Look Out, Starbucks!

You know I like coffee, but sometimes, it is just a little too hot outside to enjoy a steaming cup. Iced Coffee is the answer to that.

Dad drank cold coffee quite a bit in the summer. His recipe was really strong coffee and lots of ice.

Starbucks makes some delicious cold coffee drinks; however, the cost and calorie total never thrill me.

This summer, I have hit on a great solution.

International Coffee makes a creamer called Hershey's Chocolate Caramel. I add that to Dad's recipe of really black coffee and lots of ice. Voila! A drink that rivals many of the cold drinks I have had from Starbucks.

I am guessing it costs me less than a dollar a cup/glass to make. At 35 calories per tablespoon of creamer, one glass is probably about 70 calories. I can handle that...and Yum!

So there is your yearly recipe. My "cooking" skills just keep growing!

Still On The Treadmill

I have 4 days left until State Assessments.  I'm a bit stressed.  I wonder if the kids are.

Peppermint creamer made the day go somewhat better.  (By the way-- Coffeemate makes it.)  I even added a new sign to my lectern.  "I drink coffee for your safety."  My students don't know it, but there is a bit of truth in there.

We're in the middle of Sub State Basketball around here.  The boys ended with a loss last night, and the girls play here in Tiny Town tonight.

Faded jeans and a ponytail are the uniform for tonight's game.  (If I could get away with a pillow and blanket, I would.)

On the way to the game, I'm hoping to convince the Mr. to help me hook speakers into my mini mac.  I found some old computer speakers here at home.  For some reason, the computer doesn't feed into my classroom speaker.  Until someone figures out that little snafu, I'm hoping these will work.

To top it off, tomorrow is "Biggest Loser" Week 4 weigh in for Tiny Town High staff.  *sigh*  I haven't been running or walking this past week.  I'm not sure that worrying counts as exercise.  *double sigh* The snow and ice are finally gone, so I start again tomorrow morning.

No literal treadmill here; just no time to stop.  Assessments.  Someday I'll write about who is really being assessed.  I have a feeling it isn't the kids...

Surely A Monday

First off, my laptop has a worm.  I guess.  It is off to see the computer Dr., so I am operating on an old laptop that runs--and that is about all I can say for it.

Secondly, room temperature today in my classroom was 55.  A tad chilly.  The heating system in the new building has a few kinks in it.  Three rooms have no heat, and I am lucky enough to be one of them.  I'd complain, but...

Our elementary school also has some heat issues.  The heating people are trying to get them up and running first.  And they should.  Those little ones have to stay in the same room all day long.  My students only have to freeze for 55 minutes or so, and then they move on to a warm room.  (I, of course, get to stay in the meat locker.)

And to top it all off, I was out of Peppermint Creamer for my coffee this morning.

Yep, it was definitely a Monday!

Girls Weekend 2010

Here we are.  Three old friends from the class of 1975. This is year six of the annual Girls Weekend. 

During those six years a parent has died, daughters have married, and husbands retired.  There have been two trips to Europe and one stroke. We get together and catch up on the latest news.  We laugh over how forgetful we're getting.  We look at pictures and gab about the extended families. 

For the last two years, B has invited us to her lake condo.  The view of the lake is beautiful. There is great shopping a few miles away. 

So the weekend goes like this:  meet, drive, talk, arrive, drink wine, talk, eat, talk, drink wine, sleep, talk, drink coffee, eat, talk, shop, shop, shop, talk, talk, talk, drink wine, eat, drink wine....  I imagine you're catching on! 

The older we get, the funnier everything gets.  This year we were talking about taking Ginko Biloba to aide our failing memories.  However, there is fear that we will forget to take it.  I've had a stroke; I'm not sure what their excuse is! 

Here is always the highlight of the trip:  trying to figure out how in the heck the timer on the camera works.  Group photos are usually painful.  And then we get the giggles and all is lost!  Yeah, this year it was my year to try to figure it out.  When you get several photos like the one above, you've got problems!

