Who's That Girl??

Being sick in bed the past few days with an awful sinus infection has given me quite a bit of time to reflect on things so far in my life. As my twenties are drawing to a rapid close (I turn 30 on Thursday), I have mixed feelings. I actually feel relieved to be putting these years behind me. The girl you see below allowed herself to be treated pretty badly. It was somewhat numbing to stay in a relationship with a man who had cheated on me considering that I had been adamant about never allowing myself to be treated in such a way. And yet, I was so obsessed with my first love that I let myself be talked down to and taken advantage of. I was so into the music he created that I just couldn't imagine leaving him.

I can never thank that man enough for breaking up with me and moving rapidly onto the woman who is now actually his wife. While the two of them started their relationship with lies and cheating, I was set free. And thank goodness. It gave me the wake-up call I needed. It set me on a path towards the man who is truly my equal in every sense of the word.

My late twenties saw me falling in love with my match, getting married, and exploring the world. Though I no longer have songs written about me, I have someone who I know cares about me more than anything else in the world. And besides sharing that feeling with my mom, it's something I have never had before. My husband is the man I know I'm growing to grow old with, and he's opened me up to so much in the world. I will never be able to thank him enough for that.

As for me, I think I've grown a bit more patient and wise. I've learned to appreciate what really matters. So...







...goodbye twenties. Though we did have some good times in your later years, I am two-stepping my way into my thirties (after I'm over this cold).

A Beekman Obsession

So it's no secret that I am obsessed with the Beekman Boys. In fact, on our East Coast trip not only did I drive out to the Beekman 1802 store in Sharon Springs...







...but I also tracked Brent and Josh down at a local fair and had my picture taken with them.



So when I found out they were going to be doing a book tour for their new "Beekman 1802 Heirloom Recipie Cookbook," there was no doubt that I was going to show up. The husband was a trooper, and he accompanied me once again to meet them at the Williams and Sonoma shop in Beverly Hills.





And though the guys didn't recognize the opera shawl I had purchased at their store, I still love them to death. They are so incredibly nice and sweet whenever they meet their fans. And I cannot say enough about the cookbook. Please, do yourself a favor and go out and purchase one for your family. Not only is it the most exquisitely photographed cookbook I have ever seen (and the typography is to die for), but it is so personal. They've actually included cards that you can write your own family's recipes in the book. It is truly something I will be able to pass on to my children.

And the recipes are scrumptious...you couldn't expect anything else from them.

Let the Games Commence!

I hope you are having a lovely Halloween. My student government class actually made last Friday our Costume Day, so I kept with my tradition of literary figures and rocked my very own Katniss from "The Hunger Games" outfit.




It was so cute to hear students say, "Oh my gosh, you're Katniss!" On the other hand, I totally had a mean girls experience with some of my "friends" (who I now think of as just colleagues). Imagine my surprise to finally get into the dance after taking tickets at the front to see all of my friends, including three of our new teachers, dressed up in matching P.E. outfits. I swear, my jaw just about hit the floor. I literally felt like I was back in middle school when you think you're in with a certain group only to have them go do something that completely leaves you out.

Surprisingly, I rebounded pretty quick. I'd had my own suspicions about how genuine these people really are, and now I know. Funny enough, I'd rather spend time with my dogs.

Life lessons at a middle school dance. Live and learn

Tempting Thursdays

If money were no object, I'd be buying...



Cashmere cable sweaters from J Crew...



Le Creuset Signature Deep Sauté Pans in Ocean...



brown Intyce boots from Steve Madden to replace my worn down faux Target ones.

BTW, Justin Timerlake is finally in a movie that actually looks decent! Has anyone seen the trailer for "In Time"?

Mindful Mondays

Wow, September just shot by me. I find it sad that I had to get sick in order to find time to blog. I'm re-organizing how I post in hopes that it'll help motivate me to post...if that makes any sense at all.

Mondays are now "Mindful Mondays;" they're a chance for me to reflect on any ol' thing I want. And right now, I wish I was as happy and healthy as I was in the video I posted below. Instead, I'm fighting off a cold.

This video contains snippets of the vows the husband and I said to each other on our three year anniversary at Peacefield, John Adams' house. I have a sob story about how a friend of my husband's forgot to put in a new blank tape when he was recording our wedding, so the vows were never recorded.

Somehow, doing this three years later made it much more personal and intimate. It was just us, and we were at such a special place. It truly meant the world to me. I'm going to edit this together with the parts of our wedding that did get recorded, so we'll have a little something.

Boston- Day 1

As I start to prepare for this new school year, I'm longing for the gorgeous east coast scenery I was spoiled with on our New England road trip vacation. I miss the seafood and creative cocktails. And I also miss getting to sleep in (getting up at 5:30 sucks). Here's to the first of my vacation re-cap posts.














We stayed in Cambridge for most of the first day, dining at the Russel House Tavern where I got my bacon fill. In fact, I probably had the best bloody mary ever there: they make theirs with bourbon. If the option is available try it. I then talked the husband into walking part of the Freedom Trail with me before we had dinner at Hungry Mother, one of Boston's best restaurants (literally EVERYONE we talked to recommended this place). They make southern food with a French twist. It was the perfect first day of vacation with the hubs.

Moneygrabber

OK. I have seriously been delaying putting up my vacation pictures because I'm overwhelmed by the amount I have.

So...how about a little Fitz and the Tantrums? I got to see them play live at the lake nearby this summer, and they were absolutely amazing.

