Josh Groban!

As you know, I am a huge Josh Groban fan.  I am on Twitter and do not really know how to use it, but have tried to get Josh Groban to respond to one of my tweets for a while now, without any success.  Well, the other day he responded!  Holler!

I like it when celebrities interact with their fans (fans pay the bills).  I am not someone who generally cares about the lives of a celebrity... I feel like they are just people and we shouldn't care so much about their comings and goings.  But, with that said I 'follow' a handful of celebs. and I do not check in on them every day by any means, so it was pretty exciting for me.

Here is that tweeting experience:

Pretty cool!

The Humor of a Runner

I find this to be so funny!  I got it from the Hood to Coast Facebook page, I do not take any credit for the image, other than sharing it with you.

I would really like to own this shirt!

You Think You've Had the Best Homemade Mac and Cheese?

So, you think you have had the best homemade mac and cheese?  Well, maybe you have... until now!  Muah ha ha ha!  Ok, so this might not be THE best mac and cheese, but it is pretty darn good and it is always a big hit at gatherings!  Friends request it, even.

So here you go... the best-ish mac and cheese:

Macaroni and Cheese

1      package (12 oz.) rotini (corkscrew pasta), cooked according to package directions

1      pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1      pound jack cheese, grated

1      small box velveeta cheese, sliced

1      cup milk

2      eggs

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375º.

In a baking dish (approx. 13x9) layer half of the macaroni and cheese, repeat layer.  Beat together milk, eggs, salt and pepper.  Pour over macaroni mixture.  Bake for one hour (you want the egg to cook well or it is a little gloppy), the sides and top will form a brown, crunchy and delicious crust!  Enjoy!

Seriously, so good!

Easy Garlic Knots

I found this recipe on Pinterest, but it is actually from the My Litter blog.  You can check it out here, on my blog, or head on over to My Litter.

Garlic Knots

1      tube (12 ounces) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

1/4   cup canola oil

3      Tablespoons grated Kraft Parmesan cheese

1/2   teaspoon garlic powder

1      teaspoon oregano

1      teaspoon dried parsley flakes

1. Roll each biscuit into a 12 inch rope and tie into a knot; tuck ends under.  Place 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet.  Bake at 400º for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

2.  In a large bowl combine the remaining ingredients; brush the warm knots with the mixture.  Yield: 8 knots.

These were super easy to make and I really enjoyed the flavor.  I hope you get to try them out!

My Nephew and New Events

Dear Followers, yes, all three of you...

Thanks you for sticking around, even when I have very, very, dry writing spells.

To the three of you and any others that may find themselves at my blog, I have a few things to catch you up on.

1.  I was going to become a momaunt this June.  Everything was set and ready to go.  I was making plans.  I had friends and family supporting me, wanting to throw me a toddler shower.  I had finally made friends with this new life change.  I was going to open my tiny home to my two year old nephew.  (He will be three in August.)  I had a party planned, play dates, and pool parties in the works.

However, I will no longer be getting my nephew.  His other grandma changed her mind.  I cried.  I was sad.  I was hurt.  But, I can only believe that it is for the best.  Now that I will not be getting my nephew, time in my summer has been opened up for the next 2 events.

2.  I am finally taking my best friend's little sister on her high school graduation road trip... a year late!  We will be taking a lovely trip to Colorado and we will stop in Utah on the way.  I think that we can find many great things to explore!

3.  I am going to be heading back to the Czech Republic this summer.  I will be going with my old church and will be co-leading the team again.  I love working this summer camp!  I made so many great friends last summer and we really had a ton of fun teaching English and trying to learn Czech.  That is no easy task!

4.  As you know, I am working my way to 50 half/full marathons by the age of 50.  I am in the double digits now and that is great!  Something even more fabulous, is that I have been asked to join a running company here in So Cal as an ambassador.  I will get to work with people in the running community.  People like me... who are runners, but do it for fun, for health, and for a great challenge.  I get a cool team jersey that I will wear to all of my races and if I run a company run, I believe that I get a free entry.  Of course, I will also be responsible for spreading the word about this running company and their awesome events.

I am just one ambassador of many on Team Superhero.  I know that we are all very excited to help Ken and his wife Sabrina out when it comes to promoting Superhero Events LLC.  Hey, we are on a mission to save the world one run at a time, after all!

Remember that Awesome 80s run I did last year at the Rose Bowl? This company made that happen.  I am excited to be running that again this year with a few friends.  We will also be running the Costume Party Run (1/2 marathon in San Diego).

