Blue Jeans and a Good Hair Day

Inspired by Gretchen Rubin's book, The Happiness Project, I know there is pleasure to be found in writing what makes one happy - even if it's just one sentence (or photo) a day.  Thus, starts a Friday ritual of mine - to document the good in every day, through words and pictures.   

"5 years. 365 days. 1825 happy moments captured."

I almost refrained from completing my 'blue jeans' post this week, because 1) quite frankly, this was one of the worst weeks in my memory, and 2) I'm a little exhausted from trying to save my school.  But, I realize tonight as I lay in bed, covers up to my chin, trying to reflect on the three longest days in the history of my professional life, that those tiny details of happiness are the most important when they're strewn through the hardest of days.  It's like that out of the blue kiss from Cruz on the walk into daycare means a whole lot more when you're facing unemployment.  And amidst the roller coaster of emotions this week has caused, there has been so much good sprinkled through the anger, frustration, and sadness --- like good in the form of an end-of-the-day dance party in the English Office thanks to Andrew's salsa video, or a note left on my desk that says 'We love you, Mrs. J,' or bonding on a whole new level with one amazing group of colleagues (aka, lunch with Shelley two days in a row, why not three?).  Because if I've learned anything this week, it's when something you love is put under attack, you stay really present to these moments that will forever leave an imprint on your life.

Oh yea, and you fight like hell, too.    

Saturday: Putting Cruz to sleep. He went down super easy tonight to the sounds of my humming and softly rubbing his temples. Nothing more peaceful than this picture.  The calm before the storm...

Sunday: Charly’s 2nd birthday party. A beautiful February day, yummy egg bake and birthday cake, painting pottery, and Cruz riding behind Charly on her brand new trike! He put his arms around her waist and held on just like he’s supposed to. Charly was thrilled!

Great Grandma is one popular lady!

 

Monday: The Little Dump Truck. Cruz’s favorite book right now, and the only book that doesn't get boring reading over and over (and over again).

Tuesday: When all else fails, spend an hour on Pinterest. What a day!

Wednesday: Seeing a group of over 600 pull together just one hour after President Allen announced he was going to attempt to close our school.  600 wise, dedicated, and relentless fighters who have one chance to raise their children.  The passion and persistence was inspiring to me as a new parent, and when I wasn't sobbing, I was ready to stand firm in the fight that was about to take place. 

Thursday: Believe it or not, the snow. At 3:30, I received a text from Beau--- “You should take pictures of this snow.” For the first time all day, I looked outside my windows and it was gorgeous.  Big, plump snowflakes fell in a still sky and seemed to put a blanket on the ugliness of the day.

So, for just a few minutes after school, we forgot about the stress and played.

Friday:  A show-stopping rally walk to campus in support of Quality Teacher Education, aka, Price Lab School.  And...the hope I felt afterwards.

 

Hoping for happy things (and award winning chili) this weekend.

Little Chili Pepper

Today, I feel like Gumby.  After a whirlwind weekend of Friday night cleaning and grading, a Saturday of running and hosting friends from out of town, and a Sunday away at the 9th Annual Toads Chili Cook-On, I feel like I was stretched in about a million different directions this weekend.  Last night, I started feeling sick and ended my weekend shivering from chills under a pile of blankets.  Fortunately, Cruz was worn out too, and the three of us were in bed by 9:00.  And although I probably should have listened to my hubby and opted for a sick day today, I'm picking my foggy head off my desk and attempting to make this week count.  Just two weeks 'til Spring Break...

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

And although it seems I'm nursing one crazy weekend hangover this morning, it was a good one.  A weekend that included a trip to the mall with Mom and Cruz, where Cruz held his very own bottle BY HIMSELF in his stroller while his mama scored all kinds of amazing deals at Younkers.  A weekend that included the most phenomenal roast beef sandwich at Newton's Cafe in Downtown Waterloo, followed by a night of board games and baby time with great friends.  A weekend that included some Dash and Jersee time, a handmade chili pepper shirt, and 27 different chilis.

 

Beau had lots of people come out to support his quest for his fourth consecutive win in the 'People's Choice' category of the Chili Cook-ON.  His unique, 'Farter Starter,' chili is getting quite a name for itself, as we heard it referred to over the loudspeaker several times throughout the day.  It's no surprise that Beau took away medals for 'First Pot Gone,' as well as, 'Best Presentation.'  After waiting in line for what seemed like hours, I didn't even get to sample my hubby's creation.  I guess it was more fun to hang out with our little marketing campaign anyways...