We've had horrible group pictures for the past six years.  And I'm pretty sure that isn't going to change during the next few years.  This is one constant we can count on.

Some of my favorite moments are spent enjoying the autumn view of the lake: sunrise, fishermen, and the lights across the lake in the evening.

Weekends like this convince me that time is the one thing every relationship needs.  Sometimes you have to work at making time for friendships.  Oh, and a glass of wine or a cup of coffee doesn't hurt either!

Caribou Coffee and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

I haven't shared any favorites for awhile, so here are a couple of the latest. 

The first comes by way of K's new mother-in-law.  When K married, she inherited a MIL who is all things healthy, organic, and preventative.  She passes a lot of that information on to K and CT, who either use it or ignore it--whichever strikes their fancy.  (I'm not sure her organic apple cider vinegar use is ever going to catch on.)

I've been complaining that as I have lost weight, my skin has been missing that extra layer of fat that kept it plumped up.  My arms and neck looked like crepey chicken skin.  (OK.  That might be an exaggeration, but you get the picture.)  K said something to her MIL, and she recommended using Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I purchased a bottle from her last weekend and began using it.

The MIL said to put it on the floor of the shower so that the water would warm the bottle and melt the solid to a liquid.  (A microwave damages the product.)  While my skin is still damp, I use the oil in place of my regular lotion. 

I can't believe the difference it has made in just a week!  My skin has changed appearance and isn't nearly as wrinkled.  I use it on my feet, calloused from running, and they are softer and smoother, too. 

The only disclaimer I have to give is that I can't use it on my face in the morning.  When I do, it melts the makeup right off my face!  Lipstick and mascara vanish.  I guess it is a makeup remover, too.

I wish I had been using this from my 20's.  I'm pretty sure my face would have fewer lines and wrinkles.  L and I both suffer from little red bumps on the back of our arms.  The dermatologist has a name for it, and for the life of me I can't remember it.  He said there was no help for the condition, and that a lot of people have them.  In one week, the bumps are almost gone.  Yeah, I could teach that dermatologist a thing or two.

So right now, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is high on my list of favorites.  And by the way, that jar pictured costs about $16.  I have a feeling it will last for months, and that I won't be buying body lotion or my regular foot cream again. 

So there is your "miracle" for today!

The only other thing I'm sharing today is Caribou Coffee. 

I love coffee.  I love advice that makes my life a bit better.  And I love optimistic people.  The Caribou Coffee franchise has taken all the things I love and combined them in one little coffee shop.

These are their coffee cups.  They have sticky notes for patrons to leave their own bits of advice on their front counter. Even their napkins have sayings all over them.
The one saying that appears everywhere is:

 "Life is short.  Stay awake for it." 

You can read the advice on the cups in the picture, so I'll leave you with the advice that appeared on my coffee cup yesterday:

*Smile first.  Ask questions second.
*Continue more conversations offline.
*Walk don't drive.  Skip don't walk.
*Listen first.  Talk second.
*Start right now.
*Thank a teacher.
*Take all of your vacation days.  (Are you listening, Mr?)
*Adopt an animal.
*Follow your heart.
*Make time for silly.
*Be a HERO, minus the dorky cape.
*Laugh so hard you cry.
*Make today special.
*Compliment a stranger.
*Do it for love, not profit.

Yep.  All that and great coffee, too! Caribou Coffee always puts a smile on my face.

Eagles, Burt's Bees, and Surviving the Week

Friday.  FRIDAY!  I'm quite excited for the end of this long week.  I like the end of the week. I especially like the end of this week.  When weeks are this hectic, I've got to spend time with some of my favorite things; you know, like raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.  Except, I'm really not that fond of cats.  I'm more of a dog person.  Let's just skip the simple things.  These are some of my favorite things that actually cost a little bit. Though unlike Oprah's favorite things, mine are affordable!

