Foodie Friday

Happy Friday for those that work! For me, these summer days all seem like a Friday, although that's going to change in a few weeks. I am so thankful for this break because I feel like I am getting the rest I need before I start work. I am actually excited to start and oddly motivated (let's see how long that lasts haha).

This week has been quite a roller coaster ride. I mean, why should it be any different, right? It started with me being discouraged and frustrated because of my arm (it's still hurting despite going to the doctor and taking medicine daily) to being uplifted on Tuesday at church. I started going to service on Tuesdays and I really like going and feel like I can join a fellowship there. The sermon was an eye opener, and it was actually about dating. It was kind of funny because he was answering commonly asked questions like, is online dating okay? And he was saying, well, in the Bible they don't say because, they didn't have internet back then. Oh goodness. Anyhow, it just really put things in perspective for me and made be realize that I need to prepare myself first. I need to be that wonderful person for him. Prepare for what you hope to have.

There are food trucks after service so we got some ice cream! Pistachio and blueberry cheesecake, respectively.

Anyway the week is ending great with some new food escapades and discoveries.

Okay, so I'm single. And I have a Costco membership. Is that weird? I just love it there! Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. Pretzel rolls - They sell a huge bag you can keep for a few days and then freeze the rest. This is so versatile from being a sandwich bun, to just putting some Biscoff spread on! It is delicious.

2. Quinoa salad. This is ready made at Costco and maybe in the future I will try to make my own, but why try when I can just get this? :)

3. barkTHINS - This stuff is addicting. Maybe not the healthiest snack, but definitely better than a piece of chocolate cake. I just eat one of two pieces as a snack or dessert. If you love dark chocolate and pumpkin seeds, you will thank me. Or more accurately Costco for supplying these.

4. Palermo's Margherita Pizza - I forgot to take a picture, but this is my all time favorite Costco item. This is one of the only pizzas I will eat from a box. It's very thin so you need to cook it until crisp, which usually only takes about 10 minutes or less. I could eat the whole pie, but I eat half and save the other half for lunch the next day. 

Now, I know Costco is a bit pricey, but for the quality of food you get, it is worth it to me. Also, I love going for the samples they give out. Here's a good tip; never buy a product without tasting it first. You don't want to drop 10 or 15 dollars on a product not knowing if you'll like it. That's why they give samples of products for you to try. Most of it is good. Some are great. Go for great.

I also tried to make Fried Green Tomatoes this week after I saw a coworker make it on FB. I need to practice more, because my batter didn't crisp to a nice coating, but it tasted good at least. Plus the gremolata and remoulade sauce I made were so good! I could eat anything with that sauce!

Gremolata

- 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1. Zest a whole lemon and use a knife to mince the peel. Put them in a small bowl.
2. Finely chop the parsley and add to the bowl.
3. Add the finely chopped garlic (I always peel whole garlic and mince them using a food processor and store it in a glass Tupperware. It lasts forever. Trust me on this. You will save so much time if you have this done ahead of time. The uses for minced garlic is endless. And I don't recommend buying minced garlic in a jar...just do it yourself!).
4. Mix the 3 ingredients together and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

This Italian garnish can be used on fish, beef, etc. It would be great on shrimp and other seafood too!

Remoulade Sauce

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
3 tablespoons Creole whole-grain mustard
3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
3 tablespoons ketchup
3 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process for 30 seconds or until all combined.

2. Use immediately or store for a few days in the refrigerator.

Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse

I also made a YUMMY banana peanut butter smoothie this morning. It only has 3 ingredients and is SO easy to make.

Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

- 1 frozen* banana (sliced)
- 2 Tablespoons of powdered organic peanut butter (I get mine at Whole Foods, also shown here)
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk (my favorite is Trader Joe's) depending on what consistency you like

1. I put bananas in the freezer and let it thaw a little on the counter before peeling. Slice the "banana ice cubes" and put that, the powdered peanut butter and almond milk in the blender/food processor.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour in a cup and enjoy!

That's as easy as it gets! Delicious, healthy, and refreshing!

