05.30.09

Sticky Ribs

I got this recipe here, at Sarah's Test Kitchen. She has so many recipes that look amazing, next week I'm going to try the Creamy One Pot Pasta. Tonight, we had her Sticky Ribs. We used spare ribs instead of baby back ribs, but either way it was soooo good! If you try them, let me know!

Rub Ingredients
1c brown sugar
1tbs kosher salt
1tbs black pepper
1tsp cayenne pepper

1 slab pork baby back ribs
BBQ sauce of choice

• Preheat oven to 400. Line baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray (this will save your life once you have to clean up!)
• Combine rub ingredients in small bowl, mix well. Rub all over both sides of meat.
• Place ribs on baking sheet, put in oven for 1 hour. Flip meat over after the first 30 minutes.
• After the first hour, turn down oven heat to 250 and cook for two more hours. Turn over every hour.
• Baste with BBQ sauce during the last 30 minutes, on both sides.
• Remove from oven & let stand 10 minutes.
  

05.30.09

Valley Sunset

05.29.09

Stella & Joe

Today I hung out with my cousin Tammy and got to meet her new puppy, Stella. She really is the sweetest dog, didn't bark at all and just layed around playing with her toys. I went with Tammy to pick Joseph up from school and when we got home we played some Sight Word Bingo and Wii Beach Sports. The Wii was pretty fun...we played volleyball (my character got hit in the face several times), soccer and frisbee golf. Joe did a great job though, I'm sure he'll keep practicing this summer!

05.28.09

Goodbye, BTSA!

Tonight was my last BTSA meeting and my mentor made this for me. She is one of the best people I have met this year and helped me out so much. I really hated doing BTSA stuff..the paperwork, relfections, after work meetings. But it was a benefit for me and I can't complain at all about the people I got to meet while I did it. Plus, I came away with this super cool clipboard...teachers love this kind of stuff!

05.27.09

How to be a Hilton

So we all know about my celebrity gossip obsession. Ask me anything, I'm 99% sure I can answer it. But all the credit goes to this guy...Perez Hilton. I check his website daily to get all the updates. Tim & Annette bought me this book for my birthday and it's pretty hilarious. He gives you tips on how to be a "Hilton"...and what does that mean? Let me tell you:

• "A hilton is someone who is skinny, notorious, mischeivious, hot, loves to party...rarely works, dates alot..."
• Prime examples are: Pars Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Tara Reid, Heidi & Spencer Pratt..the list goes on and on.
• According to Perez, you should do the following to be a hilton: Put the HO in Hollywood, Make Jack Daniels your Designated Driver, Have a Meldown, Replace a Snack with Crack and Get Some Work Done. (There are tons more, those are my personal faves!)

He gives his opinion on certain Hollywood rumors, tells how he got started in the gossip business and gives info on how to get good gossip. It's pretty interesting if you go to his site on a regular basis, if not...it's probably the dumbest thing you'll ever read.

05.26.09

Memorial Day

Manteca does an awesome job of celebrating holidays like this. The Boy Scout's get up super early and line the streets with American flags. It's really nice to drive down Yosemite and Main, and see all of these flapping in the wind!

05.25.09

BBQ Weekend

05.23.09

Ice Cream Cake

Tonight I made this cake for a BBQ at my parent's house tomorrow. It's one of the easiest cakes anyone could ever make. All you need to do is buy ice creams that you feel go well together, I decided on Chocolate Swirl and Chocolate Fudge Brownie. I've done up to 3 ice creams in one cake, but I'm sure you could do more. Next, buy already baked cake in whichever flavor you feel goes with your ice cream flavors. I chose a chocolate and vanilla swirl this time. Of course you have the option to bake your own cake, but you really won't be using the entire thing so why put all the effort into it?!

Once you have the ice cream and the cake, line a glass bowl with cling wrap. Layer the ice cream flavors in the bowl. It's always good to make sure the ice cream is soft enough, so let it sit out for awhile beforehand. Once all the ice cream is in, place slices of cake at the top making sure you cover all the ice cream. Place in freezer until ready to eat! It's that simple.

