Weekend Recap

Holy moly this weekend was jam packed. I feel like I didn't sit down and relax at all but that's okay because we were too busy having fun. :) Prepare yourself for picture overload. I'll try to keep the wordiness to a minimum because I have a feeling this is going to be long. Grab a snack and maybe something to stay hydrated lol... just kidding, but really though.

My parents got into town around 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Their flight was a little delayed. Then we headed over to Soda & Swine because they were excited to check it out. Our friend Jake got there early and saved us a table. THANK YOU!! This helped a ton because it was packed when we arrived. Dina and Greg joined us for dinner and it was a seriously good time. I love these people! Afterwards we walked over to Stone Brewery so the guys could play Bocce.

Dina and Greg 

The Fam

Jake and Dina

Fries with pork belly and gravy...yum!

Stone

On Saturday the guys left early for golf and my mom and I headed to one of my fave walking spots, Sunset Cliffs. It was still pretty stifling outside with this crazy humidity so we didn't last very long. Still gorgeous though.

After breakfast and coffee at Einsteins we headed home to get ready and then to run errands. I needed to find a dress for a couple weddings and another event we have coming up. The next few weekends are super busy so Saturday was my one chance. I found one, YESSSS! Then we made our way to the commissary to shop for tailgating. We went home and prepped food for most of the afternoon and then went to dinner at Pizza Port.

Afterwards we took my parents to Reunion which is a dive bar down the street from our place. They had a band playing which was actually pretty good. The guys played pool and my mom just hung out and chatted. Such a fun night!

Sunday morning was all about football. We packed the coolers and the truck and headed to Qualcomm to tailgate. We made breakfast burritos ahead of time and warmed them up in tin foil on the grill. We also made corn dip, guacamole, salsa, and pico de gallo to go with an assortment of chips. Can you tell we are dip people?? lol

the Lions fans

The game was a blast and we had great seats. The only problem was the extreme heat and the humidity. Normally in San Diego the weather is pretty good all year round but this heat wave is killing me. I know I'm dramatic but I'm seriously over this weather. Anyways, enough whining lol... The Lions lost (sad for my parents) but since the Chargers won my hubby was super happy. Such a fun weekend and now time to go to bed early. I hope you all had a blessed weekend!

Five on Friday

It's FRIDAY! WOOHOO! Man oh man this week seemed to take forever but at the same time where did it go? Does anyone else have weeks like that?? I'm so looking forward to the weekend even though it's CRAZY hot and humid in San Diego. Praying for some cool air to come our way. Anyways let's get this Five on Friday started! I'm linking up with April, Natasha, Christina, Karli, Erika, Narci, and Andrea :) Happy Friday everyone!

One- Birthday Dinner at Soda & Swine

If you saw my post yesterday you already know how much I loved Soda & Swine. If not scroll down below and check it out! We went there on Monday for Greg's birthday and had a great time. Greg is technically my husband's best friend but he quickly became one of my closest friends several years ago too. Greg has always been there for me especially when Mark was on deployment. I can always count on him to help me or just come hang out and make me laugh. He's such a good person with a huge heart and I'm happy to not only call him a friend, but family too. Love you Greg, Happy birthday!

Mark and the Birthday Boy

Hubby being a goof

Two- Home cookin'

This was such a quick week and since we were out of town until Monday I only cooked Tuesday and Wednesday night. On Tuesday I made buffalo shredded chicken sandwiches and sweet potato fries. The chicken was super easy. On Tuesday morning I put five chicken breasts in the crockpot with Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce, and a dry packet of ranch dressing. **I know, I know the ranch part isn't the healthiest but it gives it great flavor. :) Then I let it cook all day on low. My mom's best friend aka my second mom, Lora, told me about this recipe so I had to try it. It was a BIG hit with Mark and Greg except for the fact that it might have been a tad too spicy. Lora said to use half a bottle and I almost used the entire thing. Whoops! We layered the sandwiches with coleslaw and more barbecue sauce. This was such a quick and easy meal for a busy night! 

Mark likes LOTS of sauce on his plate :)

On Wednesday, I picked up some of Trader Joe's pizza crust, pizza sauce, some veggies, and the Quattro Formaggio (cheese) blend. I love the Trader Joe's pizza crust, it's so easy to work with and tastes perfect every time. Also, if you haven't tried the Quattro Formaggio blend go pick some up asap! It's a blend of asiago, parmesan, mild provolone, and fontina.  It makes the pizza taste so much better, I promise. 

I made two pizzas... the first was tomato, basil, and marinated mozzarella on the garlic herb crust. The second was ham and pineapple on the normal crust. I am a total pizza lover and it's even better when I can make it myself and customize it exactly to my liking... mmmm!

Don't mind the strange shape... I'm not the best pizza-dough-roller lol

Three- Date Night

Mark and I have been super busy lately and haven't had much alone time. Last night we decided to venture out for a date night and of course we went to our favorite place...sushi! We make our way to Sushiya at least once every other week. It's a great price, fast service, and tastes delicious every time! 

