A Little Spring Fever...

Okay...I'm officially sick of winter. Remember those posts, a couple months ago, when I was embracing the pretty snow, flickering fires, and cozy nights at home? The posts when I felt lucky to live in a place with the changing seasons? Well...I realize that was written at a time when the snow was still new. Now...

months,

inches,

and wind chills later...

I'm ready for winter to thaw.

The winter is officially mocking me.

So, as I sit hear tonight watching the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies, piled under blankets, blowing my runny nose and nursing my chapped lips, I'm drifting to a land that is sand, sun, and surf. A land where my skin is tanned, body is warm, and mind is relaxed. I'm drifting to a bali bed, a good book, and a frozen drink in hand. I'm drifting to sundresses, sunglasses, and real, Mexican guacamole.

Life in the dead of winter...

Just another snow day...

KWWL://PriceLabNUHighSchool: No CLASSES TODAY

Receiving this text message is possibly one of the best ways to wake up on a cold, blustery, winter morning. My bed feels a little warmer after this text. My pillow a little softer. It's the word 'relief' in a very big way.

Although we are now rearranging our schedule at school to account for the many snow days we've had, I'll graciously accept a snow day anytime. It's an opportunity to relax and put some much needed check-marks on my to-do list.

Today, my snow day went a little like this...

wake up. stayed in pajamas. powdered donuts. chocolate milk. saved by the bell. today show. online shopping. talked to mom on the phone. cleaned living room. lit candles. cleaned coat closet. sorted kitchen cabinets. bubble bath. graded papers. food network. facebook. shopping on main street. made monster cookies. crock pot french dip. blogging. american idol. played with camera. hung out with beau.

MY.KIND.OF.DAY

Feline Frenzy

Beau surprised me with a new camera last weekend. Yes, he spoils me. I think this means he has finally accepted the fact that he will never escape my family's obsession with pictures. I've been eyeing the Canon Rebel since our wedding in 2007. Yes, they are big, bulky, and not exactly purse-friendly; however, they are perfect for someone who prefers natural light in pictures. The auto-focus and zoom are amazing! My favorite part, however, has to be the shutter lens. I can take about 20 pictures in a matter of seconds. The camera also comes equipped with HD movie maker capabilities (if only I could figure out how to play them).

Needless to say, I've been experimenting. A LOT. So far, my cat, Jade, has been a purrrrfect model. She may be scared of my vacuum cleaner, blow drier, and Ugg boots, but point a big, black, gun-like device a foot from her face, and my kitty turns into a model for the cover of Fancy Face. I must say, the camera (and the photographer) love her!

Dear John

I love going to movies in the theater. The excitement of the big screen, the coziness of the dark surroundings and intimate seating, and of course, the taste of buttery popcorn and crisp Cherry Coke, all work together to create a place of comfort for me. We don't go to movies too often; however, it's always an event I look forward to.

I remember my first theater experience, popcorn clutched tightly in my sweaty hand, crying uncontrollably when Petrie falls off the cliff in 'The Land Before Time.' I remember the crazy, edge-of-your-seat thrill-ride that 'The Departed' created, a three hour movie that seemed to last no longer than an hour. I remember being scared to go to the bathroom during 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose,' or 'Saw,' on Halloween night. And of course, I remember the gorgeous faces of Heath Ledger and Leo, blown across the big screen during 'A Knight's Tale,' and, 'Titanic.' I saw Titanic six times in the theater, thus beginning a deep love affair with Leonardo Dicaprio.

I especially love going to warm, cozy theaters in the dead of winter.

That is, unless you have to wait outside in the dead of winter for tickets to the warm, cozy theater.

This almost became part of our night on Friday when Melanie, Drea, and I decided to see 'Dear John.' The show started at 7:15, so we decided to stop by to get our tickets before dinner. At 6:00, we thought we would have plenty of time; however, the ticket lady politely recommended we get there early so we'd be able to sit by each other. So...we decided to skip dinner and walk through the mall instead. We didn't need anything, but browsed the summer shoes at Von Mauer, tried on jewelry at Younkers, and talked together. When we got back to the theater more than a half hour before showtime, the line was clear out the door of the theater!

