TGIF: Dream Weekend

Do you ever have a week that feels like a month? I think most teachers would say that they feel this way after their first week back at school. Summer is really over.  It's how I feel now. Since this isn't my first year teaching, at least I know that this feeling doesn't last too long. 

In other news, our credit card information was somehow taken last week. Luckily the person who got a hold of our info just wanted to spend a few nights in hostels. Our $20 has already been refunded and I was totally impressed by MasterCard's customer service. Greg and I haven't spent much time in hostels, a few guesthouses I think. If I could go to any hostel this weekend it would be this one...

Hostel-Inn  in Iguazu Falls, Argentina

At least this weekend is supposed to bring in more cool weather. I think we may start using our hot peppers (the only thing really striving in our garden) to make some salsa (everything else from the Farmer's Market). TGIF and Happy Weekend!

Wednesday Wisdom

Wednesday Wisdom

In schools across Wisconsin this week teachers are preparing for the first day of school next week. I think this quote sums up all teachers' goals. I know it's mine. 

TGIF: Dream Weekend

TGIF! Wait!? It's Friday?! Where has the week gone? I have so much to do!!! With the first day of school approaching quickly, it seems a bit overwhelming. I don't even know what kids I'm working with yet! At one of my schools I have a huge classroom, at the other no space at all. It will work out. It WILL work out.

One reason I am super-duper excited it is indeed Friday is because today we meet our "Host Student" from Malaysia. The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire has the awesome "Host Friend" program that pairs new international students with people (friends) in the community. Casandra will stay with us this weekend before moving into the dorms. Throughout the year, we'll be a community resource for her as needed... Dinner at our house here, maybe a trip down to the Mississippi there....We hope that we help her get a good idea of what the USA is all about! We pick her up at 11pm tonight from the airport just minutes from our house. It will be a her first time in the US. We even get to hold a sign with her name on it! Greg is excited for that part!

If we could take Casandra anywhere this weekend, maybe we would take here... Acadia National Park, Maine. Greg and I have never been. Isn't it beautiful?

On Monday we will take her here: Oak Ridge Dormitory on UWEC's campus. This will be Casandra's home this next year. Isn't it beautiful?

Wednesday Wisdom

Wednesday Wisdom

This week has been overwhelming. Between learning about new health insurance options, retirement planning, filling out forms, and the new Eau Claire Area School District's teacher handbook I've also been trying to get ready for the kids that I will be teaching and prepare the space in which that will happen. YIKES. Much easier said than done, I need to remember this verse.... Right now I'm not sure how all the pieces will fall into place, but I have faith that they will. 

*Source

Menu Monday: 8/13-8/17

Menu Monday

Monday: Out of this World Lasagna (Leftovers for lunch and the freezer!)

Tuesday: Grilled Chicken Salad

Wednesday: Shrimp Green Curry

Thursday: Spicy Sausage,Kale, and Potato Soup (more leftovers!)
Friday: Who knows?!!?
Saturday: Happy 5th Anniversary to us!

This week I go back to the real world. Well... sort of. I have 3 days of workshops, plus a day of planning with one of my teaching teams. Today I met with my mentor for the first time and saw one of the buildings in which I'll be teaching. I still don't know what students I'll be working with, or my schedule, but I'm beginning to get started. 

My mentor Tiffany Hall. Click here for her bio!

Tonight's dinner was all about leftovers! Greg and I really needed to make something that could be frozen for go to lunches when we run out! Tonight's lasagna made 3 lunches for this week and 7 frozen portions divided into 5 lunches and 1 dinner for two! The recipe came to us from our friend Melanie via the internet.  I did not take any pictures, but here is the amazing recipe!

Out of This World Spicy Lasagna!

*Source, and Pictures

*You could make this ahead of time and freeze the whole thing!

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 chopped red onion
• 4 chopped cloves of garlic
• 3 Thai Chilles (chopped) (Optional!)
• 2 pounds spicy sausage
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes in tomato puree
• 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves (sweet or Thai)
• Add other fresh herbs too (sage, fennel, cilantro) if you want too!
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 pound whole wheat lasagna noodles (about ¾ of a box)
• 15 ounces ricotta cheese
• 8 ounces creamy goat cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup grated Parmesan, plus 1/4 cup for sprinkling
• 2 eggs
• 1 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced

1)       Heat oil, sauté onion, garlic and chille until soft.

2)     Add sausage and brown.

