Happy Tuesday!

First! Make sure you all catch my feature from this morning on Shawni from A Spoonful of Love here!

I am having a really great day, today! So far, I have just been at school, and I DO have class tonight, but I am still pretty chipper :) I just spent a good amount of time catching up on blogs and getting that infamous Google Reader bold number down to zero. It's one of my favorite things to be able to read excellent posts and "star" them to check out again, later! Especially when it comes to the 2398 vegan/vegetarian blogs I am subscribed to ;)

Here are just a few of the posts I have starred since I began using Google Reader. I am a huge fan of finding new recipes and trying things out, so that's mostly what they are:

I am really excited to try out the these three most recent of my starred posts: "How to make brown sugar," "Pumpkin pizza," and "zucchini and chickpea burgers!" I am lucky that Nick is so open to trying whatever I make, even if it's a bite or two. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was talking a lot about Sophie Kinsella and her Shopaholic series. Well, I finally finished it, and the final book was just as great as the previous five, and the end leave plenty of room for a seventh book, so I am really excited! After I finished that book, in about three days, I started on one of the other Madeline Wickham (Sophie Kinsella's pseudonym) books I own but haven't read: Sleeping Arrangements.

The book was pretty good, but not what I was expecting from SK. However, I would still recommend it :) 

Also: I am teaching The Crucible to my AA kids, as I said last week, and they are really struggling with it. However, this is the first time I have read it at all, and I am loving it. I think it's really eerie and perfect for the fall season - and it's really interesting! We are also watching the 2004 film version alongside it, to make sure that the kids are understanding what they are reading. 

Lastly - Petsmart called today to formally offer me the spot in.... their groom shop! It was between that and Pet Care, which is their umbrella term for the part of the store that deals with fish, birds, reptiles, etc. and while I would have accepted it graciously, I was really hoping for the groom shop position. This means I get to work with puppies - every day! I am SO excited, since animals would totally be my profession if I weren't teaching. Yay!! 

Hope you all have a lovely Tuesday, I am off to mail Jaelynn from Pardon My Ffrench a thank you package for sponsoring me this month! 

<3 S

Saturday Haps and Sunday Letters

I still never remembered the second story that I wanted to post about yesterday. Big surprise. I had the posts all planned out in my head. Where I would research, etc. And POOF! Just like that. Half of it gone.

Today has been fantastic so far. Nick, Guillermo, and I stayed in bed until about noon, then we made our way (minus one puppy) to brunch, and then to Kroger. We were out of a lot of puppy essentials, so that trip ended up being a little more than we [Nick] wanted it to be, but so is life. Life with a puppy son. While we were at Kroger, I also picked up a few fresh raspberries, strawberries, and... these!! For the homemade guacamole recipe I shared with you oh-so-long ago. Check out the full post here!

Here's the recipe again if you're curious. Nick says it's better than Chipotle's :)

2 avocados, diced

1 small tomato, diced

1/3 of a red onion, diced

1 tsp (or more!) of diced chilis

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp salt and pepper

1 tbsp fresh cilantro

1/2 of a lime, squeezed

Accompany with your favorite (corn) tortilla chips! Yum!

We ended up not going to the homecoming game like I had originally planned last night, and instead went to the Hofbrauhaus for dinner with our friend Kas. I had a plain old salad and their potato pancake (omg yum) and Nick had some delicious looking meat-filled club. I still haven't gotten him to go off of meat ;) I was the DD since I haven't been able to warm up to alcohol again since my birthday (yes, folks, this was back in July). I just can't bring myself to enjoy the taste. STILL. Unless it's wine.

Anyway, after dinner, we scooped up Guillermo and went to another friend's house for a bonfire. Guillermo had so much fun relaxing on my lap in front of the warm fire. And he looked oh-so-cute in his sweater :)