I've never seen so many women in one place in my life! Luckily, we were the last group able to wait inside the theater. The line stretched beyond the width of the place, both inside and out by the time they let us run to our seats.

The movie was good. Channing Tatum is a beautiful man and Nicholas Sparks did not disappoint with the love story aspect of the film. The acting wasn't phenomenal, the story was predictable, but there was beautiful scenery (in addition to Channing Tatum), a lot of steamy kissing, and of course, lots of crying. Imagine a sold-out theater, full of women, all crying, some literally sobbing. Titanic all over again.

The last five minutes of the movie were the most disappointing. It was one of those movies that ended too quickly. When we left, the line for the 9:30 show was even longer!

Afterwards, we shared our reviews over yummy Old Chicago. It was a fun night with the girls indeed.

Together, we will wait until May to get 'Carrie'd Away for Sex and the City II. We'll have to get dolled up for that one though!

It's February!!!

Today is February 1st, 2010.

That means, sometime this month, I will say hello to my very first niece or nephew!

I can't wait!

Hope for Haiti

"A father to the orphan,

A healer to the broken,

This is our God.

He brings peace to our madness,

And comfort to our sadness,

This is our God.

So call upon His Name,

He is mighty to save,

This is our God.

This is the One we have waited for.

This is the One we have waited for.

Jesus, Lord, & Savior...

This is our God."

-Chris Tomlin

Spiritual "Grub"

Lately, I've been hooked on the ABC show, 'Brothers & Sisters.' It's a Sunday night ritual. Every week, I work hard all afternoon so that at night, I can unwind for a few hours in front of the TV. First, an hour of 'Desperate Housewives,' followed by 'Brothers & Sisters.' I can usually count on two hours of simple entertainment. Not a lot of thought, but that's the beauty in it.

Tonight's episode was different. It not only made me think; it stopped me in my tracks. The character, Kitty, played by Calista Flockhart (aka, Ally McBeal), has been living with Stage 3 Lymphoma. Although it is a fictional show, the realities of cancer are anything but fake. The painful looks of fear, the family's attempt to find normalcy amidst a growing monster, and a desperate plight to fight the uncontrollable are not only realistic, but emotionally heart-breaking.

At the end of the show, Kitty's husband (played by Rob Lowe), decides to step down from his campaign for governor in order to spend more time with his wife and baby. He said something that really stuck with me:

"So many of us go through our days so focused on the goal in front of us, that we forget what's important is right next to us."

I often fall guilty of this quote. I usually consider my drive, work ethic, and ability to self-start a few of my best qualities; however, they sometimes get me in trouble. I get so focused on what I need to do, that I forget what's important. Hobbies that I enjoy. A good book. My family. My relationship with Christ.

There's no doubt about it...in America, people like to be busy. We fill our plates and run through life distracted and blinded by what we think needs to be done. The problem is, we are filling our plates with the wrong 'food.' Food that seems important at the time, yet, will never leave us truly 'nourished.'

"The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it" (John 1:5).

God shows His face in the most unexpected times. Times when the conditions aren't always right. It's not surprising. Born in a stable. Conditions were far from "right." Died next to two criminals on a cross. Conditions were not right. I believe God often chooses the 'unexpected' times to teach us lessons of His grace and peace.

Today at Orchard, Alice Shirey taught about making the Bible and its scripture a routine part of our lives. Keeping with the food metaphor, she said something that really stuck with me.

"If you only choose to have one spiritual meal a week (referring to church), you have an eating disorder."

He is God and He is always there, I just have to look.

Tonight, I'm looking extra hard.

Thank you FlashBackRecovery!

