Bruschetta Chicken

With the end of the year bonanza going on (11 more days?) I've made dinner exactly once this week so far. It was a keeper though! (As most of my meals are) : ) It was also very easy (as most of my meals are).


Brushetta Chicken (inspired by Pioneer Woman)


Ingredients:
2 tablespoons Olive Oil (you may want to use less, judging from my picture, I tend to be heavy on the olive oil and garlic)
a generous spoonful of finely minced garlic (I have been getting the jarred variety)
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 heaping spoonfuls of diced sundried tomatoes
4 chicken breasts, sliced into thin fillets


Instructions
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a skillet, add garlic and stir. When garlic is golden, pour into a mixing bowl.  Add both kinds of tomatoes and balsamic to the bowl. Toss to combine, and refrigerate.


Add another tablespoon of olive oil to skillet.  Salt and pepper the chicken breasts and  cook over medium heat on both sides, (a few fillets at a time) until done in the middle. (As you finish the first fillets, move them to a plate and tent with tinfoil to keep them warm.)


Finally, arrange chicken on serving plates, stir up the bruschetta mixture and pour it on top.  Serve with salad and bread. Yum!

Open House

My labor of love..(one of them)...last week's Open House for my kindergarten class. I have had such a fabulous year with this group of students. Our class is chock-full of community, with students taking care of each other when someone is sad, inside jokes (like, I often pretend to faint whenever someone says something so incredibly smart, or finally gives that perfect response), our love for Mo Willems books, and so many other things. 

Tonight  is Kindergarten orientation for the new group. I am excited to meet the new little guys, but I have to tell you, I am going to be in major mourning for this year's group. I am being dragged kicking and screaming to the last day of school (Can I retain all of them??) : )

Back to what your are seeing here....this is the first year I had them list ways they solved math problems. It's simple, but I like how it turned out.

And what about the way 'Room 2 reads'? They 'ask questions,' 'make connections,' and 'practice very much.' Love it!

Sigh. Guess I have to let them go to first grade.

Mother's Day

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to all....

I spent a portion of the holiday shopping at the mecca, Target, updating my minimal Spring/Summer wardrobe. As I hemmed and hawed over various maxi dresses and cowl neck tops, inspiration struck.

Around here we are big fans of House Hunters, and various other shows from the reality genre.  How about a show called 'My closet?' Picture it....it starts with me browsing through the racks of my favorite stores (i.e., Target, with the occasional J. Crew, Anthropologie, Macy's thrown in). Of course, as I hold things up, inspecting with a critical eye, and start actually trying on items there are plenty of automatic no's. No granite countertops?is replaced with, "ooh, not flattering." I had really wanted an open floorplan for entertaining, becomes "not comfortable." And: bedrooms --too small! dress: too small!

I finally narrow down to my three top choices. Then we talk budget. I can only afford to get one! This one is so wearable, but I have others already like it. This, on the other hand, would definitely expand my wardrobe, but is it practical? I take pictures of myself in the dressing room with my iphone and text them to my handy wardrobe consultant friend/husband. I nervously await their phone call with the verdict. The phone rings and we debate the choices. You can only hear my side of the conversation. "What did you think? I have the perfect necklace for the green one."  "Then again, I felt so hip in the brown one, and it would look so cute with my wedges." Finally, we come to an agreement. "Yes, that's the one!"

Next thing you know, I'm leaving the store with my shopping bag, and a big smile. The final scene shows me modeling the new piece at home, and talking about how I made 'the right decision.'

Hahahahaha.....This is what happens when I have time on my hands....it's been a wonderful Mother's Day, complete with a nap, movie (The Five Year Engagement, which I highly recommend), and dinner with my family.

I hope you had a wonderful day too!

First communion "tablescape"

So much is going on, but I always feel the urge to post 'in order'...so the riveting latest details of my week will have to wait. It's one big party around here, with my school's Open House Night, featuring our class play, my colleague's engagement party (which I'm helping host) and Godknowswhatelse in the coming week. 

But first things first. I had a couple of inquiries about our dessert table (seen here sans dessert!) I was inspired by I think Amy Atlas with this *design*. (This is a design, like Real Housewife Alexis is an 'anchor' on her local news.: ) But I digress.

Since our dining room wall is white, and I really wanted some color, I got this Dwell Studio fabric and just pinned it to the wall.  This was my first time trying this technique and I really liked the effect.  I filled bud vases with blue stones and twigs from the yard for the shelf above. With more time (I pulled this event together quickly), I would've liked more white vases and touches.

One thing I kind of struggle with...I always feel like my tables don't seen laden enough with food. (Again, clearly right now there is no food, but even when it was filled...) How do you get that effect with a smaller party? Flowers?

First Communion

My sweet girl made her first communion today! It was a very happy day for all of us, filled with family, excitement, and laughter.

at the church

our little dessert party

Our two good friends' sons also celebrated their first communion and we were able to attend one of the events. First communions....graduations....it's that time of year!

Mom and daughter

I make her breakfast and dinner.

I listen to her.

I pick out her clothes and sign her permission slips.

I encourage her.

I still brush and floss her teeth at night.

I comfort her.



(contents: piece of toast; accompanied by a small filled water bottle)

And she takes care of me, too.

laughter

I don't laugh out loud that much.

It's not that I don't have a sense of humor, (I hope). It's just that I'm usually more of a 'laugh on the inside' kind of girl.

I wish I laughed out loud more. Not only is it a healthy stress reliever, but I am always drawn to those people who frequently punctuate their sentences with a happy peal of laughter. It just seems like they are always having fun.

There are a few things, though, that do make me audibly giggle. I'd love to start sharing them on the blog. Don't we all need a good laugh?

A new ritual for Paige and I are to check out these 'awkward family photos,' from the book of the same name. Ed says it's mean. I call it a bonding experience. (And I assume these folks are making a buck.)

In honor of Mother's Day.....here are a few of my favorites....

Awkward Mother's Day Photos

ha ha ha....ahh that felt good.  I'm hoping enough time has passed that these ladies are somewhere laughing too!