We finished our night with a trip to Home Depot and Target to try and look for some kind of air conditioner or fan- we're exciting huh??. We have three fans at our house but it's not cutting it with this crazy heat wave. Unfortunately, everything is sold out. This happens every year and you think we would learn and get an AC unit early. It never seems that bad until the hotness is actually here though. Thank goodness I have a super handy hubby. He decided to make us the "bucket AC unit" that he found on YouTube. We got some of the supplies at Home Depot and Mark made it work with what they had. It's blowing cool air on me as we speak :) So grateful for my man!

Our "AC" unit

Four- Be Brave

I am not what you would call a brave person. I am often scared to do lots of things and I get really anxious. I've really been trying to step out of my comfort zone and relinquish control. I truly believe God is working on my heart, trying to help me in this area. This blog is a prime example of not being afraid to fail. I started it in May but kept it private for several months. I don't really know what I was afraid of but I am so glad that I got that gentle nudge to make it public. It's so fun to have a creative outlet and people have had the nicest things to say. Thank you all for your sweet words and encouragement! :)

Five- Lions v. Chargers game

My parents will be here tonight and I'm so excited! We are going to the Lions v. Chargers game this weekend. We bought my parents tickets for both of their birthdays since they are big Lions fans. Mark and I have never been to a Chargers game because the schedule just never seems to work with Mark's crazy work schedule. So needless to say we are thrilled that we actually have tickets! 

My mom and I have been brainstorming ideas for tailgating food because every good event starts with a good meal, am I right?? :) We've talked burgers, brats, walking tacos, guacamole, salsa, a veggie platter, bacon wrapped jalapeños, and so much more. Here's a couple of ideas I found on pinterest:

Found here.

Wisconsin Beer Dip

Walking Tacos

What are your favorite tailgating dishes?

Culinary Curiosities: Soda & Swine

Photo Source

On Monday afternoon we headed to Soda & Swine in Liberty Station to celebrate Greg's birthday. I've been wanting to go there for a few months since I saw the coming soon sign and it did not disappoint. The decor was very rustic with lots of wood and some modern touches of steel. It had a very casual vibe and there were a ton of families there. It was an open space with lots of natural light and a cool breeze blowing through the restaurant because of the many open areas. They even had a super long foosball table with glass on top. You can slide the glass back and forth to make it a table to eat on. Such a cool touch!

You walk up to the counter to order and the seating is open. We first sat at the foosball table but moved to the bar to make room for a large party. 

When you order you can choose an item from the favorites section or build your own by choosing the type of meat, sauce, cheese, and then what you want it served on. You have a choice of a slider, submarine, skillet of three, or with spaghetti. They also have a list of sides and they ALL sounded amazing.

His serious face

The birthday boy

I got the Swine slider (smoked pork with chipotle BBQ sauce and pepper jack cheese) and the Bovine slider (beef with marinara and mozzarella). Mark got the Bovine submarine and we shared the Fried Pizza Knots. The meatballs were tender and juicy and the sauces were both perfect. I think the Bovine was my favorite because the mozzarella and the marinara sauce are just so classic and delicious. The pizza knots were the right amount of crunchy and salty... perfection. Greg ordered a similar submarine to my first slider but he ordered it with feta cheese. He loved his as well. He got the roasted brussels sprouts as a side and we all had a little taste. They were so yummy! The bacon and the fish sauce gave it a real smoky and intense flavor. 

They had fresh baked pies with soft serve but we were too stuffed to eat dessert there, but next time for sure!

Mark's submarine

The Swine and the Bovine sliders

The pizza knots -1 :)

We loved Soda & Swine and we plan on bringing my parents there this weekend! Check it out if your in the Point Loma area. 

Crazy About Cookbooks Part 1

So I am one of those people who reads through an entire cookbook, cover to cover. I like to soak up all the tips and tricks, the fun anecdotes from the author, stare at all the beautiful food pics, and get an overall feel of what kind of food and kitchen the author is sharing. Cooking is a huge passion of mine and I especially like to try new recipes.  I truly wish I was as creative as these cookbook authors. How do they just put recipes together like that? I have no idea!

Anyways I thought I would start a series sharing some cookbooks that I have had my eye on and some of my loves from my current collection. So here we go...

What I have my eye on...

Kimberly is from the band Little Big Town... isn't she adorable?? Buy it here

Oh Gussie! by Kimberly Schlapman

I heard about Oh Gussie! a few months ago on the Highway (a Sirius radio station) during an interview with Kimberly. She talked about her new cookbook and it sounded right up my alley. Hearing her passion for cooking and all things southern it warmed me to the core and I knew I needed this cookbook in my life. When I finally saw it in a store I was immediately hooked by it's colorful pictures, delicious sounding recipes, and stories from growing up in the south. She has so many personal touches in the book that it makes it feel like she is giving you a glimpse into her life one recipe at a time. She has various sections in the book labeled Family, Friends, Music, Home, and Away. I loved reading about her family and their history in the first section and I can't wait to own this so I can dive deeper. This book is currently sitting in my shopping cart on Amazon and I may purchase this very soon. 