782. 782 files lost in the blink of an eye last Wednesday night. 782 lesson plans, units, activities, worksheets, Power Points, college essays, Masters research, resumes, cover letters, wedding photos, and lists. 782 files and three times the amount of time, energy, and investment. 


782 files lost...


...and, yesterday, 782 files recovered!


Recovered thanks to the guys at FlashDrivePros. Although the website for the company declares a hopeful 94% success rate, to be honest, my hope was dim. Maybe because it sounded too good to be true. Maybe because Best Buy told me I might as well throw the broken and 'crushed' flash drive away. Maybe because I heard horror story after horror story from people with similar experiences the next day at school. Whatever it was, I was not hopeful. But, I had nothing to lose and for $99, it was worth a try.

FlashDrivePros was the best $99 I've ever spent! I sent my flash drive in Thursday and received my files, all 782 files, on Monday afternoon! The process is so smooth, the people I worked with were extremely helpful, and I now have my files saved in three different places! I had no idea anything like this existed, but I will be sure to spread the word!

My vita and credentials, Master's Prospectus, wedding pictures, and teaching career are saved thanks to FlashDrivePros. 


So thank you, all, who listened to my cries for a time machine, or those who shared similar horror stories.

P.S. I am now looking at alternative forms for saving my information.

Gone in a 'Flash'

I believe I may have experienced my first panic attack last night. Beau was gone brewing with the guys and I had plans to get a lot of school work done before my nice, three day weekend. I baked a Tombstone pizza, put on my sweats, and settled in my chair for some unit planning and grade updating (sounds great, I know). My plans for second semester were coming along nicely and I was loving the fact that my weekend 'to-do' list was becoming noticeably smaller.

That is until I decided I was thirsty.

Who knew that the sudden quench for a glass of V8 Splash would end any sense of accomplishment, glory, or confidence? Who knew that the simple brush of my leg on my computer screen would send my laptop tumbling to the floor? Who knew that my computer would land just perfectly on the carpet...just perfectly on my entire teaching career, aka, my flash drive.

I immediately went into panic mode. I gasped. I screamed. I cried. I picked up my broken vessel, the piece of plastic that stored my wedding day slideshow of pictures, my Masters Prospectus, my entire semester of units, worksheets, handouts, and tests, and attempted to bring it back to life. How could something so small, store so much, and suddenly leave you unable to reach it? How could my files just disappear? How could I be so stupid not to back them up???

I desperately searched our desktop computer, looking for anything that might resemble old files, stored data, pieces of the last three years of my life. It seemed everything I found that I had backed up was unimportant. I could piece together just that...pieces; however, knew my winter break work of new unit design was long gone. Vanished. Just...like...that...

Beau was gone. I was home. I proceeded to do what I always do in a predicament. First, I called Beau. Crying hysterically. Next, I called Mom. Crying hysterically. With blue and pink plaid pajama pants, a hooded sweatshirt, and blood-shot eyes, I drove like a madwoman to Best Buy to see if the Geek Squad could give me a glimmer of hope. No dice. No hope. Just a shrug, a 'sorry, there's nothing we can do,' and a piece of broken plastic.

Today, I went to school on three hours of sleep. I arrived at 6:30 AM and was able to salvage a few important files from my recycling bin (good thing I'm not an avid recycler). I vented to my students (who were very concerned), tried to be optimistic, and started retyping the documents I needed to start next semester (which happens to be Tuesday). The loss of sleep is actually affecting my mood in a positive way (or maybe that's from the 'Pants on the Ground' song I can't get out of my head). I also have one glimmer of hope. Hope in the name of FlashBackRecovery.com.

For $99, there is a 94% success rate of retrieving data from a broken flash drive. I will forever be indebted to Ryan, the owner of the Washington company, if he fixes it. His website says he can repair "flash drives broken in two, run over, or soaked in a washing machine cycle." My flash drive is still intact, just a little looser than normal. I tucked little USB in a padded envelope and sent it by priority mail to the West Coast. I will know within 2-5 days if my files were found. I will be on pins and needles until then. Until then, I will also struggle with the decision of starting to redo what I've worked so tirelessly on. Do I risk sacrificing productivity this weekend to hear good news or work to recreate files only to find my files restored? This will be the tune of my weekend.

