemed so.. 80s (heehee).  However... working part-time and taking care of a toddler (whose meltdown time has always been during dinner prep) made me take a second look at this kitchen appliance... and I am sold.

After a not-so-calm afternoon trying to scramble something together for dinner, I dusted off my slow cooker, took out my copy of Slow Cooker Recipe Collection (a bridal shower present from my grandmother), and chose a recipe to try... arroz con queso. 

It was amazing.  Oh my goodness.  Now, I would like to clarify... if you are looking for a healthy slow cooker meal this is not for you... but it certainly is yummy!

Ingredients
1 can (16 ozs) whole tomatoes, mashed
1 can (16 ozs) Mexican-style beans
1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain rice (I use Mahatma)
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 cup cottage cheese (I used a light version)
1 can (14 ozs) green chili peppers
2 tbs vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, minced (I cheated and used garlic powder)
2 cups  grated Monterey Jack cheese (I used a Colby Jack mix)

Directions
1.  Lightly grease the inside of the slow cooker. 
2.  Mix all the ingredients except one cup grated cheese in a large bowl.
3.  Pour mixture into the slow cooker.
4.  Cover and cook on low for 6 to 9 hours.
5.  Before serving, sprinkle with the remaining grated cheese.

I also added a dollop of Daisy sour cream and served it with Mission Super Thin Tortilla Chips... you could always add some guacamole, too!

This recipe was so easy because it literally took 10 minutes to put together.  The most time consuming part was chopping the onion, which took maybe three or four minutes (I am a slow chopper, ha!)  Then all I had to do was wait... and take in the delicious aroma filling our house!

The best part?  The Hubs said it tasted like it came from a restaurant.  Score.

The Bucket List

Oh, the Bucket List... the things you hope to do and accomplish before... well... let's ignore the actual kicking-the-bucket part :  )  When I was younger there were only three things I knew I had to do… two of them are at the top of this list, and one of them (graduate from Texas A&M) is already done. So… here we go!

1. Learn how to play tennis and actually play it... because there is a difference. I have wanted to play tennis since I was about 10 years old and never have, other than batting a ball back and forth against the garage door with my brother... and I am pretty sure that does not count.

2. Go horseback riding… cannot believe I live in Texas and have never done this!  I am not sure I want to make it an actual hobby but I would like to give it a whirl.

3. Tour the East Coast… everywhere from Florida to Maine and especially small, tucked-away villages and seaside towns. There is a very long list of places I would like to visit… even beginning to list them is daunting.  I am thinking of starting a new feature on this blog highlighting different ones... so much history, so many things to do and experience!

4. Finish writing my book... (shouldn't this one be first?)  OH... and have it published : )  That's the kicker, right?

5. Enjoy a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3 in New York City.  I have been to the Big Apple twice and never made it there.  Almost did once.  Long story.

6. Visit Greece and Italy… something inspiring about being where Western civilization began.

7. Learn to play the piano… I took lessons one summer as a child and stopped… wish I had kept going. 

8. Teach college.  My plan behind earning my master’s degree was to have the credentials to teach at the university level and hopefully I will have the opportunity one day.  (Hopefully this coming fall, as I have applied for a few positions).

9. Relax.  If you know me at all you know this will probably be the hardest one for me.  (I am not sure it is really fair to put something impossible on here but I am leaving it, ha!)

10. Learn to play golf well… The Hubs said he would teach me : )  He is an amazing golfer.  He purchased gold clubs for me after we were married but they have only been used for one trip to the driving range.  Hopefully we can get out and play this spring... and hopefully I can exhibit some patience and be a good student : )

11. Visit Disney World… you are never too old for the Magic Kingdom!

12. Spend a summer in the country, preferably in the Northeast.  I really am a city girl but would enjoy this so much!

13. Meet Tom Hanks, Kate Middleton, George W. Bush, Kyle Chandler, and Muffy Aldrich… but only as long as they are all really nice in person.

14. Earn a Ph.D. in American Studies… ideally from Yale but having my sights set on the Ivy League may be pushing it a bit : )

15. Eat at Sardi’s in New York City.

16. Walk Haunted London… I have a book with maps tracing haunted paths throughout the city, including the trail of Jack the Ripper and the alley inspiration for Scrooge’s business in Dickins’ A Christmas Carol.

17. Ride in a hot air balloon.  Preferably over some green rolling hills but I am flexible.

18. Go on a murder mystery weekend in an old English manor or a New England inn.  Spooky.

19. Go sailing.  No real desire to be in charge of the ropes or sails or anything… but I could have some wine or a snack on deck : )

20.  Purchase a Lilly Pulitzer dress.  Sounds simple, but they seem to look cuter on everyone else, ha!  Maybe one needs to be thinner.  I have a few other LP pieces and really love them, so I am hoping to find a well-fitting dress soon!