*For future reference, you can also pre-peel the bananas, slice in halves or slices, put them in a zip lock bag (getting as much air out as possible), and freeze them that way. I am not sure how brown they get that way. The reason I just put the banana bunch in my freezer without peeling is, I was having a fruit fly problem and I got so frustrated, I shoved the whole thing in the freezer without thinking. So after I use up all my bananas, I will try freezing peeled bananas and update it on my blog. Peeling the skin wasn't too bad though (I had to use a knife in a few places) but as it was thawing, it came off fairly easy.

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Summer is the time for healthy living right? Well, attempts at least. I am really trying hard to do that.
The week's success included trying to get Caitlin a gym membership and finally it happened! I am SO pumped about working out this year and eating healthy! Tank tops, here I come! :)

Twenty-four hour Twinkies

Healthy eating @ Zoes Kitchen

Have a wonderful weekend!

TMI

If you think TMI means too much information you have been missing out on a great book series. I have spent most of my last two weeks reading, searching, pinning, buying, thinking (obsessing?) over The Mortal Instruments. No it's not Harry Potter (how can anything be that wonderful?) but it's pretty darn good!

I cannot wait for the movie to come out August 21!!! Midnight showing, here I come!

If you haven't heard about the series, give it a try. I won't say much about it because I already made that mistake by putting a (accidental) spoiler on FB. I guess I was too excited to think straight. Anyway, for more information go to TMIsource.com where they have all the wonderful details about movie stills, fan art, news updates etc. to keep your obsession going!

I saw bios about the tmisource staff and thought I'd do one too:

Favorite TMI Book: The City of Bones (it opened up the Shadow Hunter World)

Favorite Chapter: The Midnight Flower (and When Midnight Comes, Jace POV)

Favorite TMI Character: Jace, hands down

Quote that stood out: He was looking at her, and Jace behind her, as if he were seeing something fundamentally wrong, a person with their face turned inside-out, a map of the world with all the land gone and nothing left but ocean. (CFA)

Okay, I'm done.. for now. :) I know this behavior would totally be appropriate if I was 16 years old. But who cares? I'm excited!

One of my goals this summer was to read more, so I am happy that I've done that. I think I was such a bookworm as a kid because I had all the time in the world to read. But as an adult, I feel like I'm missing out on something else if I read. But I guess I need to balance everything better. I've done a little bit of cooking/baking, but not as much as I thought I would. I've also worked out more although, again, not as much as I should! But I am definitely enjoying this break. I keep saying this, but I HOPE I still balance everything when school starts and not put my personal life aside. 

Here's some photos from my summer so far:

Shopping. I've been liking chambray lately..

Hanging with friends and working out!

Trying to join a church to find a community group!

Finding obscure coffee shops (Cafe Silva)

Reading this awesome series :)

I used a scone recipe from La Petite Brioche and mixed it with the ingredients from Alaska from scratch. I didn't have any blueberries at the time, so I substituted them for chopped toasted pistachios. There's also an optional orange glaze for the scones, but I opted for a dark chocolate ganache one!

Orange Pistachio Scones

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 stick cold unsalted butter, grated
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup cold heavy cream
• 1 cup toasted unsalted pistachios (chopped)
• extra heavy cream for brushing the tops

Dark chocolate ganache

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 cups bittersweet chocolate (chopped)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup sugar, the baking powder, orange zest, and salt.

2. Add the cold butter and mix at the lowest speed. 

3. In a large measuring cup, combine the egg and heavy cream (use a whisk) and, with the mixer on low speed, slowly pour into the flour and butter mixture. Mix until just blended (don't over mix!)

4. Add the chopped pistachios to the dough, and mix on low speed until blended.

5. Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead it into a ball. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4-inch thick. 

6. Shape it into a large square and carefully cut dough into eighths (triangles).

7. Brush the tops of the scones with heavy creme, sprinkle with sugar and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are browned and the insides are fully baked. The scones will be firm to the touch. Place on a wire rack with wax paper underneath.

*Tip: I use Silpat (a French silicone liner) on my cookie sheet so there is less browning on the bottom of my scones. It is a MUST have for bakers.