 

Unfortunately, Beau's chili did not reign supreme.  The Farter Starter came in 2nd place to Big Al's Chili, a close competitor the last few years.  If it weren't for those bacon-topped sticky buns...

We are still proud of our chili con questodore.  Cruz and I dig your chili.

 

 

 

 

My Autumn Fix

It's here.  The crispiness of a welcomed cold front after a perfect late summer rain.  The small of a pumpkin spice candle illuminating from a sparkly clean countertop.  Zucchini bread baking at 325.  Little twinkling lights in between gold, burnt orange, and olive green garland.  A slow cooker full of tortellini, marinara, and Italian sausage. 

Fall found its way into my house last night.  I love how a simple lit candle motivates me to clean the kitchen, fill the crockpot, and bake bread.  I love how a 65 degree high in September moves everyone to break in their blue jeans and sweaters, but a 65 degree high in April is matched with shorts, tank tops, and flip flops.  It's one of the reasons I relish in Iowa's four seasons.  We never quite have a chance to take a season for granted.  It makes the first bike ride of spring, the first ear of sweet corn of summer, the first football game of fall, and the first cozy movie night of winter better...

and better...

and better...

I know I always say this, but fall is my favorite season.  I think I like it for its simplicity.  Summer is busy, Christmas is expensive, and spring is too short, but fall is just right. 

Fall is an oven-baked pot roast, complete with carrots, potatoes, and a glass of Chardonnay. 

Fall is a pan of homemade, melt-in-your-mouth, chocolate chip cookies, fresh out of the oven on a Saturday afternoon, with the sounds of the Iowa Hawkeyes filling the space in the background.

Fall is the crunch crunch crunch of leaves under shoes.

The warmth of a cinnamon spiced cappuchino from Kwik Star.

The first roaring fire, 

and the look of three pumpkins placed perfectly on the front porch. 

And with every new season, comes a wish list.  Mine is a little lengthy this year...  

1. Make every recipe from the William Sonoma Comfort Food Classic Cookbook…and make my dishes look as good as the pictures in the book!
2. Plant some mums in place of my dead summer flowers
3. Begin a love affair with The Pioneer Woman. I have a feeling we could be great friends.
4. Eat lots of Honeycrisp Apples. In breads, and cakes, and pies, with peanut butter, and caramel…
5. Find a super cool Halloween costume for our new little pumpkin
6. Make banana bars with cream cheese frosting that runs picture perfect off the edges
7. Sit on the deck on a Sunday morning with a newspaper and a mug of cider
8. Snoop around in some gift shops
9. Hibernate under tents of blankets and sheets, chairs and chip clips
10. Build a fire and snuggle
11. Pumpkin bread
12. Have breakfast for dinner
13. Carpet picnic and movie date night
14. Road trip to Northeast Iowa with Baby J in tow. Cozy blankets, a stroller ride, leaves, wine, and apples!
15. Keep crocheting
16. Marshmallow popcorn and True Blood...it's morbid how much I love this show
17. Hooded sweatshirts, a mittened hand clenching a Styrofoam cup of cocoa, and a chilly football game
18. Bake an apple crisp…or two.
19. Clean out my junk drawer
20. Wild rice soup. Chicken tortilla soup. Beau’s chili.
21. Make s’mores by the fire…outdoor or indoor
22. A new pair of pajamas and a new pair of mukluks
23. Fresh flannel sheets
24. Go to a pumpkin patch…for real.
25. Decorate with hay bales…real hay bales
26. A-corn squash with so much brown sugar and butter
27. Dinner in a pumpkin
28. Drink lots of pumpkin spice cappuccinos
29. Take Baby J trick-or-treating (and eat all of his candy corn)
30. Eat Pepsi roast…all the time
31. Lay around in pajamas and snuggle with our little one all day
32. Spend an afternoon at Heartland Farms
33. A dinner-and-movie theater date night, pre-Baby J, complete with buttery popcorn and lots of candy stuffed in my purse.
34. Make caramel apples for the first time
35. Game night! Potluck style.
36. Hold my baby.  Rock my baby.  Pat his footed-sleepered little butt as he snuggles in close.  Bundle him up with pretty blue blankets and take a walk around the neighborhood.

Tonight, we devoured a crockpot of Beau's famous, Hall of Fame Chili and finished the third season of True Blood.  Check and check!