Let it sit out for 5-10 minutes before serving, then flip upside down on a plate. The bowl should just slide right off. (If the bowl is hard to remove, I have even placed it in warm water for a bit to loosen it up). Remove cling wrap, serve and enjoy!!

05.22.09

Last Day of School

I got these flowers from one of my student's today. He really is the sweetest kid, with the nicest mom. She was always a big help in our classroom, went on our field trips with us, and when Amanda went on maternity leave she helped out extra days so I didn't get overwhelmed. I'm definitely going to miss this class. They were a really great group of kids, definitely some goofballs mixed in...but I'm even going to miss them too.

05.21.09

To teach is to learn twice -- Joseph Joubert

I love my job. It's something I have always wanted to do, it's the one thing I actually feel comfortable doing. Even when I sub for other teachers, I get nervous up until I walk into the classroom. There are days when I come home and think about how crazy the day has been, but there has never been one morning when I wake up thinking that I don't want to go to work.

I have been lucky enough to work in an amazing classroom this year, with one of the best teachers I have ever worked with. I have learned so much about myself as a teacher, about what I need to change and what I do best. I know I have a long road ahead of me, and my true first year of teaching with my very own class will be the hardest... but I really feel more prepared now that I ever did before.

05.20.09

Countryside Farms

Our class went on a field trip today to this cute little farm. We planted watermelon seeds, picked cherries, played in a tree house, got to pet goats and bunnies and kittens, and went on a hayride. It was definitely a long day, but so much fun. The kids loved being outside, they did an awesome job listening to all of the instructors at the farm, and they loved the animals. We ate lunch in the shade, bounced on balls to get our energy out, and came back to relax and watch Charlotte's Web. Two more days until summer vacation!

05.19.09

Lunchtime Rewind

I always have the radio on while I'm driving, I can barely concentrate if there is no noise going on. In the mornings, Jack & Madden keep me company on my way to work...they usually have sucky celebrity gossip (stuff I've already heard from Perez Hilton), but the stupid stories section is always hilarious. On my way home from work, I can usually catch the lunchtime rewind with songs from the 90's. Today they played some pretty great hits, including Boyz II Men which was always my favorite!

05.18.09

Turn It Up!

The air conditioning in the car is officially on all the time. And right when I get in the car, if it's been sitting out there for awhile, it gets turned up pretty high. How did we skip the springtime? It rained two weeks ago, then past weekend was hotter than hell. I love the flip flops, I love the tan I'm hoping to get, but I hate sweating. You'd think living in California my entire life would prepare me for the summer!

05.15.09 and 05.16.09

Not going to lie, I didn't take one single picture either day. It seems like when we are actually busy, and doing something interesting...I don't take pictures. This makes no sense, I know. Maybe when these things happen I could leave you with a favorite picture from the past....

Maui, Hawaii :: October 2008

05.14.09

A + C = 4ever

This was my first major decorating idea once we moved into our apartment last year. I already had a C from when I lived in Sacramento, and I happened to find the letter A at TJ Maxx one day. Anthony spray painted them this chocolate brown color, and I found a perfect picture frame to match. This is hanging above our bed now, with some of our engagement pictures in the frame. It was really the first thing I did that made me feel like this was "our" place to live.

05.13.09

Hair Care 101

Do most people have this many hair products? Am I the only one that is constantly trying new things, either to keep my hair from getting frizzy or to see which hairspray holds without stickiness? This isn't even all the things I have in my house, but it is all the products I use regularly. Some for when I straighten my hair, some for when I decide (on the very rare occasion) to scrunch it. And yes, scrunch is an actual word. Sometimes I wish my hair was just plain straight and I didn't have to do anything to it...but I'm sure if that was the case, I'd wish for the hair I have already.

05.12.09

New Face

Got my new glasses today..and I love them! Something about the thicker plastic frames makes my face look better, and less plain. Is it just me that thinks this? Probably.