Wish me luck. Say a little prayer. And a little advice...back up your files :/

A Great Date Night

"Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do - or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so."
~Stanley Crawford

I love unexpected date nights. The last few days, it's been bitterly cold outside. The type of cold that you can feel to your bones. With the holidays, it seems Beau and I have been traveling nonstop: family Christmases, last minute shopping, get-togethers with friends, and Holiday parties. It's been really nice to see everyone; however, the constant eating out, spending money, and snacking on Christmas goodies has been getting to us in more ways than one!

This weekend, we made a pact that we were going to hibernate. Stay in, pile on the blankets, be creative with the food in our pantry, and catch up on some much needed downtime.

Last night was exactly what we needed! Beau had the wild hair to make homemade pizzas, so we went all out. Homemade crust, caramelized onions and baby bella mushrooms, homemade tomato sauce, roasted red pepper, salami, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, pineapple, and sauerkraut. Yes...sauerkraut. I decided to try it.

We poured some wine and decided to drag the pizza-making process out as long as possible (we realize we won't always be able to do this). We had fun playing with our pieces of dough and decorating our personal pans. It wasn't until they were in the oven that we realized our mistake... a thin crust in a personal deep dish pizza pan might not bake properly! Our perfectly looking prebaked pizzas turned into what Beau now calls, "The Deconstructed Crust with a Free Form Pizza Patty!" Sounds great right? Well, it tasted good; however, looked like we dropped it on the floor, picked the remains up with a spoon, and ate it similar to a calzone. Definitely not for an episode of Iron Chef, but we laughed about it for hours!

Let's just say the laughing didn't stop...at least for me. Beau and I decided to test our marriage with a game of Monopoly. We have quite a history with the game. We've only played three or four times; however, it usually ends in disaster. Beau's game plan is simple: attempt to buy as many properties as possible, whether he has money or not. He will teach our future children the 'entrepreneur's version' of Monopoly and I will teach them the 'play it safe and smart' version.

Wanna guess which strategy held out in the end? Not only did I annihilate Beau, who had almost every single property mortgaged, but I ended up with more money than I'd ever made in a game of Monopoly. I won, fair and square, and will rub it in my man's face for days to come! He's been a pretty good sport; however, it's weakened his ego a little bit. I can already tell.

Still praying...

http://www.prayforkate.com/

I'm trying resolutions this year...

Resolution: 1. the act or process of resolving; 2. the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones; 3. determination; 4. the mental state or quality of being resolved; firmness of purpose.

I love making lists. I have lists for weekly meals and groceries. I've started a list of Spring projects and cleaning. And of course, I have my massive weekly to-do lists. So, as I sit here this morning on my final day of Winter Break, I have decided to add one more list to the mix. A list of 2010 resolutions. Now that I have a blog, these resolutions will not only be published for the knowing world to see, but they will stay secure on a place where I can re-visit them a year from now to see how I did.

Here's what I've come up with so far...

1. Be better about acknowledging special occasions – it’s about time I start keeping track of birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones
2. Do a better job of sweet, unexpected surprises for the man that I love.
3. Pray & read the Bible more
4. Read and complete a different book ‘for fun’ each month – First on the list??? Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games
5. Decorate the back wall in my kitchen
6. Stop biting my nails – keep them long enough to get a manicure
7. Finish my Master’s!
8. Start a garden in the summer
9. Stop spending money on 'little things,' and save for 'big things.' I want a new camera, we need a lawn mower, and I'd love to start a 'travel' account!
11. Call a different good friend once a week – just because…
12. Keep blogging

And of course, I must mention the likely additions on everyone's list this year: devise and stick to a workout plan, eat better, pay off debt, and enjoy life!

