MY FAVORITE RINGS

About a year ago, I discovered my love of jewelry.  My mom told me that as a little girl I was really into handbags - still am, but that's another blog.  I'm one of those types that chooses the ring and earrings first, then find the outfit.  These lovely pieces are from Sipalda  http://mysilpada.com/sites/leslie.balthazar/private/content/home.jsf.  My friend Leslie B. does a fantastic job of keeping me updated on new additions.  Jewelry really is a girl's best friend.

Check out the Sipalda website for beautiful sterling silver pieces that will glam up any wardrobe - http://mysilpada.com/sites/leslie.balthazar/private/content/home.jsf.

Holy Guacamole - Featuring My Tomato

Okay, so now that my tomato plant has produced so many delicious fruits - there is only one thing to do!!! - It's guacamole time.  My girlfriends and I got together to celebrate the end of another loooong school year - and of course living in Texas - Margaritas had to be a part of the plan.  But margaritas alone just wont do it - so I made some guacamole.  The trick to making really yummy guacamole is adding this seasoning I just recently discovered.  It is made by Goya and I hear it can be added to just about anything and it taste great.  It makes a mean guacamole.

My ingredients for Guacamole -

2 ripe Avacados
1 HOMEGROWN tomato - chopped in chunks (and for all of you people who can't turn the tomato out,  go to the grocers - like I once did - long, long ago - Yeah right!)
1/2 a small yellow onion - chopped in chunks
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice
One packet of the Goya seasoning mix

Mix all of the ingredients together and enjoy with pita chips.  YUMMY!

Teen Reading List

As a Language Arts teacher, one of my biggest wishes is that my students continue to read over the summer.  Believe it or not,  a child's Lexile Level (reading ability) can actually improve a hundred points just over summer break.  So, if you have a teen or pre-teen in your home that needs a good novel series to read - I'd like to suggest Among the Hidden by Margaret Haddix.  A few years ago, my youngest daughter was so impressed by the first book in the series, she wanted to read the entire series (6 books) for the summer.  Happy Reading!!

Among the Hidden is a Science Fiction novel that takes place in the United States.  In this world, there is a shortage of food or people are led to believe there is a shortage of food.  In order to deal with a food shortage, the government decides to control the population (Population Police).  No family is allowed to have more than two children.  Families that have a third or fourth child must keep the child hidden, hence the name of the novel Among the Hidden.  The protagonist, Luke, soon finds out that he is not alone and that there are other 3rds and 4ths living and hiding.  This book is interesting and a nail bitter.  My reluctant readers can't stand it when I stop reading between chapters. Great summer read.

I'm Baaaacccckkkk!

I'm back and very happy to know that someone missed me.  The end of the school year is always stressful for teachers.  We have state testing (ridiculous), district benchmarks (not-so-ridiculous), and grades and books and parent phone calls.  Okay, so it's over now, I can stop the ranting.  But I have been keeping myself busy with growing tomatoes.  Yes, I have been nursing a tomato plant.  Can't beleive it myself!!  From start to finish here are the photos.  I even purchased one of those Topsy Turvy contraptions. 

After a couple of weeks I moved the plant to the Topsy Turvy.  Wish I had a video camera for that!

The most exciting part for me was when the tomatoes started turning red!!  This gardening project was so relaxing for me and took my mind off my job!

And then there was the taste-test.  Yummy.  I think I am now officially a tomato-grower.

Curl Up With My Kindle?

One of my favorite things to do is to curl up and read a good book.  I can still remember the first Scholastic paper back book my mom purchased for me - a story about a princess and a dragon.  I can still smell the newness of the book and the way the pages had to be bent back.  And then later on in life, when I became an adult,  I purchased my first hard back book - and it was love at first sight.  After that, I always found it difficult to buy a paper back book -- and then came the Kindle.  Talk about an adjustment!!

What I love most about my Kindle - I don't have to drive to the bookstore, or wait for a clerk to order my book.  I can download a sample of a book before I purchase it and I can download magazines.  Sure, it has been an adjustment, but curling up with my Kindle has been the best experience ever.

The Bird Cage

A few months ago, I purchased beautiful drapes from JC Penny's Custom Draperies.  I absolutely fell in love with the Bird Cage Curtain Rods.  Now, the Curtain Rods literally cost more than the draperies.  That says alot since the draperies are far from standard length.  The drapes are  22ft in length!! I have very high ceilngs. Of course, I saw a Bird-Cage Lamp base at JC Penny's that I wanted but thought that 80.00 for a lamp base was a bit expensive, considering that in a couple of years or months I could possible change my mind - again.  Well, I was right.  I found the exact same item at Walmart (of all places) for 19.00!!! OMG! What a find.  Check out the photos.

This was such an unbelievable perfect match!!!  I love it.

My Backyard Get-Away!

The 3-tier Italian water fountain has been installed.  I was a little nervous at first - thinking it might be too big for the patio, but it turned out perfect.  Had I chosen a smaller water feature,  the patio would have just swallowed it up. 

It was nice to come home after work and sit out on the patio and have a martini.  I have been dreaming about doing this for a year!  The weather is perfect right now for dinner and drinks on the paito.  I am looking forward to inviting friends over for afternoon drinks or maybe even a Spring brunch. 

What I really enjoy the most about my new purchase is that I can enjoy it from the indoors as well.  The effect that I was going for - when guest walk into the great room, the fountain and the paito furniture entice guest to go outside.  The other plus is that when the weather is not so nice, I still have a beautiful view from the great room.  I love this!