Burt's Bees Thoroughly Therapeutic Foot Creme is #1 on my list.  I haven't been able to find it in stores for about 4 months.  Do you know how nasty your feet can get in 4 short months?  I finally found it again and just in time to save my feet.  (You know your feet are bad when you feel like you're snagging the carpet with every step!)  This stuff is the best.  After three days of using it, the dry feet are almost gone!

Totally unrelated to the foot creme (thank heavens!), Nestle's Coffeemate in Cinnamon Vanilla flavor is delicious.  I have been whining a bit since the holidays.  I love their peppermint mocha, but it is seasonal.  (Bah!  Humbug to that!)  Who knew the cinnamon vanilla flavor was almost as good as the peppermint mocha?  I think I'm almost feeling a bit of that holiday spirit returning!

Every morning this perfume just makes my day.  I don't wear scarves, jewelry or heels.  Makeup is at a minimum.  Perfume is my one splurge.  Nineteen years after discovering Spellbound, it is still my favorite.  

 

You knew it was coming!  I've already managed to get coffee on this post. You knew I'd manage to squeeze in wine, too.  I love this wine.  I love the blue bottle.  I love the fact that the brand name is RELAX. (Sometimes I need that reminder!) Oh, and I love the price, too! 

Now, for my favorite moment of the week:

The Mr. and I went for a drive on Sunday.  At the lake near Tiny Town, we happened to catch sight of this big bald eagle sitting in a tree across the river by the spillway.  We were probably 75 yards from him.  Now, I love my cameras, so I'm not complaining. I've had a Kodak EasyShare Z612 for several years.  I also have the handy Nikon Coolpix that my daughters gave me for my birthday. (I almost always have that little camera in my purse or school bag.)  Both take great pictures; however, I have never longed for a telephoto lens as much as I did on Sunday.  Maybe one of these days...!

I cropped and enlarged a bit so you can get a better glimpse of this guy.  Yep.  Hands down, this was my favorite moment of the week!

Lake House Mornings

We awoke our first morning at the lake to this light fog or steam on the lake. It gave everything a misty quality. The boat slips were enveloped in the haze. It was so still and peaceful that I felt like I was sitting inside a photograph. Eventually, we saw a father and son headed out to fish, just as the fog was beginning to lift.

The Mr. made coffee and delivered to my perch on the deck. See why I married him??!! He delivers!

The bird house beside our deck was quite busy. In fact, the trees were full of both birds and squirrels. I am a little too slow to get great shots of wildlife, but that didn't stop me from shooting a ton of pictures, most of which I deleted. (Someone had a hummingbird feeder somewhere close. I gave up on those quick little devils, but they were fun to watch!) Here are a few of the pictures that survived.

I'm crediting the birds for the lack of mosquitoes on the deck. I didn't see one. We were outside almost every waking moment and never saw a single insect. Of course, that did a 180 when we got home! I was wrestling a mosquito inside the car on the way home from work last night. After about 20 miles, he met his Waterloo--and I didn't wreck the car!

We are back to work, moving L, and getting ready for school to start. I'm holding this misty image in my mind during the next few hectic weeks. I have a feeling I'm going to need it. Well, that and the wine we picked up at a winery we visited...but that will be another post!

Week 2- Soda Free

I made it through the week without soda. Of course, I've had about a gallon of water a day. (We have to buy water for our water dispenser. Water from our tap could kill you. Exaggeration? Maybe. But you should see the film on top of it after it sits for a bit--and coffee does really funny things!)

Coffee, a true love, has been a life saver. Black or with creamer, it doesn't really matter. Two cups a day for maximum performance.

Of course, a back-up doesn't hurt.

