Moving Forward While Looking Back

Hello Blog World. It's been a while. There have been so many things that have happened. So many things that I have done. So many things I have seen. But I have not had the time, or rather taken the time, to share them with you.

I am sure you have figured out by now that I have been an absent blogger due to my new job. Starting a new job is tough. I am not saying I don't love it --- there are days when I walk out of my classroom with the biggest smile on my face, because I know that a lightbulb went off. Other days, I will admit, I come home crying, frustrated with not knowing how to help a student, upset that there are not enough hours in the day to really do all of the fabulous things I would like to. For the last several weeks, I have concentrated my efforts on my work. Establishing my footing. Finding my balance. Some days are good. Some days are not so good. But every day gets a little bit easier. I just have to keep moving.

While I keep moving forward, I cannot help but look back. So far, the most difficult thing has been how much I absolutely miss my former colleagues. Some of these people weren't just my colleagues, but my friends. My best friends. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy my new colleagues (especially my new work-brother, who has welcomed me and taken me in, like...well... like a brother and my new musical non-sister sister who 'gets' that I like to belt out gangsta rap, and knows all of the same lyrics!)  I look back at where I have come from and I miss the familiarity. I miss the ease. I just flat out miss them. I miss how one of my friends would walk in the room on a Friday and yell "It's Friday!" as loud  as she could. I miss how one of my friends would do a little half walk-half run up to me to hug me every time she saw me. I miss how hard I would laugh when one of my dearest friends would make obscure movie quote references, and how either I (or no one!) would have a clue as to what she was talking about. I miss everyone giggling in the staff room. I miss how just being in the same room as some of them made me feel at home. I miss how I could glance at my best friend, and instantly, we would know exactly what the other was thinking.

There are many days when I wish I was back in my old classroom, with my old friends, doing the same old same old. The memories I made at that school, with those people, make my heart smile. I yearn for that old familiar feeling. But I also know that everything has its time. As the saying goes, the beauty of life is found in adventure, and I have found chosen a new adventure. A new adventure with new people, new places and new experiences. I love my new adventures, and I am eager to continue, but I don't see any harm in looking back and realizing (and appreciating!) how fabulous my many adventures have been so far.

35 by 35

In 2013, I will turn 35. If you know me, then you know that 35 is my favorite number... and my guess is that it is going to be an awesome year.

I kind of missed the whole 30 by 30 craze... because I am a wee-bit older than others. But I still wanted to participate in the fun, so I am making a 35 by 35 list.

(Side note: I started this list a few months ago, and got side-tracked by life. So some of these things I have already accomplished because they were just things I wanted to do!) 

1. Participate in a 5K, or half-marathon, or both! (Signed up for the Neverland Fun Run in 1/2013) Completed 1/19/13
2. Tour Alcatraz Island. 
3. Play a solo on my saxophone in front of people. 
4. Actually do something crafty I pinned on Pinterest... once every two months.  
5. Travel somewhere new in the state of California.
6. Experiment with 12 new dinner recipes. 
7. Meet my new neighbors. Met some awesome ones, July 2012. 
8. Paint something in my house. (purple bathroom, maybe?) 
9. Visit Cars Land at Disneyland. (See #1)  Completed 1/19/13
10. Go camping. 
11. Travel somewhere new out of state. 
12. See a broadway show. 
13. Get a new passport. (Bonus: get a stamp in said passport.) 
14. Eat at a restaurant featured on TV. 
15. Affiliate with a local SAI alumnae chapter.  Affiliated with SF Peninsula Alums in June 2012 
16. Get a couple's massage. 
17. Visit a museum I've never been to before. 
18. Taste sparking wine on another sparkling wine tour in Napa. Mumm Napa, July 2012, &  Korbel Napa, December 2012
19. Read 12 books in 12 months. 
20. Attend a concert. Pixar in Concert with the SF Symphony, July 2012. 
21. Bike around San Francisco, maybe across the Golden Gate. 
22. Go to the Chabot Space Museum. 
23. Increase my ability levels in sit-ups and push-ups. 
24. Experience Iowa in the winter. Thanksgiving, 2012
25. Have a party! The Plattner Place Grand Opening, July 2012 & Chrismakwanzakkuah 2012
26. Attend the Tech Museum's After Hours. 
27. Experiment with 12 new dessert recipes.
28. Go hiking.
29. Pay for someone's meal behind meal in a drive thru. 
30. Go on a picnic. 
31. Make homemade ice cream. 
32. Watch the sun rise from a beach. 
33. Learn to play a song on the guitar or ukulele. 
34. Have a minimum two day stay-cation: just me and my hubby. December 2012
35. Do something super spontaneous! 

There are a few ideas on here that are not my favorite, but they are doable in less than 12 months. Any suggestions out there? I would be okay with doing some trade-zies. This can be a living document that you can help recreate! :) Don't be shy.... what would be on your list? 

Adventures in Eating Oreo Cookies

Did you know that today is Oreo Cookie's 100 birthday?!?

I thought today would be the best day ever to share with the world the best way to eat an Oreo Cookie. I know some people say you are supposed to twist off the chocolatey cookie part, followed by infinite variations of licking off the tasty cream center and eating the cookie part separately. Other people have various ritualistic ways of dunking their Oreos in milk. Me, I dunk mine...using a fork. That's right friends, a fork. I've been doing it for years. And now I am sharing my secret with the world.

Step 1: Buy yourself some delicious Oreo cookies.  My Oreo of choice is Double Stuf Oreos.



















Step 2: Bring your cookies home and pour yourself a delicious glass of ice cold milk.

Step 3: Get a fork. Any fork will do.

Step 4: Plunge your fork into the creamy center of the Oreo. Be sure not to press too hard or the cookie will fall off the edge. It works best if the entire cookie stays together, one happy cookie sandwich family.

Step 5: Dunk your Oreo. There are various methods – I prefer dunking the whole cookie, some of my family members prefer dunking one half at a time. I say experiment and discover your own preference.

Step 6: Wait. You will see air bubbles rise up through the glass of milk. This is the air escaping the chocolatey cookie which is being replaced with milk. Once the bubbles become few and far between pull your cookie out of the milk and eat it!

Step 7:  Eat it!  Nibble it. Chomp it down in one big ol' bite. Whatever. It is your choice. You might have some tasty Oreo bits on the bottom of your glass, which makes for a tasty drink. So I say take a hearty gulp, but don't drink it all so you can...

 Step 8:...Repeat steps 4 - 7. ♥