I also painted my nails yesterday! I haven't done this in SOLONG. I used one of my favorites - 'Navy Baby' by Sally Hansen. It's from the SALON Nail Lacquer line, and it's amazing. It goes on perfectly in one coat and lasts forever. The only downside is that if you don't use a base coat (and sometimes even when you do) it can stain your nails pretty badly. 

~~~~

Sunday Letters

This week's letter goes to my parents! 

Dear Mom and Dad, 

You guys are probably the best parents a girl could ask for. I can't imagine having a better childhood. I always had everything I could ever want (you could say I was spoiled) and until Tony came along, you guys were my best friends. THEN I got a brother and a baby sister out of the deal! I can't say how thankful I am for them - and you! You guys have always helped me whenever I needed it - especially lately. Thanks for that. You're the first one's I go to for advice or when I'm upset, and I don't think I could ask for better psychologists ;) I love you guys SOMUCH. Thanks for being the best :) 

Love,

Stephanie.

Happy Sunday, everyone! Hope Monday is just as good! xoxo Stephanie

Wednesday Wonders v.2

This is the second time I have done this post, so let me know what you guys think! I also want to say: Thank you SO MUCH to all of my new followers and readers. I hope you stick around and leave a comment! I always reply, so don't feel weird!! <3

ALSO! There was a HUGE positive response about yesterday's Bloggin' Ladies post. THANK YOU Mandy! Your participations means so much, and you are fantastic. I will definitely continue this feature every week!

That being said.... here are this Wednesday's Wonders!

1. LOVE this little desktop. Nick sent this to me through an email 

one day, and that day was instantly made better. Duh?

2. This magnet that Nick and I got from Nick's grandma. I love the

colors, the vintage, and I love birds.

4. This collector's set of Harry Potter books. I have all of the books

already, but I have been longing for this particular set

for SOLONG.

5. This set of goulashes. RED goulashes. I love red (which you

all know) and if these were in my life, I would be the happiest

girl alive.

6. This silly, amazing picture of The Dude from 

The Big Lebowski. Need I say more?

7. Sea lions? OF COURSE I love them. These are SOCUTE.

Another boyfriend email, of course.

8. This is my FAVORITE screen saver on my Kindle 2. 

Confession: Sometimes when this comes on, I won't read for days

so that I can keep seeing it. Weird, I know.

9. I can't remember what I was searching for, but this was a result 

on weheartit. I love the colors, the design, the art. Yum.

10. This sketch of a vintage record player/house/thing! It's so pretty! 

Don't forget to check me out on Facebook and Bloglovin'! Thank you everyone for stopping by, and don't forget to follow! <3


**images from weheartit

Monday!

Today went really fast at school, and I realized that tuition was due today, so I got really worried about my MIA loan check. I was so worried that Holly made me leave early to go down to UC and check out the situation. Thankfully, everything was okay, and it should be here within the next week. I spent a lot of time in the line, however, at the Pavillion, waiting for my turn with a counselor. Luckily! I had my trusty Kindle with me to keep me busy :)

Then, when I got home, Guillermo and I took a quick walk. Nick and I are trying to train him to go outside for pottying. A little late, I know, but better late than never? We wanted to wait until his little sprained leg healed, but it is looking like that's going to be a longterm thing. No matter how hard we try to keep him immobile, he is a puppy and can't seem to stay off his foot! We are hoping that it heals soon. This is what we spend a couple of hours this afternoon doing:

The kids' research papers were due today, of course I only got about a third of them, but that was enough to keep us (I say us as if Guillermo did any more than keep me company ;) ) busy from two to four today.

Then! I got a phone call from UC saying they want to set up an interview for their telephones next week. This is a god send because it's a 3-9 hour per week situation, and I can (potentially) keep Family Video. I have been getting $50 paychecks, and this is simply not getting the job done. Unfortunately, this means that I am going to have to live off of my loan refund money this quarter (or more) and I really didn't want to do that. Oh, well. Hopefully I get this little second job and it will help out a lot! On the same note, I should be getting paid out for all of the hours I have spent on OGT tutoring this quarter, and that will help a lot, too. Speaking of which, I have had a few more students attending these sessions, which is great! It is nice when this happens because these are kids that really want to learn and actually put effort in during these three hours per week. So refreshing.

I will leave you kiddos with some pictures from last night, and another post is to come - the Autumn feature :) Check back later tonight for that, and don't forget to support me by clicking the little "follow" button at the top of the page! Thanks, all!!

<3

Playlists and puppies :)

Today went really fast at school, and it was not that bad, even! There were a few attitudes here and there, but that’s to be expected at West High, I suppose. Although third bell was very talkative and I left with a head ache! On that same note, I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping, lately. The last three or four nights, whenever I lay down for bed or just a nap with the pup, I can’t fall asleep. Any suggestions? I have a can of this at home:

And I was considering giving that a try. Perhaps I should cut caffeine out of my diet altogether?

Unfortunately, this is sometimes the only reason I can stay awake at school!

In light of my recent inability to fall asleep, I thought I would create a little calming playlist to play on lazy days.

Also, some recent (yesterday) pictures of the puppy. :) He is currently barking at me to take him outside/play tug/otherwise entertain him. Guess I better get to it! Back tomorrow or later tonight with a “what’s in my bag?” post!

xoxo

S