2012 New Year Resolutions

Today marks the last day of 2012, and it is so hard to believe it is over.  It's been a great year, so many fabulous things have happened.  So here is a final recap of my resolutions for 2012 and how I did with them:

1.) I will maintain a healthy lifestyle.   I really slacked off with this one once school started...  :(

2.) Once a month, I will donate to an organization of my choice.
January- Money Donation to Relay for Life for our 2nd grade fundraiser.
February- Money Donation to the Empty Bowls Project of Monongalia County (a school fundraiser as well)
March- 2 1/2 bags of clothing and shoes donated to the Goodwill
April- Goodwill donation
May- Goodwill donation (gotta love moving!)
June- Cory's Kidz $10 donation in honor of a high school classmate that passed away. RIP Joey Burkland~~~~
July- $20 donation towards spay and neutering of stray animals in OBX
August- Goodwill donation and $30 donation to Cameroom Football Development Program
September- $5 donation to St. Jude's hospital and purchase from Pura Vida bracelets, which proceeds go to providing full time jobs to folks in Costa Rica and helping clean the shorelines.
October- 2 shirts purchased with all proceeds going towards Breast Cancer Awareness
November- $10 Red Cross Donation to Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund
December- $20 donation to CFDP for Global Giving Day

I really, really enjoyed this goal.  It feels great to give something to someone or an organization.  I will probably continue this resolution in 2013.

 3.) I will pay off my credit cards. It's a work in progress.....as always. Haha.

And this last goal is just for this blog: ~I will post on my blog at least twice a month.- So far, so good!!! (Except for February! Hey, its a short month!)


Now, out with the old resolutions and in with the new....... to be continued......

Harry Potter themed bathroom ~ Near Completion

So I decided to do our Master Bathroom in a Harry Potter theme, and God love my hubby for putting up with my shenanigans.  :)

It all began with Pinterest (as always).  Kori had sent me a pin of a toilet vinyl with Harry Potter reference.  I got on eBay, and purchased it (in addition to a vinyl quote to go above our headboard). 

Then, Kori found potion label print outs on Pinterest, and printed me some.  I went to Michael's and got these cute potion bottles for 99 cents each.  I spray painted a few and then had to Harry Potter Wikipedia the colors of a few others that I didn't spray paint. 
While at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter last March, I purchased Dumbledore's wand and added it to the potion shelf.  Finally, Kori and I made Snitch ornaments before Thanksgiving.  I removed it from my tree and added it to the shelf. 

And lastly, I ordered another vinyl (this time from Etsy) that is for the Platform 9 3/4 in which students catch a train to Hogwarts.  I first intended on finding wooden letters and painting them, but didn't have luck and just purchased this one.  Also, as a bonus, they sent Harry's glasses and scar mini vinyl, which I put above the light switch. 

 

Overall, I am very happy with my bathroom.  It's not too-much-Harry-Potter-craziness, but just enough.  I would like to get one more thing for the bathroom via Etsy...

All I have to say is:  Thank you Pinterest, Etsy, Kori, and my hubs.....I couldn't do it without you all!!  :)

30 Days of Thanks

I'm a little late in posting this- In the month of November, I took Facebook's 30 Days of Thanks challenge, in which each day in the month you post what you are thankful for.  Here is my list:

30 Days of Thanks
1:  Patience
2: "Almost Heaven" Amber Ale
3: Family and Friends
4: Football
5:  Sweatpants and Hoodies
6: To live in a free country and have the freedom to vote.
7: Pinterest
8: Toby
9:   My home
10: Sunshine and Red Wine
11: Our Veterans
12: Pandora Boy Band Radio
13: My job
14: My students
15: My coworkers
16: To have a break off of school
17: Free 50 yard line wvu tickets
18: Kitties- Ziggy, Cleo, and Mario
19: Kori and our many shopping sprees.
20: The friends, family, and pets that I have love and lost
21: Life lessons
22: Family traditions
23: Family time
24: Seat warmers
25: My Keurig
26: Pizza
27: Diet Coke
28: Chocolate
29: Today is Thursday and our Thursday show line up
30: That this is over.....