If you get the chance, check out our races:  Superhero Events

We are on Facebook and Twitter.

You may also click on the Super Hero Event widget on the right side of my page!

5.  School is almost out!  That is right, we only have 19 school days left.  I cannot believe how quickly it has all gone.  It has been a bit of a rough year, so I am super excited for 2 weeks off before summer school!

Enjoy the last few days of coolness!

Teaching

No one said it was easy, no one said it would be this hard.

I wanted to be a teacher at a very young age and I carried that want throughout my adolescence and into young adult hood.  I went to college as a Liberal Studies major and I graduated as one as well.  I believe I am the only one in my group of friends that did not change my major.

I studied, I prepared, I took expensive state tests.

I moved to Europe, took more classes.

I moved back to California and started my credential program.

I graduated, I took more expensive state tests, and added more debt for my teaching credential.

I applied to over 250 jobs, had only 2 interviews in a 2 1/2 year period.

I finally got hired, part time, but it was a job!

That part time job was last year and I have loved it since day one.  Although I knew that teaching was not an easy profession by any means, no one said that it could be so hard.  No one said how tired you might get.  No one said how attached to students I would get.  No one told me that as much as I love my students, they might also frustrate me to no end.  No one said that I would get frustrated with myself, for being frustrated with my students.

No one said, that seeing friends would be harder because I stay late at work.  That a dating life would be non existent.  No one said that when the weekend comes that I would want to stay home if possible, to recharge.

But then again, no one said it was easy.

Don't get me wrong, I love teaching.  I believe that it is a part of who I am.  I get so much joy from seeing my students during the day.  Seeing them work hard on their projects.  Sharing a few laughs, sometimes 'your mom' jokes. It is a blessing and a curse.  Your whole person is enveloped with 'teaching'.

It is just that no one said that I would be so invested, so intertwined with my school... with my students.  I didn't realize how protective of this place I could be.  That I would be filled with agitation, with semi rage as some board of directors threatened to take my students from me.  A group of people that don't know anything about my students, who they are, where they come from.  A group of people that don't look at the facts.  A group of people that make decisions without weighing the consequences.  A group of people that could basically care less, but try to look like they do.

No one said that I would learn so much about myself in the process of teaching others.  No one said that that might be the hardest of all.

But then again, no one said it was easy.

We get to keep our school for now.  We'll face many more oppositions as we go down this road of the political education system.  I will become frustrated many a time, I am sure.  I am thankful for that.  I am thankful that I have a challenge.  I am thankful that I will stand up for my students who will someday forget who I am.  I am thankful that I will fight for a school, a school that has given me more than I can see now.

 Sure, no one said it was going to be so hard.

But then again, no one said it was easy.

Irish Cream Cake

More like Irish Dream Cake!

I made this for a lovely St. Patrick's Day feast that I had a friends house.  Her husband is a great cook and I must say,  I ate the most delicious Corned Beef I have ever eaten!  I brought this cake for dessert.  It was a big hit with everyone.  I had a ton left over, so my mom got to try it as well.  Yum!  It definitely can be eaten all year long!

You can find this recipe at Betty Crocker

Irish Cream Cake:

1

box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® devil’s food cake mix

1

box (4-serving size) chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix

4

eggs

1/3

cup vegetable oil

1

cup Irish cream liqueur

1

cup sour cream

Irish Cream Frosting:

     1       cup butter, softened

     4oz   (half of 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened

3

cups powdered sugar

1/4

cup Irish cream liqueur

1

teaspoon vanilla

Chocolate Glaze:

4

oz bittersweet baking chocolate, chopped

1/2

cup whipping cream

1/4

cup light corn syrup

2

teaspoons vanilla

1/3

cup sliced almonds, toasted

• 1Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
• 2In large bowl, beat all cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until well blended. Pour batter into pans. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove cakes from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely.
• 3In large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating until blended. Add 1/4 cup liqueur and 1 teaspoon vanilla; beat until frosting is smooth and spreadable.
• 4Place 1 cake layer on serving plate; spread with one-third of the frosting. Top with second layer. Frost side and top of cake with thin layer of frosting to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Frost cake with remaining frosting.
• 5Place chopped chocolate in small bowl. In small saucepan, heat whipping cream over medium heat until bubbles form around edge. Pour warm cream over chocolate; let stand 1 minute. Stir with whisk until chocolate is melted. Add corn syrup and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Stir until smooth. Let stand 10 minutes or until thickened.
• 6Pour glaze on top of cake, letting some glaze drip down side. Sprinkle almonds around edge of cake. Store in refrigerator.