What I'm Loving Wednesday

It's Wednesday People! Let's jump right in...

I am loving that Justin and I had matching Halloween costumes with Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen. That makes us like the coolest ever. Ok joking, but still pretty awesome.

Basically twins, right?

I am loving that we only have 18 school days until Thanksgiving break. Yes, I am already counting. And 21 days until my birthday!



I am loving that our house if officially for sale. We've been trying this "For Sale By Owner" business for awhile, but now we're bringing out the big guns and officially listing it. Hopefully we see some action soon!

I am loving that Justin and I have been married for 4 months, as of yesterday. One third of the way through our first year! If this really is the hardest year, we are going to have the most easy peasy marriage. Goodness, I love that man.

I am loving Candy Mania. I have been stuck on level 60 on Candy Crush for about 2 weeks now. And it is making me flippin mad. I was so proud of myself for being on level 60, and then I found out my aunt was on level 290 or something. So that's cool. But anyway, Candy Mania is pretty good too, and satisfies my craving when I lose my 5 Candy Crush lives in about 5 minutes. I recommend you download it. If you're a Crush fan, Mania will not disappoint.

I am loving these fun Halloween nails I'm sporting! 

I am loving that I get to see my dad and one of my besties this weekend. (And all of my siblings... but they're old news recently. Just kidding guys. Love you!) But U of I's Dad's Weekend is always such a blast. I'm excited to head down there and party it up!

Hope you have a wonderful day loves!

Initiation, Halloween, and Birthdays, Oh My!

Oh man.... I had a busy weekend. So busy I couldn't even get myself to write my weekend recap on Sunday night like a good blogger. I did take some great photos though, so I'll try to show those off, and be less wordy then normal.

Friday I went down to Moscow to surprise my little sister for our sorority initiation. I seriously love Kappa Kappa Gamma. It changed my life and I am so happy that I now get to share it with 2 of my sisters.

Saturday after initiation brunch I rushed home to get our house all ready for our Halloween party! It was so much fun. We had a fog machine going and lots of blacklights... so my picture quality is not amazing.

MIL and I

Broken glass cupcakes! 

Twins

Sunday was spent eating a lot of food... one of my favorite hungover activities. And also celebrating my brother-in-law's 18th birthday! We celebrated with crab and steak and key lime pie and family. It was glorious.

Justin and our nephew Baby RAM!

For some reason these are the only pictures I managed to take Sunday... Sorry bout that! 

Hope you all are having a fabulous week!

What I'm Loving... And also some things I'm not

I try to stay pretty positive. And I think most of the time I do a good job with that. My principal even thanked me yesterday for always bringing the sunshine with me... how sweet is that?

But I have to take a second and let you know some things I am absolutely not loving, before I jump into my regular WILW post.

I am not loving the full moon. Now if you know me personally... you might know that I just don't like the full moon. Period. It creeps me out. But now, as a teacher, I double hate the full moon. Seriously... if you have a teacher in your life ask them. The full moon makes the kids go crazy! This is not a joke. The students in our school have seriously been animals.

Like this scene in Mean Girls. Not even joking. 

Monday was the first day I came home from work and did not want to go back. It was bad. But Tuesday was so so so much better, and I'm hoping today will be back to normal.

I am not loving that I had to deal with a dead car battery not once, but twice yesterday. Justin and I thought the car had been running long enough to recharge itself... but we were wrong. And this made me late not only to work, but then to a class I'm taking after work. But like always, I am loving my sweet husband who rescued me both times, even leaving work the second time, and bought me a new battery.

Ok... on to the good!

I am loving that I got invited to a My Favorite Things Party. Who doesn't love parties?! It's not until the beginning of December, but I;m already so excited. And am brainstorming all of the possible things I could bring.

I am loving that I hit 10,000 views on my blog today!! Woot woot! Thank you to everyone who reads this thing!



I am loving that I am making slime in Science today with my students. (To reward them for their great behavior this week!) 

via

I am loving that Justin and I are throwing a little Halloween get together this weekend. So excited!

I am loving that I found a coupon for buy one get one free on my favorite nail polish!  I think I've said this before... but I'll say it again: I love me some OPI and essie polishes, but for me.... my favorite is Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure. I use essie base coat, Sally Hansen for color, and then essie's Good To Go top coat... and it stays for so long. I love it.

I got Midnight Glitz, from the Bling In the New Year holiday collection. 

And Red My Lips... because I can always use a good red. 

I am loving that the sixth season of Gossip Girl is FINALLY on Netflix. I was late to the Gossip Girl scene... I don't know what I was thinking. But I have been waiting for so long for it to show up and I am so glad it's here!

That's all for today people! Hope you have a wonderful day!
xoxo
Gossip Girl

The Fault In Our Stars & Dirty Red

Much like when I read Gone Girl, I felt like the universe was telling me to read The Fault In Our Stars. It was all over the place. Finally, when I was buying Dirty Red on my kindle, I saw that The Fault In Our Stars is on sale for only 3.99. I snatched it up real quick, and starting reading it on my way home from Reno on the plane. Unfortunately I had to keep taking breaks because I was crying like a small child and the old woman sitting next to me was getting dangerously close to asking me if I was alright and offering me a tissue.