21.  Watch the entire series of Gilmore Girls... from start to finish.

22.  Visit a working orchard or fruit farm and pick my own fruit :  )  Maybe I can do this while I am summering in the country!  OR... I can head down 35 and pick peaches in South Texas later this spring.

This list is an evolving work-in-progress… it is hard to think of all the things one would like to do and it is easy to forget about the smaller things : ( Oh, and if you can help me accomplish any of these, let me know : )

What is on your Bucket List?

P.S.  If you follow my private family blog and this post looks familiar... it is there, too :  )  I felt like sharing with everyone!

Create Yourself

Pottery Barn Teen

Embracing this quote today.

Everyone can become the person they want to be, even if it is not who you are right now.

Think about...

... how you want to act and react...

... how you want to speak and be spoken to...

... how you want to present yourself...

... what brings you happiness...

... how you want to take care of yourself both inside and out...

... and be that person.

It is never too late to start.

Vintage Dooney & Sarah Vickers

Picture it: middle school, 1992.  These years can be tragic at best... but especially when every girl walks the hallway carrying some version of a Dooney & Bourke handbag... and you don't.  OH to have one of my own!  Especially in Ivy!  Mom and Dad, will you please buy me, a twelve-year-old girl, a $200 purse so I can be friends with the cool kids?  Answer: heck no!  My parents, being excellent teachers of life lessons, responded with the expected: if you want it badly enough, save your money and purchase it yourself.  SO... that is exactly what I did.

Fast-forward to Christmas 1993.  Armed with $250, I headed to Stripling and Cox the day after Christmas to purchase my very own Dooney & Bourke.  In IVY.  Preferably the small square one with the cute buckle on the front.  Sadly, being the day after Christmas, every Ivy colored bag was gone... as well as all the square ones with the cute buckle on the front.  What to do?  Well, like most teenage girls with money burning a hole in their pocket and an illogical need to return from Winter Break with the purse, I gave in... and bought a different one... in black.  Not smart.

When we returned home I set the Stripling and Cox shopping bag on one of our dining room chairs and left it there.  Every few hours I would go in and look at the purse and try it on, trying to decide if it had really been worth that amount of money, especially since it was not even the one I really wanted.  After a week or so, I opted to keep it and carried it for about three years... but the Ivy bag was still in my heart and I honestly regretted spending all my money on something I did not even really like.

Years later, I sold my Dooney in a yard sale.  I never had much of an attachment to it anyway, so it was not a big deal to me... and I don't think I had ever thought about that bag again until I was roaming around on Sarah Vickers' blog last week... where I found this photo of her... carrying my black, unloved, vintage Dooney & Bourke!

Classy Girls Wear Pearls

Too funny.  While I love her style, seeing my old bag still does not make me like it anymore than I did when I was 13... but it did make me wonder what Dooney and Bourke offers now... and I found this delightful equestrian bag... in IVY :  ) It may have to find a way into my closet.

Lesson of this ridiculously long, silly trip down memory lane?  My Dooney and Bourke bag was my first significant, expensive shopping experience... and I learned to be smart about shopping.  Buy what you really love, and if what you want is not available, wait until it is and then take the plunge.  Through the years, and especially lately, I have become increasingly aware of making intelligent purchases in regard to quality and long-term appeal.  Do not waste your money, your time, or your closet space on things you do not adore.

I also have to ask the question... when did stuff from the late 80s and early 90s become VINTAGE?!



Top Five Tuesday: Restaurants

Today I am linking up with Just Peachy for the first time for Top Five Tuesday!

 

 

1. Jacala's Mexican Restaurant, San Antonio

OH this is my favorite place ever in the world to eat :  )  I have been known to drive five hours there and five hours back to Fort Worth in the same day just to eat lunch... not even kidding.  If you want excellent, authentic TexMex, Jacala's is the place for you!  I always order the #11... yum!

2. The Water Club, New York City

The Hubs and I ate at The Water Club on our honeymoon back in 2004... so, so, so good.  (Sadly, we did not take a photo so the one above is borrowed from their site)  The restaurant overlooks the East River and the food was amazing... and, while it is not on their current menu, at the time they offered a delightful cookie sampler for dessert... I love cookies!

3. Saltgrass Steakhouse, Anywhere and Everywhere, Texas

Nothing beats an awesome Texas steak!  Saltgrass has amazing ones, along with delicious sides and the best iced tea anywhere.  If you are in Texas and looking for steak, eat at Saltgrass... yes, they are a chain, but they are consistent and top-notch.

