Fat, Fancy & Back to Reality (not actually an insta Insta Friday at all)

Not only do I now have Pinterest to blame for hours of time wasted on the internet, but I can also bitch about them making me fat(ter). This little concoction of honey-sugary-butter goodness was made on our last morning before school started...at 10:45am mind you. Summer indigence at its finest.

Please come to the dark side and make this.

Thanks Pinterest.jerk.

We WERE counting down the days until school started...I suppose we were all in denial because the number never went below four.

The girls were playing "fancy people" with tea cups and grapefruit. After this sophisticated appetizer I served them some Ralphs store brand (chef boyardee style) canned mini raviolis. Very classy. And healthy.right.

 This brings us up to The First Day of School. YaY.

Miss Juliet is in first grade this year and is lucky enough to have both Abigail's kinder & first grade teachers together in one classroom. They are sharing a contract so mid-week when they switch she'll have a refreshed teacher...so is the theory.

 Miss Abigail is in fifth grade this year.time.flies. 

That's all I have to say on this one.

(how cute are these signs, right?)

The first day of school also means that I must break my 10 week fast of not going to work. Back to reality. Back to being Mrs. O. 

I even got a whooping cough vaccine just for the occasion. Because kids are disgusting. 

I really was nice seeing my coworkers and catching up with a few quick sentences as you pass each other in the hall. Hearing about all the fancy far-off amazing places some of these students travel to is interesting..and a bit depressing. 

But it's good to be back. For now.

Insta-Friday(semi-insta):Mrs. O. has left the building

This was our last week of school/work..we managed to get up 175 times this school year and managed to get our kids where they needed to be..dressed..neat..feed..on time.

I am SO excited to have 9 weeks off..no snotty noses, tying shoes, solving conflicts or opening juice bags or snacks of other peoples children...now I'm just stuck with my own...for 9 weeks.☺

Let Summer Begin!

This is my beautiful cousin Shannon Kelsey kissing her first "left coast"(as she says) California sunset. She was SO excited to witness it! She was here from VA on a 3 day layover on her way to Australia. This will be her second trip there for a church mission. We can't wait to see her in 18 months when she comes back.♥(so we can corrupt her again)

Abigail earned the Presidential Award of Achievement this week for her 3.8 GPA..we are super proud and highly aware that these smart are in no way a reflection of our efforts.

She'll be a big 5th grader in August..time is a jerk and a thief.

I used Frances this week to make "Cupcakes in a Jar." 

Thanks to Joy's Hope I looked awesome to my coworkers and kids teachers.

We closed out our year of Girl Scouts with a BounceU party..complete with Girl Scout cookies...what else?

My little kindergartner is now considered a 1st grader....seriously...time flies people.

Hopefully the Otellio's actually make it back to the beach this summer. We are the worst Californians ever, didn't even go once last summer. In our defense it was June gloom all summer...still.losers.

Thank goodness Shannon is going on a church mission...so she can repent or whatever for herself & us for 18 months...but seriously...this IS how we roll. Yes, of course I had a Sharpie and cardboard in my bag. Doesn't every one?

Happy Summer Gifts...

I love..LOVE my co-workers. They are a great bunch of women. And for those of you that have never worked at an elementary school please just keep believing the illusion that teachers and office staff are sweet 100% of the time☺.

I felt these great chicks needed something sweet to celebrate 175 days of coming to work! 

This treat wasn't an original thought, but still I did actually did execute it(patting myself on the back right now). 

Please check out one of my favorite blogs 
to stalk, Joy's Hope.

Her blog is very real and has some amazingly tasty and crafty ideas.

Cupcakes In a Jar

Completely gimmicky..but a lots of fun (and easy to eat!)

I really needed an excuse to use Frances, she's was feeling neglected.

Start with a good old box of cake mix & just follow those directions..I LOVE Duncan Hines Devils Food. (I used two boxes & made 48 cupcakes. A 1/3 cup scoop was used). Use LOTS of Pam, not liners. Allow to cool for 5 min. then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. 

I used twenty-four 8oz. regular mouth quilted jars..cause I think they are pretty♥

Push one cupcake into the bottom. 

Blop some butter cream on top of the cupcake.

Add some pretty candies, jimmy's..or whatever you'd like.

Add another cupcake, more butter cream, more pretty candies...and that's it!

 Best Butter Cream Ever

 My daughter felt that Bubbles needed to be in the ingredients shot. (no guinea pigs were included or harmed in the making of this-hehe) 

Here is the how you put that magic together:

Best butter-cream ever

(i used GOOD quality vanilla-35% alcohol & heavy cream-hummm)

Two sticks of good quality butter 

(I used salted cause I like it)

Two pounds of powdered sugar

3 tsp of good vanilla

6 tbsp of heavy cream

(this is a doubled batch-I ended up making another regular batch-because this stuff is AWESOME)

Cream it all up..start slow..or you'll be covered in powdered sugar ;)

Whip it until it's light & fluffy.

 My classy novelty bowling cup. 

But seriously when loading up your piping bag, a big cup that you can fold over the top is the best. Usually I just use a gallon Ziploc bag with a cut on the corner and do the same thing, but this day I was being fancy.

 An finally cut a 2 inch circle and write a note and stick it on top, some curing ribbon, and a spoon. 

Done.

I had a few coworkers literally open it right away and start eating it. Two of them said they intended on saving the second cupcake for their spouse, but that didn't happen. 

What did I tell you..gimmicky..but fun, instant gratification for the receiver.

Enjoy.

(thank you SO much to Joy's Hope for your always amazing blog)

I need to get on this...

I really need to update...

Birthday Party

First Day of School

Girl Scout Camping Trip

Sometime this weekend I'll get on it...not that I'm so sure anyone reads it...it's still fun.

Twelve For Tuesday...

So...this morning I sent my 9 year old off to Girl Scout camp for five (hopefully) fun-filled days up in the mountains. I had Miss Juliet, of course, in tow...she had a mini silent meltdown when she suddenly realized we weren't getting on the bus with Abby...today is also her last day of preschool(more on that later).

This is not Abigail's first trip to this camp, she went back in November with my co-leader and 6 girls from her troop...but this is whole new ball game...she's no going with any friends she knows, plus she's responsible for herself this time and in "real" cabins...no heater/air conditioner & no bathroom inside the cabin...you gotta hoof it down a-ways to the bathroom. I don't think I could have lectured her more on being responsible for her own crap, and following directions..hopefully something sunk in. Hopefully she has an amazing time!

So here is my Twelve For Tuesday...12 fun pictures from this morning:

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Preschool is done....

For 8 years I have been driving up the hill to our local community college to take one of the girls to the childcare/preschool program they offer for students with kids.

We started there in 2002 when I decided to go back to school, Abigail was 18 months old. She graduated from preschool in August 2006, Juliet turned 1 that same month and started there 3 weeks later. 

It took me 10 years (not in a row mind you) to get my AA in Liberal Arts in 2008 (please feel free to laugh with/at me). I soon decided I was over school and wanted a new car...so I told Bradley I was going to get a job..."umm, ok." he responded.

I will deeply miss seeing the staff at the preschool and the parents I've meet....however I'm happy to spend the money I was paying them in other way and save gas!!

Miss Juliet will be starting kindergarten in a few weeks and Miss Abigail will be going into the fourth grade...where does the time go?