At times, it was really hard to pick something to be thankful for because it may have been a bad day.  Overall, it was very fun and I would do it again next year!

DIY Roasted Red Peppers

Fall is my favorite time of year for many reasons.  I love the cooler weather to wear sweaters/hoodies, the leaves changing colors, pumpkin beers, pumpkin breads, and the list continues...

I also love the thought that red peppers go on sale for 10 for $10, because this gives me a chance to make roasted red peppers to last me all winter to add to meals.  It's also a great gift idea.  So, I decided to make some for my BFF Kori.  Here is a step by step tutorial with pictures:

 

Roasted Red Peppers

Preheat oven to broil.

Lightly coat the peppers with a coat of vegetable oil and put on a pan.

Place in the oven and keep a close eye on them, turning them when they become charred.

Once charred on all sides and tender, remove and immediatley place in a glass bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and leave for 15-20 minutes. 

After 15-20 minutes, peel away skin (using a paper towel helps), and take out seeds, stem and ribs.  I like to cut them where the ribs are.  Finally, store in an air tight container. Fill container most of the way with olive oil.

I put mine in a Mason Jar and used a decorative cupcake liner, added a tag, and there's my gift!

FYI- A pint size Mason Jar will only hold about 3 average sized peppers. 

Celebrating Veteran's Day

Today marks the holiday in observing our Veterans.  I am thankful to all of the Veterans. For without them who knows just where we would be.

I thank the men and women serving today, I thank the men and woman who plan to serve in the future, I thank the men and women who have served in the past and I especially thank the men & women that paid the ultimate price for this country. Thank You and God Bless You.

Both of my grandfather's served in the military. 

My grandpa Bill was in the Korean War.  After he passed away (not from serving- medical issues), my grandma gave me one of his dogtags. 

My other grandpa Ron served in the Navy.  He went when he was 17 years old and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. 

On a side note, Kit-Kat won the Candy Bar Election!

Candy Election

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!!!

Today in school, my students participated in our primary election for our Candy Election.  It's the Chocolate against the Fruit/Chewy candy.  We made a list of all the types of candy that falls under that category and then voted on one from each.  And the winner is......

Kit-Kat vs. Starburst!!

It was a great activity for Halloween!  Students will write speeches as to why their choice of candy wins!  I will share with you the final results! 

Sometimes, teaching can be so fun!!

Ghetto Bedford

For the last 3 years, my family has gone to Bedford, PA to stay in a cabin.  The first year we celebrated my dad's 50th birthday, second year was my mom's 50th birthday, and this year was my sister's 30th birthday!   We went this weekend and had so much fun!  I call this blog "Ghetto Bedford" as an inside joke about my dad's reaction when we found out we were going there for his 50th birthday.

Since when we go it is someone's milestone birthday, we create a PowerPoint slideshow of their life.  It was my turn to make Kara's slideshow and I am so proud of myself because I did it!  I have never done a PowerPoint slideshow before, so I was quite impressed with myself (there was even music in it!).

Some things that we do in Bedford, is see the windmills, Gravity Hill (Google it), shopping, have bonfires, and drink.  This year was really no different. We went to the Johnstown Flood Memorial, drank Sam Adams Octoberfest out of a pumpkin keg, Kara and I sang and danced to New Kids on the Block, did some antiquing, played "Name that Tune 80s Style", created Bendaroos, drank, had a bonefire, grilled out, and drank some more.  One of the best part about Bedford, besides the breath-taking view, is that we always come home with delicious Delmonico steaks.  :)   

It was a nice relaxing few days away from work.  Here are a few pics from my mini-vacation.

The amazing view from the deck!  I watched the sunrise twice- no photo could ever capture its true beauty!

The windmills on our way in.  This was a cluster of them by the road.  I like the rustic meets modern look of this picture.