8. Meanwhile, make the chocolate glaze. Heat the cream in a saucepan until it just comes to a simmer. Remove from heat.

9. Place chocolate in a heat proof bowl carefully pour cream over the chocolate. Let it sit for about 15 seconds. Then using a whisk, mix until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Let it cool slightly.

10. Using a fork, scoop a little ganache and quickly move the fork back and forth over the scones to make the glaze design. Let the ganache cool and set (20-30 minutes).

Enjoy your scone alone, or with clotted cream/preserves.

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Crafting project: Found these huge clothes pins at Michael's in the dollar section (I think they were $1.50 each) and made recipe holders! I love them because I always got flour, gooey stuff, etc. on my recipe cards every time I needed to flip them over. Now, I only touch the clip, and it's painted, so no more dirty smudges on my recipes! They can also be used as picture holders.

How can it be summer without ice cream? I tried a non traditional ice cream shop in Plano called Old Town Creamery. I tried the Thai Tea and Strawberry. I love the Thai Tea! They have other funky flavors. Caitlin, of course chose sweet cream and strawberry. :) One day I will get her to try something out of the ordinary!

Thought I was done with TMI didn't you? Hehe, well, this is what happens when you spend your days reading nonstop. Eat, sleep, Shadow hunt. One morning, I woke up and felt a pain in my arm. My next thought was, I need a stele to make a healing rune. That will help it. 

Wait, I don't have a stele. 

Wait, I am a mundane. 

And runes are fictional.

I literally laughed out loud and had to make this photo of my sheer lack of reality and delusion:

March 2014? Really? At least the movie is in 27 days.

The long haul

Today was such nice patio weather. I went to lunch (Patrizio's) with a friend and we ate outside. I wish every day in Texas was like today, but of course, this is a rare occurrence.

Yesterday I went to the Antique Mall in Plano, cash in hand. Last time I went, I didn't know it was cash only, so I was excited to return to see what I could find. Nowadays, going to thrift and antique shops are becoming more popular (probably because of cost). Here are some interesting things I spotted:

My eyes almost popped out of their sockets! Look at all those TOMS!

Haha.

The glasses reminded me of The Capitol, in the Hunger Games. I'm sure Effie would approve.

An antique Underwood. Unfortunately some of the keys didn't seem to function.

I saw some cool metal signs there too. Of course, Wizard of Oz caught my eye!

 For my brother in law who's a Batman fanatic.

And for my coffee loving friends :)

If you plan to visit your local antique mall, carve out a few hours for yourself. I was there for 3 and a 1/2 hours. When I was checking out, the store owner said, "You're still here?!" Haha.

Anyway, here are my antique finds!

Now, some of you may be wondering, why a typewriter? I'm not sure myself. But I could not pass it up. I probably spent half of those 3.5 hours circling the store, trying to decide whether or not I should get it. I love writing. When I was little, I used to write at least one poem a day. I would sing songs and write them down, or write in my little diary about my day. I just remember as a child reading and writing a LOT. Reading flourished my imagination, and writing helped put my thoughts out there. It was always easier for me to write what I thought/felt than speak. I want to try to type more of my poems and even possibly write a story this summer using my typewriter. Someone said they rarely got writer's block with a typewriter. I hope so.
It seems in working condition, although, I think I may need a new ink ribbon.

The teacup was a rare find. I try to only get teacups made from England, especially Royal Albert. Sadly, I didn't find the matching saucer, so I am on a hunt for that. It's called "Lady Carlyle" and it was $4.50. I love the details on the cup! So far this is my third teacup. I'll need at least 5 more if I want to host a tea party!


I'll end with a recipe I learned about from one of my favorite shows, Psych. If you have not seen this, you are missing out! It is hilarious and the dynamic between the two main characters is amazing. I finally got my friend to watch this show because we basically do the same thing they do: kill the conversation until there's nothing left. :) It's called Cuatro Queso Dos Fritos. It is twice fried. It has cheese. It quite possibly is bad for you. But it is delicious.
I pretty much followed the recipe here and I took her advice of using panko instead of regular bread crumbs.
I also took the skin off the potatoes; I thought it would have a better texture that way. Oh, and make sure you sprinkle kosher salt on the potatoes before you stuff it with cheese. This step is crucial before you stick your potatoes with toothpicks.