I finally finished it sitting on the couch while Justin was doing dishes (yea, I'm lucky, I know). He glances over at my sniffling face and rushes over to ask me if I'm ok, with real concern on his face. I told him I was just reading a sad book and told him what it was about. He seemed so confused of why I would want to read about something so sad, but I assured him that it really is an amazing book.

Amazon's Description:
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love. 

I actually love this description. I think it is perfect. And I highly recommend this book. It's so good.

Dirty Red is the second book in the Love Me With Lies series, and at 2.99 it is a steal. The Opportunist, that I wrote about last week, was the first.

Dirty Red starts off where The Opportunist left off. And while they have the same characters in them, Dirty Red is from the perspective of a different character. I have heard of other books doing this (the rumored Twilight book told from Edward's perspective... Did that ever come out?) but I had never read one before. I really liked it. It was interesting to read about things that involved both of the characters from two different view points. And the two viewpoints being that of enemies vying for the same male, made it even more interesting!

Amazon's Description:
Leah Smith finally has everything she has ever wanted. Except she doesn't. Her marriage feels more like a loan than a lifelong commitment, and the image she has worked so hard to build is fraying before her eyes. With a new role and a past full of secrets, Leah must decide how far she is willing to go to keep what she has stolen.

I finished this book so quickly but when it was finished I still had so many questions! I am hoping that the final book; Thief, told from the perspective of the man in this love triangle, will be able to answer all of my questions! I am starting it tonight!

Have any of you read either of these books?
Did you like them?
Do you have any other book recommendations for me?

Weekend Recap and Some Yummy Fall Recipes

Settle in my dears! We have a long post ahead of us! My weekend was great. Full of fun.

Friday afternoon I met with some coworkers for some much needed drinks. Much. Needed. We went to a really neat restaurant called the Oval Office with an amazing martini menu. I had never been there before but I will be definitely going back with Justin soon to try out the food!

Then I met Justin, my sister Veronica and her boyfriend Darren for dinner at Bardenays. It's always great to get to spend time with them. After dinner we got froyo and went home to play some Mario Kart on the Wii. Pretty solid night.

Saturday was a fun full day.

We woke up and made our way up to green bluff for apple picking, pumpkin picking, and Punkin' Chuckin'. I also got some corn stalks which I had been searching for everywhere here in Coeur d'Alene.

 Pumpkins for days!!

Love her!

So stoked for picking apples!

Look at these little cuties!

Yea...

<3

A little Twilight action.

Punkin' Chuckin' 

This might not look like much.... but this is the strawberry field where Justin proposed! 

It's always fun to get to go back to our spot! =)

When we got home Veronica and I made our mom's delicious Apple and Blackberry cobbler. I am doing you all a favor by sharing it with you because it is so easy and so yummy. It is sure to be a hit whenever you make it.

Apple Blackberry Cobbler
Filling:

• 4 lbs of golden delicious apples; peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 2 1/2 c frozen blackberries 
• 1/4 c flour
• 1 c sugar
• dash of lemon juice

Mix all ingredients well and pour into a greased 9x13 dish.

Topping:

• 2 c flour
• 1 1/2 c sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 c butter, sliced
• cinnamon 

In a bowl mix ingredients with a pastry blender until crumbly.

Pour the topping over your apple mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour; until fruit bubbles and top is golden brown. Enjoy!

Veronica and Darren left to go on a boat cruise on the lake. Justin and I watched Hocus Pocus and then a marathon of the last season of Breaking Bad. We were up late, but it was worth it.

This morning I made Pumpkin Pancakes!

Pumpkin Pancakes
This is the pancake recipe I always use without the pumpkin spice, and it is my very favorite.

• 1 c flour
• 1 T sugar
• 2 t baking powder
• 1/4 t salt
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 c milk (We usually only have almond milk in the house so I use that, and it turns out just as good!)
• 2 T cooking oil
• 1 t pumpkin pie spice 

This recipe makes about 6-8 pancakes.
Also, pumpkin pie spice is kind of expensive. If you want to make your own you can do so by combining 1 t cinnamon, 1/4 t ground ginger, 1/4 t ground nutmeg, and 1/8 t ground cloves.

We enjoyed pancakes and leftover cobbler while watching The Hobbit. Then we were a little bit productive. Which is always nice.

And then we carved our pumpkins and made caramel apples and pumpkin seeds!

Justin's is the one with the goatee... don't ask me why he does this. But his pumpkin gets one every year. It's tradition now. =)

The Perfect Spicy Sweet Salty Seeds

• 1 beaten egg white
• 1/4 c sugar
• 1/2 t cayenne pepper
• 1/2 t salt
• 1 c fresh seeds

Combine first four ingredients and mix well, then add seeds. Pour into a strainer to drain excess egg whites. Pour onto a cookie sheet in 1 even layer and bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Such a great weekend filled with yummy food, my favorite people, and great fall activities!