Some Bubbly at the Bourre`

I think last night might have been my favorite New Year's Eve ever. 14 of us, Chris & April, Jordan & Kelli, Starbuck, Julie, Heiney & Danielle, Jeff & Krista, Mike & Lynette, and Beau and I met at the new Roux Orleans in Waterloo. Our dinner was three hours long! Appetizers included crawfish beignets, entrees included chicken parmesan and prime rib, and I finished the meal with an amazing creme brulee`.

After dinner, we went downstairs to the Bourre` Lounge. It's a beautiful bar/lobby in the old Black's Building in downtown Waterloo. It was fancy. They had a band, Sugarfoot, that started playing at 10. They were some of the regular worship band members at Orchard! They were very fun. Luckily, Julie, Jordan, and Chris had an urge to dance, so we cut a rug on the dance floor a good part of the night.

It was so cold out (well below zero), so I and my fellow skirt wearers were just fine staying warm in the same place all night. It wasn't until Chris P. decided it was a good idea to brush elbows with Darin Beck and get us bottle service. Our party became VIPs for the rest of the night!

I took a lot of pictures!

Goodbye 2009

As we say goodbye to 2009, and await the arrival of the two thousand TEENS, it's important to reflect on the past year. God has blessed Beau and I with another great year for the books.

We rang in 2009 with a bottle of spilled champagne at Chris and April's. We had so much fun, we are doing it again, only this year, out on the town in style.

We welcomed the arrival of spring and warm weather with a party at our place. It was a blast. Memories include beer pong, a putting green, Rihanna's 'Live your Life,' a 'Soulja Boy' dance class (self-taught), and a rendition of 'Biffteck,' a French-inspired tribute to steak with sombreros (thank you Starbuck!).

I got to be part of a great friend, Drea's wedding in May. It was a gorgeous day outside and we had a blast getting dressed up, taking pictures, and dancing! Shaune and Drea are not only great friends, but great neighbors, living just a street away from us.

Mom and Dad watched their baby accept his diploma and graduate from high school. After 28 years (is that right?) of homework help, choir concerts, and washing sports uniforms, they became empty nesters in the blink of tear filled eyes.

I had a great year with a fantastic group of sophomores at NU High. In my first full year of teaching, I learned more from them than they could have ever learned from me.

We had a lot to celebrate in June. The completion of my first full year of teaching, our 2nd anniversary, and Beau's 28th birthday. So much, we decided we needed to celebrate in Mexico. We bravely ignored the swine flu pandemic talk and settled for a week in an all-inclusive, beach front room in the Riviera Maya.

Summer 2009 stands out as one of the best summers I've had. Beau and I cooked A LOT. We conquered the easy summertime supper. Dinner on the deck, Chinese lanterns, a glass of wine, music, and occasional games of cribbage or bocce ball. I took a couple of masters classes, got a lot of productive studying done at the Lost Island Water Park, and hosted a few parties with our friends and family.

Beau and I visited our favorite city, Chicago, for an afternoon in the bleachers at Wrigley, a night on the town and 'The Second City,' and a couple days of wandering and exploring Lincoln Park, Buddy Guy's, Lake Michigan, and numerous pizza and hot dog establishments!

We had a memorable night at Millennium Park. I think I could move to Chicago just for Millennium Park.

I celebrated making it through a quarter of a century!

We had a weekend with the family to witness one of the last Twins games at the Metro-Dome...well...some of us 'witnessed' it!

Beau and I went to visit Ty Cutler, Sarah and Levi's adorable baby boy. Our Sunday road trip proved to me that school work sometimes just has to wait.

We decided to become UNI Panther season ticket holders this year and had a couple of really beautiful tailgating days.

We spent a nice day in Northeast Iowa to scope out the fall foliage. We visited a winery, Starks, Pike's Peak, and McGregor. Beau also scored a lovely picture of dad, along with the idea to send a note of thanks, on behalf of dad, to his many plumbing customers (much to his surprise).