Some of my friends have asked if I was giving it up for Lent. (I have good Catholic friends who are devout in sacrificing for Lent. I think we Protestants are a little "Lent Lazy.") Lent involves giving it up for 40 days. I'm giving it up for good. So, the answer is no. I'm giving it up for health, for the pocketbook, for me. Do I miss it? Every day at 4:00. Relaxing after school, soda soothed. I've been a sodaholic, so I'm pretty sure I can't have "just one." However, I've made it this far without it--I might as well go the distance. (Can you hear the Rocky theme song in the background?)

Kicking the Habit

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This is my drug of choice. I don't want to think about how many ounces I consume a day--more than can possibly be good for me. Eliminating it isn't about the caffeine. Obviously, it isn't about the calories. The chemicals concern me. Experts say diet sodas mess with your metabolism and your ability to create the insulin your body needs. So I am vowing to kick the habit. For two days now, I have only had 8 ounces.

This is probably my 3rd time trying to kick the soda habit. However, always before I have included no caffeine of any type. This time I am still drinking my usual two cups of coffee and just switching over to water and an occasional glass of tea. (As long as I don't replace all the diet soda with wine, I figure I'm good.) I wonder how much money it will save? Better yet, I wonder if I will be able to tell when I run/jog? The track kids always avoid sodas for the entire season. They swear it affects your running ability. I don't run often (3 times a week) or far (1-2 miles), but maybe I will feel the urge to run a marathon. If I do, I think I'll just go to bed until the urge passes.

Wonder if they have a rehab program for coming down off of the diet soda habit?

Mugs and Flutes of Me

To me, coffee is necessary to teaching. I guess survival is really how my habit began. I taught in a room with no heat, so I could either wear gloves or hold a warm coffee mug as a hand warmer. I sipped and 'Shakespearized' with my sophomores, attempting not to blow crystallized breath over their chilled desks. 

Soon I was addicted. My colleagues and I would gather at the coffee pot for caffeinated encouragement. Now teasing students warn me to "lay off the caffeine, Mrs. E." They tell me I am 'highly caffeinated.' My speech, even without caffeine, is rapid fire. With caffeine, my mouth goes warp speed. I'm energetic on a normal day; manic after my morning cup of coffee. And all of life seems to move less sluggishly along.

I like my coffee, but I live for champagne. While not appropriate at work (I can only dream), it is the drink of celebrating my leisure. I like the way the bubbles tickle my lips, the sweet taste of sheer liquid relaxation. You might associate champagne with the finer things in life: caviar, rich jewels and furs. Not me. Champagne is sitting on the patio, watching the clouds float by. It is enjoying a heart to heart with my husband, daughters, or kid sister. It is celebrating life's finer moments—holidays, weddings, and the christenings of both babies and ships. My daughters and I have been known to kill a bottle before 8:00 a.m. on Christmas morning, mixed with cranberry juice in a drink we like to call Poinsettias. 

I have to admit, I prefer the champagne celebrating to the daily cup of survival. So when I die, chill a couple of cases of Champagne, toast the life of the caffeinated teacher, and launch me into the afterlife in style.

A Day Off

Since I have the day off on Friday, I feel the coffee shop/bookstore calling my name. I'm guessing a couple of hours of reading might revive me! I've got a few things I need for my classroom, so I need to make a trip to Staples and Home Depot. I have a used bookshelf with no hinges for the shelf to hang on. (The pink crates the shelf is balancing on, while lovely to look at, aren't the most effective.) I need a hook to hang my coat on. (I hadn't worried about it until the weather got cold.) Finally, I need to replace my student birthday calendar. This will be my 2nd replacement since the tornado took my nice one. (I ruined the first with maker that won't come off!)

Since the girls are off on Friday, too, there is a plan to go out to lunch and then watch the movie "Chalk." I have wanted to see that mockumentary since it came out. It is a fake documentary about beginning teachers and the problems they run into and looked hilarious. I think "Chalk" made it to the Art Cinema theater but I missed it. K picked it up on Nexflix, so I will finally get to see it.

Anyway, I'm thinking that a relaxing day off will almost make up for the long nights of Parent/Teacher conferences. Almost...!