Oh, and make your friends come to you. It doesn't travel well. :)

Now I need to prepare myself for the long haul; 12 more weeks of school. 56 potential school days. Let's see if I make it!

Be available

Today I am starting my 21 day fast. This is my first real attempt at fasting. Being a MAJOR foodie, fasting isn't really a part of my vocabulary. However, lately I've had the feeling of being stuck. Have you ever felt that way? I just feel like I've been going through the motions and not being present in the moment. I guess getting older does that to you. It makes you reflect on things more and I finally want to make a change by eating healthier. Even after the 21 days, I hope I can continue to make healthier choices and be more conscious; not only about food, but other things as well.

If you have also decided to do this (Daniel) fast, I will write as much as I can about foods, recipes, tips, etc. for you. You can also go to The Daniel Fast Blog and The Daniel Fast, which is where I am getting my information. As always, notify your doctor/physician before starting any diet/fast.

What: The Daniel fast is not a total fast; it is a diet mostly consisting of fruits and vegetables.
Why: I know this may just seem like food. But I wanted to do this fast to discipline myself spiritually as well and bring a focus to my life.
How: Prepare yourself and clean out that pantry!

For me, I had to prepare myself by cleaning out my pantry:

Yep. All my weaknesses in a pile. 

Here is the food list of what you can eat during the Daniel fast. For a more detailed list go here: Food List

• all fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, canned) Fresh is the best though.
• all whole grains (whole wheat, brown rice (Yea, Chipotle!), quinoa, etc)
• all nuts and seeds
• all legumes
• all quality oils
• tofu, soy, vinegar, and all seasonings
• drink water!

Foods to avoid:

• all meat, animal, and dairy products
• all sweeteners
• bread
• processed foods (no preservatives)
• fried foods
• all solid fats (butter, margarine, etc)
• coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and alcohol

I had a lot of questions when I started going grocery shopping, like what about dijon mustard or salsa?

As long as the ingredients match the food list, you are ok. Many packaged foods have added sugar and chemicals/preservatives, so it is better to make the food yourself to be sure. Use your weekends to prepare your meals so you won't come home tired and give in to buying fast food or eating instant meals, like I have done so many times.

Tips:

• Days before the fast, try to cut out high sugar foods and caffeine
• Drink plenty of water
• Have a support system! I have a friend that is encouraging me, and my mom knows not to make me spaghetti. :)  I also have a friend who said she would do it with me! Plus, she works with me, so we can support each other throughout the day!
• When the 21 days are over, do NOT go crazy and start eating everything you have missed. It may upset your stomach which is not used to digesting such foods. I can't cut out meat and bread forever, but I hope this fast helps me to make better choices about what I eat every day.
• The booklet says to follow the B.R.A.T. diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.

Health benefits of fasting:

• Your body goes through a natural detoxification process, which releases toxins and poisons from your system.
• Energy is focused on your metabolism and immune system, rather than to your digestive system (which won't need to work as hard).
• You feel more energized and there is an increased production of hormones.
• The body begins to use its fat stores as an energy source, which affects your cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight.

My personal goal:

That's the food part of my fast. I wanted a focus while I fasted. If it was just about food, I could easily give in. But if I have a focus, I can resist that piece of chocolate or Starbucks. As I was reading the Bible verse above, the part about being available really caught me. Lately I feel like I have not done that. Selfishness breeds laziness. So my focus is to be available to those around me. If someone needs my help, I want to try my best to help.

Brown Rice and Quinoa with grilled bell peppers and grape tomatoes.

I made this last night. I found this brown rice/quinoa pouch at Costco, which is delicious! Plus, it's perfect to take to work since it is microwavable. Here is the simple recipe:

Brown Rice and Quinoa with Veggies

You will need:

- brown rice and quinoa pouch from Seeds of Change (you can also make your own, but make sure to add seasoning)

- 2 Tablespoons of water

- any bell peppers sliced into strips

- kosher salt and black pepper

- EVOO

- grape tomatoes (optional)

1. Follow the directions on the pouch to heat the brown rice/quinoa. I put it in a skillet and added 2 Tablespoons of water.
2. In the meantime, take the sliced bell peppers and place on foil. Sprinkle lightly with EVOO, kosher salt, and pepper. I used my toaster oven to cook them. Cook until tender (about 8-10 minutes depending on the temperature).
3. Place the rice and quinoa on a plate and put the bell peppers on top. Slice the grape tomatoes in half.
4. I didn't need any further seasoning or sauce, but you could add a little soy sauce if you want.

