Criss Cross, Applesauce

All right, cool kids, let's talk about applesauce.

Did you know that you can make it in a Crock Pot and it is ridiculously easy to put together?  It has four ingredients, and one of them is water.

We made a batch in my class today, and the kiddos had a blast helping me mix it together.  They didn't mind taste-testing it at the end of the day either.

As an added bonus, it made my classroom smell amazing all day long.

I got the recipe from another teacher, and it is essentially this:

Combine the following in a Crock Pot:
- 8 to 10 apples, peeled and sliced into little pieces
- 1 tsp of cinnamon
-About 1 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup of water

Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, and, voila, you have delicious applesauce.

Confession Time

I talk to other drivers all the time, despite the fact that they can't hear me.

Here is a sampling of things I have said out loud in my vehicle recently:

- Seriously?! That is your version of yielding?

- See, you can't be in this lane, because I am in this lane right now.

- Really?!

- Sure, go ahead, ride right on my tail.  That's a good idea.

I am, apparently, very sarcastic with people who have no idea what I'm saying.

The Big E

I love the fall.

Because, you see, in the fall, the Big E comes to town, and I get to eat things like kettle corn and peanut butter bacon pizza.

And! And the Craz-E Burger.

Oh, the Craz-E Burger.

A bacon cheese burger on a glazed doughnut.

I'm telling you guys, I love the fall.

Make-Up Monday: Sephora Favorites

I thought two things when I saw the Sephora Favorites Best of Basics Make-Up Starter Deluxe Sampler.

1. That is quite possibly the longest product name ever.

2. And that is going on my wish list.

Just The Way You Are

It is probably a good thing that I do not carpool with anyone, because I tend to fixate on one song and play it over and over again.

I can just imagine turning to someone in the passenger seat and saying, "Would you like to listen to the 'Glee' cover of 'Pokerface' five times in a row? Great! Me, too!"

My current can't-get-enough-of-it song is Bruno Mars' first single.  It is really sweet, and it is also ridiculously well-crafted.

Stripe-y

I would like this stripe-y Old Navy shirt in several colors:

Don't they look like something a French stereotype would wear, while carrying a shopping bag with a baguette in it?

Baked Eggplant Slices

All right, kids, let's talk about eggplant.

I didn't think I really liked eggplant until I started growing it in my garden. Then, I started feeling a certain fondness for these little purple guys.

Then, this week, I made this recipe.

And, it was, quite possibly, the best side dish ever.

(Mr. Kinne recommends that you cut the slices very thin, so they get crispier. He's right about that).

Make-Up Monday: Maybelline Express Finish Gray-t Glamour

I was recently sorting through some of my clothes, and I realized that I may, in fact, be addicted to buying gray cardigans.

So, to go along with my predominantly gray wardrobe, I picked up a bottle of Maybelline's Gray-t Glamour polish.

The color is fabulous-- sort of a blue-gray that is not too scary dark.

However, this polish chips more quickly than any other polish I've used. I tried one coat. I tried two coats. I tried it with and without a top coat. It always chipped within a few hours of application.

I am still loving the color, and I still plan to wear this with my multitude of gray cardigans.

Luckily, it isn't too hard to re-apply a nail polish that takes 50 seconds to dry.

Cath Kidston

There is now a Cath Kidston site for U.S. shoppers! Most of the stuff is pretty pricey, but I am considering some special, maybe-with-my-birthday-money purchases.

(Yes, my birthday is still two months away. Just planning ahead).

Kittens... Inspired by Kittens!

My best guy friend got a tiny new kitten, and I am pretty much in love with the little fella.

I got to spend two adorable hours with him, and it was like much-needed therapy.

Peanut Butter + Chocolate

Did you ever notice how the Reese's holiday shapes are even more delicious than their regular peanut butter cups?

I think it has something to do with the chocolate to peanut butter ratio-- and the lack of ridged edges.

I have maybe given this too much thought.

Tiny, Sparkly Things

I want one of everything from this lovely Etsy shop called Edor.

All of the pieces are so small and delicate-- and super reasonably priced. I feel like they are the kind of things I would find myself wearing all the time, because they have such a classic look to them.

The Tiny Dot necklace is my favorite, and it is definitely going on my birthday list. (Please note that my birthday is not until November, but I would hate to forget....)

Make-Up Monday: Benefit Some Beauty to Love

There are only about two months until the most wonderful time of the year-- the Sephora Friends and Family Sale.

I am already planning what I'll buy when everything is 2o% off, and this new Benefit Some Beauty to Love set is high on the list.

That Coralista powder looks fab, and I already know that I love the other things in the set.

Plus, bonus points for the cute purse-shaped box.

Phew!

This week kicked my butt!

From lesson plans to Open House to trying to get 20 first-graders to stop talking for more than five seconds, I feel like I never stopped.

This weekend, I have grand plans to eat and lie around.

Today, we hit the local Greek Festival to eat baklava and gyros, and tomorrow we have family coming in from out of town.

And, as for the laying around? I've scheduled in plenty of that.

Pizza Cups

I love pizza and will eat it in any form-- pizza bites, pizza bagels, pizza slices, personal pan pizzas, and the list goes on....

(Actually, the list doesn't go on. Those are the only ones I can think of).

But, my new favorite way to eat pizza is in pizza cups.

Essentially, we're talking about little pizzas baked in muffin tins. I got the general idea from this site, but I tweaked it to use what I had in the fridge.

You start with a basic pizza dough. I recommend this dough recipe from Smitten Kitchen, but feel free to use any one that you like.

Just form the dough into little circles, place the circles into a muffin tin and top with your favorite ingredients. (I used the top of a drinking glass to make the circles).

Then, bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes, and enjoy all of the delicious carbs.

Make-Up Monday: Pacifica Solid Perfume in Bali Lime Papaya

I always have this solid perfume in my purse, because it is like a vacation in a tin.

Plus, it's all kinds of earthy-crunchy:

- 100% vegan

- No parabens

-No artificial colors

- Made by tiny fair-trade elves in a little sustainable tree

O.k., I might have made that last part up.

Stock Room Sale

Good news, everybody! Lands' End Canvas just brought back all of their summer styles and put them on sale.

And! And you can get 25% off and free shipping with the coupon code Sept7 and the pin 5131.

I took the opportunity to pick up a few layering pieces for Fall, including this little striped tee.

Frost Yourself

It is hard to tell from my first-day-of-school picture, but I rocked an awesome necklace for my return to the classroom.

I got approximately a flobbity-jillion compliments on this lovely piece from In Honor of Design.

Now, I'm adding this Satin and Frill Statement Necklace to my "wouldn't mind unwrapping in the near future" list.

(Mr. Kinne? Did you catch that not-so-subtle hint?)

The First Day

(On the way out the door)

Today was exhausting and challenging and uncomfortably warm.

I keep reminding myself that, by June, I will be amazed at how far we've come as a class.