4. Los Cocos Bakery, San Antonio

Can a bakery count as a restuarant?  Since this is my list I say yes... you can always eat pastry for breakfast!  Los Cocos offers the best Mexican pastry in San Antonio... or in Texas... and has been since 1973.  So delicious.  I can almost taste it here in Fort Worth.

5.  Chuy's, Texas and a few other places

Photo borrowed from the Austin Post

Yes, there is a trend here... I love TexMex!  Especially delicious, cheap TexMex!  Chuy's has a great selection and their guacamole soft tacos are particularly yummy.  The original location is in Austin but you can find these all over the state... so come find one!

What are your favorite restaurants?

Reading Challenge '12 -- February Update

February was a slow reading month... but here we go...!!

FINALLY finished the series.  LOVE.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows may have been my favorite... but I like to think of them as an entire collection and not individual books.  I was happy with how it ended, and I was so emotionally wrapped up in these books I actually felt empty when I was done... that does not happen often!  I literally cried at a few parts... it was good.  Seriously, if you have not read these (and I assumed I was the last person on the planet who hadn't yet) you need to read them.  They are excellent.

The English American was interesting because it was autobiographical.  The story follows Pippa, adopted as a child to English parents, as she searches for her birthparents... who turn out to be American... and her journey to the United States to piece together her identity.  This book started out well but lost my interest around the middle... it was funny in parts but I became bored... and then I felt bad because I did not like thinking the author's life was boring... but it kind of was... or maybe I was not paying good enough attention :  )  The end was nice, though.

Reading Challenge '12 -- January Update

GoodReads: one of my favorite and most frequented sites.  I love maintaining my virtual bookshelves and keeping up with what my friends are reading... and it is an awesome place to get book recommendations.  If you read a lot it is a good place for you :  )

This is my second year to participate in the site's Reading Challenge; last year I exceeded my goal of 25 books, finishing the year having read 32  I have challenged myself to 25 books again this year... here are the ones I read in January:

Summer and the City (sequel to The Carrie Diaries) continues Carrie Bradshaw's journey into adulthood and life in the Big Apple.  I felt compelled to read this since I had started the series (and will probably read any others published) but I cannot say it is fabulous.  I am a huge SATC fan and this storyline is not how I see Carrie's character developing... oh well :  )  It was quick and fun and a good way to start of the year.

Love, love, love Harry Potter :  )  If you have not read them... read them.  If you have read them, read them again.  LOVE.

Heehee, this one was fun.  If you are a Child of the 70s or 80s... this book is for you!  Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? is a good compilation of some of our childhood favorites... everything from TV shows to toys to food products... with an explanation of why they disappeared and, where applicable, what replaced them.  A good trip down Memory Lane.  Without doubt there are lots of things missing (we had a TON of stuff!) but I read somewhere the authors are working on a sequel :  )

What have you been reading?

The Search for Shorts

It may still be winter in some parts of the country but it is warm here in North Texas!  Our temps are starting out cool (30s and 40s) but we have been ending the afternoon in the upper 60s and low to mid 70s... and last week we had a few days in the 80s!  Nothing like warm weather to get me thinking about spring... and shorts!

I am in desperate need of some new ones this year, especially because we are going on vacation at the beginning of the summer.  Two summers ago I was still expecting CB (her birthday is in June) and spent the rest of the warm weather still in maternity clothes.  Last summer I was able to purchase new, post-baby summer clothes but have lost enough weight throughout this year to warrant needing new shorts again... this is both a positive and negative thing!

In general, I dislike shopping; nothing ever fits correctly and clothes seem to cost entirely too much for the quality received.  I am also tall at 5'9" and not a stickly size 4 (although I was once in a previous life, heehee).  Ideally, a pair of navy, white, and khaki will be in my future, and I am also looking for a pair of light blue, which I think would look super with a variety of polo shirt colors.

These from Vineyard Vines look like a nice fit... and score they come in navy, white, and stone.  I have never purchased VV shorts and would appreciate opinions from anyone who has! 

LOFT currently offers these cotton ones, available in a light blue called Bay Blue (which I kind of like, but I do not trust Web swatches enough to forgo viewing them in the store) as well as khaki and a super fun green called Lush.  All my other shorts are from LOFT and I have generally had good luck with the fit and durability.

Finally, these from Land's End look quite delightful... but I am sad they are already backordered in navy and are not available in white!  Their light blue version, Venetian Blue, looks like a good shade.  My only concern: the one online review comments about the fabric being thin, which is not okay for me.  I need structure!

Where do you purchase shorts?