Happy clean eating!

30 Days of Thanks

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.  I always love this time of year because I get to cook for the people I love the most! But I do get stressed at the same time because I want everything to turn out great. And it did, thank goodness.

Usually I make the whole Thanksgiving lunch, but this year my sister wanted to make some dishes (stuffing, green bean casserole, corn casserole, and turkey), so I definitely was relieved! I made: ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, brussels sprouts with bacon and walnuts, cornbread, mac 'n cheese, and of course, cranberry sauce.

Ignore the Simpsons table cloth my mom put down. :) Oh, mom.

The pumpkin cheesecake is from Costco, and it is DELICIOUS. I couldn't have made it better, and I am very tempted to go back to get the pecan pie. Maybe next week...

At school the kids also had a fun filled Thanksgiving day before the break. With our reading buddies, we made turkeys out of brown paper sacks filled with rice to make a leftover turkey casserole (which is very good by the way). Thanks to my reading buddy teacher, Happy!

The kids had so much fun and worked really hard on their turkeys! They wrote what they are thankful for on their pumpkins.

Here is the recipe for the casserole.

And here is the final product!

**I feel like this is a 'Where's Waldo' picture :) **

 Speaking of school crafts, my kiddos learned synonyms this past month, and they made their synonym rolls!
They had a great time making them, and also eating their piece of real cinnamon rolls (by the end of the lesson, they kept calling them yummy synonym rolls!). Thanks to Caitlin for the idea!

So I know many people avoided going Black Friday shopping today, and I was definitely one of them. I feel too old and have no energy to push my way through the crowds no matter how cheap the item.

That being said, I am starting to think about Christmas shopping, and what to get everyone. What do you want for Christmas? As for me, anything from Anthropologie is definitely on my list. I love everything about this store. Their clothes are amazing and I always love their dishes, accessories, and candles. However, their knick knacks are something I never really paid attention to (how could I with all the other distractions?) But recently, I saw some cute things at the store:

From the top left clockwise: camera tape dispenser (Ari), notebooks, paper goods, colored pencils + cool paperclips, asian fan made of a map!

On Wednesday my friend and I went to Northpark and went to Paper-source, which was actually my first time going into the store. I know, I know, but all the greeting card stores look the same! But I really liked it and it had cute little things in there. I don't know if it beats papyrus, but I do want to go back and get some things for Christmas. I saw these thank you cards that I just HAD to get:

I taught my kids how to say 'thank you' in some different languages, so now they say it whenever I give hand sanitizer. Their favorites are: gracias, merci, and gomapsumnida (Korean)  :)

On November 1st, I started the 30 Days of Thanks, finding something to be thankful for each day in November. It taught me to really be thankful for everything I have and be thankful in all circumstances. I know the month isn't over, but I wanted to post what I've been thankful for so far (I posted these each day on Facebook):

Day 1: I am so thankful for my parents. Their love and support for me are immeasurable and I know I'm blessed because of them. Love you both.

Day 2: I am thankful for my sister.. Through thick and thin we will always be sisters. Happy birthday unni!

Day 3: I am thankful for EPL and football (soccer).

Day 4: I am thankful for God's grace and love.. That I know where I came from and where I am going.

Day 5: I am thankful for my job. There are so many without jobs and I get to do something I love and am proud of. That being said, 11 more school days until the break! :)

Day 6: I am thankful for my lovely students... Who drive me nuts sometimes, but I still love 'em. ;)

Day 7: I am thankful for couch potato moments. :)

Day 8: Despite a difficult day, I am so very thankful it is Friday tomorrow.

Day 9: I am thankful for migraine-free days.