From my collection...

Buy it here. 

Buy it here. 

Against All Grain & Meals Made Simple by Danielle Walker

I actually have both of Danielle Walker's cookbooks and I love them. In both books she gives a great overview of her autoimmune disease and how this effects what she eats. She gives meals planning ideas for 8 weeks in the Meals Made Simple cookbook. This is a great feature for any busy person but especially those who are new to the whole grain-free/ paleo lifestyle. I love that she makes grain-free eating so approachable and easy. I have made several of her recipes and our favorite is her prosciutto wrapped chicken with pesto. It's a great option for those busy nights, especially when you make the pesto ahead of time. Mark LOVES this dish and asks me to make it quite often. I also love her taco seasoning. I made it a few weeks ago and have used it with several meals like her chicken tacos and roasted sweet potatoes.  These cookbooks are seriously awesome and I recommend them to anyone who has a gluten free lifestyle or anyone trying to eat healthy. Also, her story is pretty incredible. It will leave you teary eyed and make you want to hug her!  Check it out at: Againstallgrain.com

New School Year Teacher Survival Guide

For many of you tomorrow marks the first day back to school. For some of us (less fortunate ones), we've been at work for a couple weeks now. (*We envy you!) Either way these survival tips are good for any time of the year. Here's to another school year... may your class be filled with the most polite, sweet, and engaged children and may you never get an email from a parent late at night or on the weekends :)

1- Coffee

Found this adorable sign here. 

Oh bless you coffee! How I love you and need you in my life. I think it's important to treat ourselves to something simple like coffee. It makes my day that much more exciting and I consider it my personal reward for getting myself together each morning haha. Most people treat themselves once a week but I must confess that I have been stopping at Starbucks or Coffee Bean 3-4x a week. Yikes! It's so yummy though! 

2- Work Wife

Find yourself a work wife aka a work best friend and hold on tight. These are the people who know you are having a bad day before you even open your mouth and will hug you or pray for you immediately. They make work so much more enjoyable! I have the best team in the whole world... okay I may be a little bias but I truly love working with Steph and Jenna. I always feel supported and cared for at work no matter what has happened in my day. They make me laugh and listen to my loooong stories. I must admit I never mastered the art of short-story telling. Whoops! Moving to a new state, let alone a new school is scary and these two made the transition so much better. Thanks girls!! Yay for year three together!

3- Food Prep

Photo source

I think it's so important to "set yourself up for success" each week by prepping everything you can during the weekend. I like to wash and cut all my fruit and veggies on Sunday night. I then divide them into individual bags or containers. This helps me just grab a few snacks for each day to add into my breakfast or lunch. I find that this helps me feel less flustered in the morning because I'm not scrambling for something to pack. I also make my fruit bowls for breakfast and set out my yogurt to go with each. This saves me on those rushed mornings!

4- Pick Out Your Outfits

How cute is this color combo?? 

Do you ever find yourself staring at your clothes in the morning like something will magically jump out of the closet? I totally do! I have no idea what I'm waiting for but it seems like my brain just doesn't work at 5:30. I have been trying to iron my clothes at the beginning of the week and put together a few options for outfits. It helps me to move quickly in the morning and saves me time by not having to iron when let's be real, I'm probably already running late. And yes, I must confess, I am one of those people who irons EVERYTHING. I hate wrinkles! I am fine with them if they happen throughout the day but I need to start out with a wrinkle free outfit. Don't judge me! Also, finding a blog or two that have outfit ideas is also a lifesaver. It makes me combine new pieces in my closet instead of immediately thinking that I have nothing to wear. J's Everyday Fashion is one of my favorites! 

5- Schedule and Desk

My work desk definitely doesn't look like this but this article will give you some great inspiration and some major space envy. 

I leave as soon as I can after school. Not because I am just dying to get out of there, it's because my commute is pretty terrible. The later I leave the worse it gets. Before I leave though I clean off my desk, filing away any papers, and organizing for the next day. My teaching partner Stephanie taught me to write my schedule (for the next day) on the board before I leave. This is a huge help because it  mentally prepares you for the next work day and gives you a little extra time in the morning. I find that this also triggers me to remember when I need to pick something up for a special project or that I need to prep something specific. It's such a small thing but a big help! 

6- Love Your Students

Photo source

I know I know, this is a give in but I also know that at some point we all need this reminder. There will be days when our students drive us nuts (and I mean NUTS) so it's important to cling to the things we love about them early on. I like to make a connection with each child as soon as possible because they a) will behave better b) they will like me more because I know something special about them and c) they will trust me and want me to trust them. It helps the connection with the parents when they know that you truly love their child and want to encourage and foster their learning in any way possible. The teachers at my school are so great at showing love to each other and their students. I feel that I've truly grown as an educator since being hired. :) 

Found this here

Have a great week everyone!!