After an unseasonably warm November, December came in a hurry with cold temps and SO MUCH SNOW! Two snow days a week before Winter Break were much appreciated on this end! Comfort food, baking days, movie nights, and Christmas decorations made their appearance early and in abundance!

Wow...what a year! A year of family, friends, food, travel, and fun. A year of milestones. Grandma and Grandpa Hoodjer celebrated 50 years of marriage, Mom and Dad celebrated 30, and Mom said goodbye to her 40s. We got exciting news of a new generation of Henrichs' with Jordan and Kelli expecting their first baby in February. Beau wrapped up his 5th year at Farm Bureau and I began a whirlwind year of lesson planning, paper grading, presenting. We faced some scares (thanks to Beau's mom and my dad), yet had so much to be thankful for.

Now, as we look to 2010, it's exciting to dream about what is to come. Here's to a safe, happy, and healthy new year, full of new surprises and blessings!

-Ashley

Christmas with Beau

Last night, Beau and I celebrated our sixth Christmas together as a couple and our third Christmas together as a married couple!

Every year, we've planned to cook a fancy meal, something we usually don't cook during the regular year. We've had some success with this, as well as some complete bombs along the way. I remember one year in the duplex, we wanted to do an elaborate appetizers spread. After planning five different dishes, I think about two of them turned out. Another year, I attempted to make one of Rachel Ray's family traditions, Christmas Pasta. I forgot that Rachel Ray comes from a huge family and I was cooking for two. Not only did we end up with a gigantic pot of red sauce, it ended up being quite terrible and we threw it out!

This year, we stuck to the basics with a twist. We decided to stuff and roast an entire chicken in the oven. Due to his expertise in smoking raw birds, I gave this task to Beau. He cleaned it, rubbed it with butter, oregano, garlic, and thyme, and stuffed it with herbs, orange, and onion. Then, he gave it a winter's coat of bacon and baked it in the oven.

I took care of our sides and dessert. I mashed potatoes, made my favorite salad with mandarin oranges and sugared almonds, and had champange with cranberries. The chicken took a little longer than expected (but enabled Beau to break out the digital meat thermomether), but when it was all said and done, the meal was a winner!

Dessert was my specialty for the year. I have a thing for trifles and wanted to tackle individual trifles this year. I found a recipe from Giada on the Food Network. It layered strawberries soaked in sugar and balsamic vinegar, pound cake, Amaretto liquor, and homemade whipped cream. I was a little skeptical on the balsamic vinegar, but it gave it a really zesty, sweet flavor. You hardly needed sugar! The whipped cream was really fun to make. I whipped three cups cream with 1/2 cup powdered sugar and a tsp. of vanilla. They were really yummy!

As the freezing rain covered the streets outside, we stayed nice and warm with a fire inside. We opened lots of presents and just sat around and talked. Beau loved his black and white Wrigley Field canvas, his UFC XBox game, and UNI water bottle, and I was delighted to open a new pair of Rocket Dogs, a couple Victoria's Secret sweaters, and yes, a sheek leopard print snuggie! I'm currently blogging in it now!

Merry Christmas!

Pray for Kate

I've posted about this a few times before, but since it's so close to Christmas, it's also close to my heart.

This little girl is not your ordinary five year old. She's a gift. She's a fighter. She's innocence, hope, and faith. She's an inspiration to those in need. And she's a little bit of perspective for a girl like me. She's Kate Mcrae and she's in need of lots of prayers.

Kate is battling a rare brain tumor and is spending Christmas in a children's hospital in Arizona, fighting through round five of chemo. In the blink of an eye, Kate and her family, her parents, Aaron and Holly, and her siblings, Olivia and Will, had their entire world turned upside down; yet, they still maintain a strong faith that Kate will one day have her life back. I've been reading Kate's blog for months now and everyday, she helps me redirect my focus.

Visit Kate's website at www.prayforkate.com

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

-In Christ Alone, The Newsboys