Winter Break

A much needed two week vacation in Colorado following my first ever semester teaching. A picture is worth 1,000 words, so here's an Epic for you:

TP gets these every year....and for some reason, this was the first year I actually tried them.
WHY DID I NOT DO THIS EARLIER!?!?!?!

 (Answer: I would weigh 900lbs)

Celebrating the end of the semester!

Is this not the coolest bottle ever?

 OMG! They have NB earrings! (Update: and apparently NB is coming to AL next year!!!!!!!!)

 Teacher Christmas Haul...hahaha

 Beautiful sunset in Colorado Springs

 Christmas Day deer...on an amazing hike with TP

 Some of my favorite boys...before a fun night of dancing

 Insane Christmas displays

 Like seriously!?

 For TP

 Fun with guns :)

 Nothing hotter than TP with a handgun ;) Except for maybe TP in his flight suit with a handgun

 Beautiful Monument, CO

 Snooze....

 This is what I imagine heaven to be like

 Dinner date in Old Town with my braja

 Not even one good smile

 Pup pup on her annual doc checkup...not a happy pup pup

 My brother works near them...and goes here all the time. I am insanely jealous. 

 Bowling...we were swimmers for a reason

 Insane Colorado sky...I miss this place

Life

Life has been busy...so instead, some photos:

Happy Halloween! Mine is the one with the crooked smile...third from the right. 

 "Campfire Marshmallows"

 Nerdy science things

 New class pet...Daisy

 Overcast days are the best days for long drives and nature

 How cute does TP look?

 Brunch at Five...omg amazing

 Mitosis under the microscope

 HeLa Cell Chromosome Splat

Mama Hill

First week of school

So I know this is only like a month late...but some shots of the first few days of school!

You better believe I have a Colorado flag hanging on my wall...right where everyone can see it!

 Thanks to TP for helping make it (it's a bulletin board!)

All the first day of school materials laid out...OCD much?

Alright....so this picture.  My classes made lab safety posters and this one was for "Handle all animals with care".....

Honestly this month has flown by so incredibly fast it's not even funny.  I've been pretty busy just trying to stay ahead of my classes.  Someday I'll get on top of my posting...

Said no teacher ever...

Summary of my week...

A Pep Talk

"Create something that makes this world awesome"

I'm all growed up

First day of work today!

It went really well.  I got up wayyyy earlier than I needed to (after having gone to bed way later than I should have), and then decided to leave super early to get to our district-wide staff meeting. I sure am glad I did, 'cause it took me 20 minutes to get to the school and another 25 just to park.

Our guest speaker was Erin Gruwell, the teacher that Freedom Writers is based on. She was so so motivational and inspirational.  Just what I needed to kick off my first year of teaching!

I bought the original book, and she autographed it for me! I even got a picture with her =)

Afterwards we had a school staff meeting which was super embarassing.  My interview process was compared to a Bachelor episode, complete with me accepting a t-shirt (the principal didn't have a rose at the time). Bright red cheeks aside, everyone was super friendly and I am so excited for this year!
 

Fried chicken

I'm about to officially start my teaching career...with a week of professional development. I'm nervous and excited, but also wondering where the hell summer has gone. It can't be August already!

That being said, I've been eating out like...every day...since moving here. When classes start, I'll only have a 25 minute lunch, which means there is no way I'm going to be able to run to Jimmy Johns or Chickfila. Soo...it looks like I'm going to have to make myself some meals. 

In honor of my new hometown, we're starting off with (Baked) Fried Chicken.  I went with the healthier baked version found here, just to make myself feel a little bit better about not working out after eating this. 

(Baked) Fried Chicken

Prep Time
35 min

Bake Time
40 min

Total Time
1hr 15min

Ingredients

3-4 chicken breasts 1/2 c all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tbsp seasoned salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1 tsp paprika 1/8 c butter Buttermilk

Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts in a bowl of buttermilk.  Cover and let soak for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
   
   
2. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees Farenheit.
3. Combine flour, salt, seasoned salt, pepper and Paprika in a large bowl.
   
   
4. Cut 1/4c butter into a few pieces and pop in the microwave for 30 seconds to completely melt. 
5. Pour melted butter in a 9 x 13-inch pan. Be sure to cover the entire bottom of the pan.
6. Shake excess buttermilk off of the chicken, and dip into flour mixture. Be sure to coat each piece thoroughly.
7. Place each piece of chicken in pan.
   
   
8. Bake for 20 minutes. 
9. Remove pan from oven and turn each piece of chicken over.
10. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until cooked through (170 degrees Farenheit).
    
    
11. Enjoy! Best if served with grape soda. Or better yet, wine