In fact, they were so amazing that I got up out of my seat and danced in the aisle since I couldn't stop myself from shimmying anymore, even though no one else was. Don't worry they soon followed.

Their album is amazing by the way. I highly recommend it. I'm actually pretty obsessed with it. I've been playing the whole record over and over this whole summer.

Dear Bloggers...

To all the full-time, professional bloggers who complain about how busy their days are and how you just cannot wait to curl up with a magazine and relax...BE QUIET! I will gladly trade you my eight hour work day and two to three hours additional work at home grading, etc, every day. And don't forget the running around on the weekends gathering supplies for dances and noontime activities, editing videos, updating school sites, etc. Maybe you'd see what "tired" really feels like then.

And to those bloggers whose lives seem so "perfect" and who have "such great things happening" yet cannot manage to respond back to what they must regard as "peon" bloggers like myself...are you for real? Get a life. I'm glad I post about my UPS and DOWNS. I don't know why I bother to comment from time to time on your phony blog anyway.

::deep breath::

P.S. Promise not to vent like that for awhile, OK?

OC Mart Mix

So did you know it takes awhile to download over 700 photos? I'm sure you do. After running around yesterday and then rushing to meet my husband at an Angels game, blogging fell through. And today was one of those days that just escaped me. I am feeling very lazy (hello sweatpants!), so here's some info about my new favorite local spot: the OC Mart Mix.

I can't remember if I read about this place in Sunset magazine or the Automobile magazine, but I was super excited to hear about it. And I totally felt out of the loop since it actually opened last year. This outdoor shopping venue is near a huge orange county shopping destination, South Coast Plaza. It is somewhat similar to The Lab (dubbed the anti-mall), but I think it has the potential to be better once they get some more stores in. The OC Mart Mix has a wide array of stores ranging from a bicycle store to a bakery. They also have stalls inside a huge building for small vendors (I bought the dress I wore on our anniversary from one of them).

And the best thing is that food trucks come here.









Ridiculously good tacos and spicy sweet potato fries.







People were literally standing memorized at this coffee place similar to Blue Bottle in San Francisco.

They're getting started with happy hours on Fridays with certain food trucks coming out (there's a wine bar in the huge building). I will definitely be organizing some at this place.

Happy Birthday, Sissy!!

Tap, tap...is this thing on? To those of you who still read this little old blog, I'm back from my east coast adventure. I left my John and Abigail Adams seminar with Joseph Ellis feeling more inspired and re-invigorated than I have in years about the subject I teach. I am so excited to start back in a few weeks and share the stories I have learned.

And then my anniversary trip up the coast of New England with the hubs was just incredible. I cannot wait to share my pictures with you.

For now though, I would like to share the birthday card I picked up for my sis in Salem, MA. If you are as big a fan of Target as I am, you will love this card.




You can purchase this gem at http://www.fomato.com

My little sis, Kyle, turns 27 today. Happy birthday, girl! Vacation pictures start tomorrow. =)

That was Then...This Is Now

Wow.

How did my babies go from this:



To this:



In only five months? As much as these guys drive me crazy, I cannot tell you enough the joy they have brought into my life. I love them so much; it scares me. If I feel this way about them, I can only imagine how I'll feel about my own children. Crazy.

A Little Less Conversation...

As I am sitting here, wasting away another day of summer vacation, I'm thinking about somewhat longingly to the little trip I got to take to Vegas back in June for a conference.

I know what you're thinking. How the heck did a school teacher get sent to Vegas for a conference? A group from my school site actually went to learn about professional learning communities. It was such an invigorating experience that gave many of us the opportunity to bond. And bond we did, over drinks and food.



We arrived a day early, so I started off with a dragonberry mojito at Caesar's Palace.





That night, some colleagues and I decided to check out Bobby Flay's Mesa Grille. It did not disappoint. In fact, I devoured the best chile relleno I have ever had in my life.



The next day, knowing how much I love burgers, my friend Greg led our group to what he deemed the best burger place in Vegas: Le Burger Brasserie. And though my blue cheese burger was not the best (Hello? Slater's 50/50...), it was definitely the best burger I've had in Vegas.





The last night we were there our group dined at P.J. Clarke's in the Forum Shops. We had a back room all to ourselves and control of a jukebox. We had an absolute blast. I ventured out of my comfort zone and had Guinness braised short ribs that were so tender and flavorful I'm getting hunger pangs just thinking about them. They were accompanied by horseradish mashed potatoes which had just the kind of kick I love.

And the picture of our waiter? I die!! One of our older teachers flirted with him the whole time. He danced, sang, and even helped us surprise a colleague who showed up later that evening. They have amazing food and service there. I highly recommend it!



Our last morning in Vegas, I made everyone in my little group meet up at Serendipity when I learned that they are now serving breakfast. I ordered the Saints and Sinners meal, which in my opinion, is the absolute perfect breakfast. Centered by a french toast log, it had berries and whipped cream on one side, and scrambled eggs with bacon on the other. I was in heaven.

Oh Vegas...maybe you are growing on me.

Nautical Notions

Next Saturday, I will be leaving for the John Adams seminar I have the privilege of attending at Amherst College in Massachusetts. After that, the hubs and I will be traveling the Northeastern states for our anniversary/vacation. I think this definitely calls for some east coast footwear, but I'm having a hard time deciding what shoes to get.

Do I go with some nautical flats?



Toms' wedges....



Or the classic east coast shoe in my humble opinion: the Sperry top-sider?



Oh decisions, decisions. I'm also dying over these turquoise loafers they have at Anthropologie. Walking by them in the store this weekend, I actually think I started to drool.