Day 10: I am thankful for Trader Joe's in my neighborhood :)

Day 11: I am thankful for my apt. My new home :) But knowing that my old home is still waiting in case I need it.

Day 12: I am thankful for amazing co-workers/friends.

Day 13: Very thankful for my heater tonight.

Day 14: Very very very thankful for Korean food! Yum.

Day 15: I am thankful for midnight showings at 10 p.m.

Day 16: On the way home I saw an accident happen, and saw a three car collision near my intersection. So thankful to be safe and sound.

Day 17: I am thankful for days like this where everything was great; time with friends and family, great food, and fun memories.

Day 18: I'm thankful for occasions to cook! Although grocery shopping is quite a feat (and this list is after my sis said she would make 4 dishes). Get ready, wallet.

Day 19: I am thankful for Anthropologie. Period.

Day 20: I'm thankful I'm 90% done with my Thanksgiving grocery shopping.

Day 21: So thankful for days off!

Thanksgiving day: So thankful for another Thanksgiving with my family. I am blessed.

I am so glad I did this. I am going to continue to post on Facebook for the month, and hopefully I continue to find thankful moments each day.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, Christmas is on my mind! I can't wait!!!

H-A-L-L-O-W-E-E-N

Now I know why people video blog. You can't quite convey a song or chant through typed words..
My blog post title is supposed to be a little song I was taught many, many years ago by a wonderful teacher (I can't remember which one) on how to spell Halloween. Still to this day, I cannot spell Halloween without either singing or thinking of this song.

H, A, double L, O
W, double E, N spells Halloween! :)

I just hope my kids remember something like that from me. I'm not the most creative teacher, but I managed to teach them one song this year about the main idea. One early morning in Saturday school the kids were supposed to come up with a rap about the main idea to remember what it was, so naturally I came up with one. ;) Actually, it was a collaboration, and I teach my kids this every year.

(with beat box in the background)
The main idea,
is the BIG idea.
It tells what the story is MOSTLY about!

Okay, done with the songs. Here are some pictures of my school's goody day for Halloween made by my 2nd grade team and me:

 Many people assured me these looked like Frankensteins and NOT Oscar the Grouches.

I'm not totally convinced.

These went like hot cakes. I love how easy this is to make! The recipe is below:

Cream Cheese Pastries

Ingredients

2 cans of crescent rolls (Pillsbury.. I get the 50% bigger ones)

8 oz. cream cheese (shouldn't be super cold)

1/2 cup sugar (plus 1/4 cup to sprinkle)

1/4 cup of cinnamon

1 t vanilla

2 T melted butter

Directions:

1. On a greased baking sheet, roll out one can of crescentt rolls (It will be a big rectangular piece. If the triangles come apart, just lay them down side by side and it will just bake together).

2. In a glass bowl mix the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until incorporated. The cream cheese should be spreadable texture. Spread the cream cheese mixture onto the rolled out dough (don't spread all the way to the edges).

3. Lay another can of dough right on top of the mixture to form a big pouch. Lightly press the sides to seal the cream cheese.

4. Spread melted butter on the dough with a pastry brush.

5. In a small shallow bowl, mix the cinnamon and sugar. Using a spoon or sifter, sprinkle cinnamon/sugar on top of the dough.

6. Bake as directed on the crescent can (usually 12 to 15 minutes). Watch it carefully so the bottom doesn't burn! Use a pizza cutter to cut into 2-3 inch squares!

The duds I left at home..

I found this caution tape at Walmart for $0.89!

I love the candy corn plate!

Our Halloween spread.

Everything was really delicious. I made the 7-layer spider web dip.

 Candy corn cupcakes.

It was an exhausting night making my desserts but it was totally worth it to have all the teachers appreciate it.

I am glad we all survived today and my night ended nicely when I was surprised by a knock on my door from a little batman trick or treating! It was my first time giving out candy! I was so surprised because I never expected them to trick or treat at apartments, and I'm so glad I had a bag of Kit Kats. I was so happy, I gave him two. :)

Well lately it seems as if everyone is stressed and strained including me. I realized I have not been very patient lately and I really need to be patient with everyone, especially my students.

Let's make it til Thanksgiving!