05.11.09

Maurice...Space Cowboy

Apparently this store is at the outlets...I never go there, so it was a surprise to me. They had some pretty cute stuff and a really awesome clearance rack. I came home with two new shirts that I can wear to work, or just out and about this summer. I looked it up online to see if there were more stores close by and found out there is one coming into the new shopping center here! Right next to the new movie theater and JC Penney...awesome. Now I have a new place that I shouldn't spend money at, I love it.

Bonus: That caption is Friends reference. Anyone?!

05.10.09

Happy Mother's Day!

05.09.09

Springtime Saturday

05.08.09

Friday Night Lambrusco

Usually I stick to the Sutter Home White Zin, but this wine is definitely my favorite now. It's bubbly like champagne, but has a sweeter taste. On Easter I tried the red lambrusco, and it was prety good too. More of a fruit juice flavor, instead of that harsh red wine taste. So, if you are out to try and new wine, pick this one up...Piccinini Lambrusco dell' Emillia Blanco. Blue label, with a cork like a champagne bottle. Delicious.

05.07.09

Addiction

Hello, my name is Christy and I am addicted to Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook. At first it was just to see if I could beat Anthony's cousin's high scores...and then it was to see if I could beat my own scores. Last night I got my highest score ever, so I think I can officially quit the habit. Well, until they clear the scores and I have to start over from scratch....

05.06.09

Reading Rainbow

The top book is what I am reading right now. It's Michael J. Fox's second book and pretty much picks up from where his first one left off. He split it up into 4 different sections and talks about deciding to leave television, deciding to enter politics and the fight for stem cell research, his spirituality and his family life. So far, it's really good. He does an awesome job of explaining Parkinson's in non-medical terms.

The second book is something I read in about 2 days. My mom got it for me for my birthday, and I really liked it. I'm definitely a celebrity gossip junkie, so who better to read about then the crazy Spelling family?! Tori Spelling talks all about that mansion with the wrapping paper room, her affair with Dean and Shannon Daugherty's craziness when they filmed 90210. I thought it was super interesting to peek into her life for a little bit.

And the third book is what I'm on to next. I love Jennifer Weiner ever since I read Good In Bed on our way back from Maui. The follow up to that book was even better, so I'm excited to read this one to see how it compares to the others.

05.05.09

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

At Costco last night we tried this awesome carne asada, so we decided to get it and make tacos for Cinco de Mayo. They were super delicious. Because it was so muggy outside, we decided to make non-alcoholic margaritas...which actually tasted 100 times better than ones with tequila. It was basically a slushy, but I definitely appreciated the fact that I didn't have a headache in the morning!

05.04.09

New Spectacles

I ordered this new pair of glasses today. I have decided that glasses are my weakness...like, if I was a millionaire I would have glasses to match outfits and stuff. So weird, I know. The glasses I wear right now, I got just for the wedding so I would have thinner frames instead of the chunky ones I had before. But I really love the thick plastic frames, they look way better on my face I think...and they are way more stylish. So there you have it, I'm an eyewear junkie...who cares about purses or shoes, I'd rather have a different pair of glasses for every day of the week.

05.03.09

Personal Favorite

If you ever find yourself in Chico, take the time and go to Italian Cottage. We always go there for breakfast, and it's delicious. Anthony loves the corned beef hash (the real stuff, not from the can) and I usually go for the linguica omelette. I'm sure lunch and dinner is just as good too, but we haven't tried that yet. Maybe next time...

05.02.09

Best Friends

Last time we went to visit, it took Jack awhile to warm up to us. This time, he just climbed right up onto the couch and plopped down next to Anthony. He wouldn't leave his side...kept wanting Anthony to pick him and up go into his room...and kept putting his own sunglasses on Anthony's head. It was pretty cute to watch him be so comfortable around someone he hardly ever sees.

05.01.09

A Schmitke Weekend

We always have fun when we go up to visit one of our favorite couples! All the laughing and inside jokes makes up for the two and a half hour drive. We get to eat at our favorite places...Hula's and Italian Cottage... and we usually watch movies we would have never rented on our own. Thanks for always inviting us into your home, letting us sleep in your living room, and ignoring the fact that our stuff ends up all over the place. You're the best!