House update

Looks like I haven't put pics up of the house on the blog in a while. Sometimes I post them on Facebook and forget to post them here. Sometimes I go out to the house and forget to take pictures. Who really wants to see the electrical outlets being put in? We are SO CLOSE. But it still seems so far away. I HATE getting my hopes up and then being let down, so I just try to act like the house isn't even close to being done.

Kitchen counter/bar

Master bath sinks

Love the dinning room light.

Cabinets are in. 

I know it takes a whole to build a house, but I am so antsy. Most of the appliances are in. I feel like someone is going to call and say, "Oh, you're house is ready. No one told you?" 

Today was a good day.

Today was a good day. A good day at work. It has been a good, long while since I have been able to say that. 

Times, they are a changing at the school. It has been a WILD  9 months and even crazier past 2 weeks. We have had retirements, resignations, department transfers and the week isn't over. 

I am ready to move forward. Bigger, better and brighter future ahead. Or at least I hope so. It couldn't get much gloomier. 

And not only was it a good day at work, it was even better when I got home! I made a fresh salad. And sliced squash and zucchini. Then ran 2 miles. Then cooked a pork tenderloin, mac and cheese and the veggies. 

Chalk it up as a good day.

Pizza Dough Recipe

I have received a recipe I was given at work that I would love to try. But if I ever remember to take it home, then it gets lost in the clutter, since I have no real place to store recipes. So, if I type it into the blog, then I can't lose it! 

The first recipe is for pizza dough. An easy pizza dough. A friend at work gave me the recipe with her edits. Which is the best kind of recipe because then you don't have to figure out what works and what doesn't. 

No Yeast Pizza Crust Recipe

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 tbsp cooking oil

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare pizza pan by spraying with non-stick cooking spray (or use a pizza pan that is nonstick). Combine all dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Add liquids and stir to incorporate dry ingredients. Knead dough by hand 6-8 times on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough thinly. Place rolled dough onto prepared pan. Add favorite sauce and toppings. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes. 

Here are the edits, tips and tricks to the recipe. 

• Use wheat floor and olive oil instead of cooking oil.
• Use a fork to mix dry ingredients. Make a little hole and pour in liquid and use fork to mix together lightly. 
• There's always extra flour. Just leave it. 
• When rolling out the dough, it sticks and it difficult, but keep at it! There is usually extra dough. Pinch it off and throw out or make cheese bread! 
• Poke holes all over the dough with a fork. And lightly brush with olive oil. 
• Bake for 20 minutes AND THEN put on ingredients. 
• Bake for 15 more minutes and then broil to make the cheese bubble. 

I can't wait to try this!! 

You are not special

Recently at Wellesley High School commencement ceremony, an English teacher by the name of David McCullough, Jr. gave a speech to the graduates. If the speech has not gone viral yet (it has 557,000+ hits. I am not sure the definition of "Viral Video"), I am sure it will soon. 

He gives great advice. It sounds bad at first, you are not special, but he means well. And I agree. We have been told our whole lives that you are special. You are different. You are the best. But we all can't be the best, because then we would all be alike. And we certainly are not all alike. It is a tough pill to swallow at first. But listen to the whole speech. It will leave a lasting impression. 

An excerpt I like: 

...I urge you to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance. Don't bother with work you don't believe in any more than you would a spouse you're not crazy about, lest you too find yourself on the wrong side of a Baltimore Orioles comparison. Resist the easy comforts of complacency, the specious glitter of materialism, the narcotic paralysis of self-satisfaction. Be worthy of your advantages. And read... read all the time... read as a matter of principle, as a matter of self-respect. Read as a nourishing staple of life. Develop and protect a moral sensibility and demonstrate the character to apply it. Dream big. Work hard. Think for yourself. Love everything you love, everyone you love, with all your might. And do so, please, with a sense of urgency, for every tick of the clock subtracts from fewer and fewer; and as surely as there are commencements there are cessations, and you'll be in no condition to enjoy the ceremony attendant to that eventuality no matter how delightful the afternoon.

It's funny as I watched this speech, I could see various people in my life giving me the same words of advice. Whether it was at high school graduation, or college or even now. Everyone encouraging the same message of going out and doing things for more than just the satisfaction of doing whatever it is, but doing something for the experience and to learn about yourself and others. 

Schofield-Slaughter Wedding

One of my best friends, Rachel, got married this weekend. Chris and I had so much fun attending all the festivities and I could not be more happy for Rach! It was so great seeing old friends, growing relationships with new friends and just having a plan ol' good time. 

Steph and I getting ready!

And Ellen and I getting ready!

Chris and I at the reception!

The Steadmans and The Erwins!

The bride!

Need a pom? Rachel and Patrick got to their get away car with a wave of purple and gold pom poms!

I had so much fun with Ellen this weekend. And while Ellen and I did wedding stuff all weekend, Clay and Chris got to hang out and get to know each other. Turns out they both love golf, hunting, fishing and being great husbands to us girls! So glad we got to hang out this weekend.

Wedding events started Thursday with a fish fry. Then Friday I took off work (WOO!), and we had the bridal luncheon, a nail party and the rehearsal and dinner that night. All the girls had breakfast at Strawn's Saturday morning and it was just perfect. I loved just relaxing with a gooooood breakfast and some great friends. After breakfast we ran a few errands and then went to the hair salon. Then it was time for make-up and the wedding! The reception was of course a blast and Chris and I had a great time dancing.

I am so excited Rachel and Patrick tied the knot! I wish them all the best! Here's to you Che! 

House update pt. 2

So I went out to the new house this evening with my mom and found lots of new additions!

Tile floor in the kitchen.

Master bedroom painted

Stairs!

Columns on the patio

Mini driveway for Chris' toys.

Brick by Brick

Slowly but surely, brick by brick our house is nearing completion! Here are some pictures from this weekend. I hope to go out there tonight and check out the progress!

The mantle and shelves all painted and ready for out STUFF!

Double-tray ceilings painted.

we have a side walk! And the stuco has been painted.

I CAN'T WAIT TO MOVE!!! We are so grateful my parents have open their home to us for the last 6 months, but we are ready to live on our own and get into our own house!