3)     Add tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, basil, simmer for 15-20 minutes.

4)     In Separate bowl: Mix together Ricotta, goat cheese, parmesan, parsley and eggs.

5)     In Separate bowl: Put noodles in HOT tap water until soft

To Assemble in 9x13 glass dish:  1/3 Sauce, 1/2 noodles, 1/2 mozzarella, 1/2 cheese mixture,  1/3 Sauce, 1/2 noodles, 1/2 mozzarella, 1/2 cheese mixture, 1/3 sauce, extra parmesan cheese.

Bake @ 400°:  Covered for 40 minutes, uncovered for 10, Under the broiler for 5 (if needed)

Enjoy!

Wednesday Wisdom

Wednesday Wisdom

*Online Source for picture

Whether you are like Greg and busy at work with more things to do than time in the day…. or you are like me and anxious about starting a new job….or you’re a busy mom trying to juggle it all…. or an Olympic athlete who is feeling the physical and mental pressures of London 2012….. I think this verse can provide you with comfort like it does The MacLeod house.

Welcome!

Welcome to Midwest Girl! Take a chance to read the About Midwest Girl  tab at the top and get to know me a little bit. I’m just getting this blog going so it may look a little bit different each time you come back, until I get it just how I want it to be. Let’s not waste anymore time….

I thought I was going to get to sign my new teaching contract today for the Eau Claire Area School District, but it turned out just to be HR paperwork. Background check, check. Internet Policy, check. Payroll form. CHECK in the bank$! I’ll be back for more paperwork once I get approved by the board.

Some how I knew I needed to get a tiger hawk in on my first post!

I’ll start my fifth year of teaching in August as an elementary special education teacher. After graduating in December 2006 from the amazing University of Iowa I spent my first year and a half subbing (including 3 long term positions) in Minnesota. The 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 school years were spent working at HLWW Middle School as a special education teacher.

Wasn't my class in Bangkok adorable?! They were pretty smart too! This was taken on Loy Krathong, the Thai New Year where everyone wore traditional clothing.  

The 2010/2011 and the beginning part of the 2011 year was when I did a 180 and taught 4/5 year old kindergarten at a small international school in Bangkok, Thailand. Floods came to Thailand though, so we moved back to the US where I began subbing in Wisconsin. One long term turned summer school position in Mondovi, WI, 3 interviews with different schools, 2 job offers, and 1 acceptance later I have a job!!! Can I get a hallelujah?

One of the best parts of my day today was dinner. ..Tonight for dinner I made an amazing summer salad. Not just any salad, but "The Best Salad EVER"~my husband Greg . I know avocadoes are not in season right now (are they ever in season in WI?) but I'll probably be making this one all year: Avocado and Mandarin Orange Salad. Greg and I eat it as a meal.  Recipe is first then some pictures incase the title doesn’t make you hungry enough…

Avocado and Mandarin Orange Salad

*From my mother in law, Cathy who got it via her sister Aunt Barb

Salad

*Put everything together and mix!

½ bag fresh baby spinach chopped
½ bag of iceberg lettuce or any other mix chopped
1 small to medium red onion sliced thin
1 large can mandarin oranges, drained
½ lb(9 slices) bacon, cooked and crumbled (turkey bacon is good too!)
Slivered almonds, toasted
1-2 avocados, sliced into chunks
Romano or Parmesan Cheese

Dressing:

*Combine everything and whisk together.

*I always double up this recipe so I can have extra on hand and because Greg and I eat this every week right now.

¾ C Canola oil or olive oil
¼ C White wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
2-3 tsp poppy seeds
1 tsp dry mustard
1/3 C sugar
½ tsp salt

In the summer I like to get all the ingredients chopped up and ready to go for later assembly. The lime juice bottle is filled with the dressing! Everything can go into the fridge and be taken out right before dinner!

When it's dinner time I dump in the oranges, then the avocado and red onion.

Next comes the chopped turkey bacon (already had on hand) and then top with some Parmesan (do you know why spell checker capitalizes this? ) cheese! So hard not to nibble on thiswhile I was waiting for Greg to get home from his bike ride.

Don't forget the toasted almonds and the dressing for the table. Our meal was rounded out with some delicious sweet corn and a glass of milk.  Seriously this is one of the best salads ever!

I hope you enjoyed this first post. More to come next week! I'm off for a bike ride, then packing for my weekend in IOWA!