cheese please

this is how it went: our friend Josh was in town from California so we wanted to show him a real good salt lake city time. it was a perfect spring evening and there was a free concert at the Gallivan Center. sure, why not. nothing to lose. We go, we see a large group of teens in yellow and black pimp suits playing jazz music. zonk. we start to dance a little for fun and a lady whips over to us and begs us to dance on the stage below the performers in front of the crowd. She's obviously desperate to excite the event as we learn she's kinda running the gig. We are hesitant but after promises of free cheese and drinks Heather and Josh agree. They dance. We laugh. We share a few boxes of cheese and crackers. 

the end.

After, we hit Red Iguana II for dinner.

Then Sonic for treats cause I have a 2 year old gift card. Sonic on me everyone!

Lumpy's for late night dancing.

How bout that?

May classroom

I came back from off-track and was feeling lots of love during Teacher Appreciation! The PTA treated us so well and I received some sweet notes and treats from the students. Still looking for someone to take to Cold Stone...takers?

The bulletin board is the students illustration of their mom's portrait and a filled out questionnaire about their mom.
We made a simple card that was the easiest idea I saw on pinterest.

Wore these pants and was asked A FEW TIMES "Hey Miss Metcalf, did you get new pajama pants?"  Doh!

 

The first grade teachers have to rotate classrooms when we go off-track so I've been in 4 classrooms this year. I scored this round because I finally got a room with WINDOWS! So thrilled. I haven't closed the blinds once. Natural light. 

 

We are learning about Life Cycles through Butterflies. 10 little caterpillars arrived on Friday and we will be watching them grow and change into a chrysalis and then a butterfly and then we'll let them go. This unit makes my classroom real pretty too.

prom

Lezlie teaches at a very small junior high/high school charter school in Salt Lake City and was in charge of prom this year. She had a few of us help out and we were more than willing. It was a small prom, maybe 70 kids and we were eating it UP! Lezlie would tell us all the juicy gossip on everyone and we couldn't get enough of the outfits, dance moves, and just watching them interact. DJ Chase (the guy kinda lookin like justin biebs in the classy picture) was also the gift of the night. Playing all the hits and only $100 for the night. We're hoping to hire him for a party this year, cause, of course. When the prom ended a lot of the teens stayed around to help clean up, it was really great overhearing them talk. Once they left we sat in chairs and talked to Lezlie about all the kids cause we were just so fascinated. Take us back to prom!

and we did buy a packet of pictures. wallet size anyone?

spring rolls with ma' girls

 

 

 

5/16/12

Roommate revival deja vu, right?! 

We decided we'd better do it again the following week. Last Wednesday we did spring rolls. It was too much fun creating new combinations for each spring roll we made that we wanted to keep eating but. just. couldn't. do. one. more. It was so good. I forget every time how spring rolls are easy and quick. No brainer dinner.

Our fill-ins:
kiwi
sweet potato
mango
raspberries
carrots
spinach
mint
basil
shrimp
avocado
rice noodles

I've blogged about Spring Rolls over at Nova, if you want to see more ideas.

 Also, I make everyone I'm with listen to War of the Roses from the Seattle kiss 106.1 morning show that I still listen to even though I live in Salt Lake City. I actually look forward to my morning commute cause of it. Listen HERE. How good are Maggie and Kimberly's expressions? We were trippin.

"the light which shineth"

painting by Katherine Sandoz

I had a bad week 2 weeks ago. It went like this:

+laptop crashed and 12,000+ photos GONE
+car problems mean $100+ here and another $2,700+ there. Guh
+new watch, broken. wah.
+possibility of a job change, then a call saying it wasn't going to happen. crushed
+looking for a new house to rent, proving to be let down after let down.
+my remote car keys both broken making that an almost $200 fix
+and sometimes I get overwhelmed with nova granola, which is actually only a good thing because that means business

sob. sob.

It's all cool now. Things get better. I have my laptop back and I learned a lesson in backing up important stuff. My car runs smooth. I bought a new watch. The new job might actually swing my way again. We'll find a house to rent eventually. My car keys are a go! Nova orders are made and I love doing it. I survive.

wanna know what felt good? reading this:
Doctrine & Covenants 88 verses 6-13

 7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.

 8 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;

 9 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;

 10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.

 11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;

 12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—

sunday rundown

4/20/12

parents were in town this weekend (roof raise)

>>Sunday Dinner<<

salmon, flank steak, homemade rolls, fruit platter, fingerling potatoes, asparagus

>>Dessert<<

homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and strawberry ice cream

>>An after dinner walk, a round of Uno Attack, and a movie called The First Grader*.<<

*you should see The First Grader if you haven't. Based on a true story. And I double like it cause the teachers name is Jane and I teach first grade.

TAL Live

4/10/12

This American Life Live!

I went to a movie theater with some friends to see Ira Glass and performers do a live showing of This American Life. It was just as good to SEE as it is to listen to. Ira Glass is a talent and I was suuuuper happy that David Sedaris did an act. A comedian, Tig Notaro, did an act that I think was my favorite of the show. She has a podcast too called Professor Blastoff which I'm hoping is as funny as her standup was.
There was a rad dance company that performed too.
I'm gonna stop. I usually don't type this many words on a blog. I hope you can find a way to watch this one. 

roommate revival

4/9/12

Maggie has moved back to Utah and it's been too long since we've been back together as roommates (miss you Teen). We decided to make dinner and brave some sushi rolling at Kimberly's place. We tried My New Root's Quinoa Spring Sushi. And guess what?! It was easy and delicious!!
We had a nice big bowl of kiwi+mango+cantaloupe, a side of shrimp, and edamame to snack.

For dessert we had coconut ice cream. I'll stop there. bam.

We all agreed...sushi at home is possible and exciting!

birthday wishin

I turn 27 on June 7th. 

What better reason to daydream about things I want. 

It's pretty routine...black things, food things, things with studs, things that are meant for men, and things for summer. Bam time.

edible selby book

jet pens gel ink set 0.4mm

jack spade hamburger tote

black on black watch

diamond girl earrings

zara stud sandals 

american flag sweatshirt

norse store sunglasses

Birthday Date for a Sister

4/26/12 

Salt Lake City 

It was my older sister's birthday over the weekend, so Egan and I took her to City Creek as a gift from my mom (who's in Seattle) and dined her and clothed her. Then my California sisters wanted in, so we had Annie pick out a plant at Harmon's and a treat at TCBY. It was a fun way for everyone to be involved in celebrating Annie.

*Bonus! Ran in to favorite friend Missy where she was working at Jcrew

**And good job BIL Kenyon for pulling off the surprise