wild wednesday

last saturday i spent some time with these darlings.



i'm currently drinking my second mug of lemon tea w/ honey. woke up with a killer sore throat this a.m. so i'm trying to keep it from getting worse*

today my boss asked me to call her. i did. she offered me my [pregnant] supervisor's position for next fall. i got off the phone and decided that very second was the right time to tell iryna i'm leaving next fall to teach elementary school. i told her. she wasn't surprised. she was sad, but she took it well. NOW all that's left to do is tell my boss that i don't want my supervisor's position because i'm leaving the organization. oh yeah, and get a new job, too...


[p.s. hope nobody is truly worried: j. and i are NOT ever getting a ferret!]

best friend & tonight's dinner

i LOVE my best friend. i love living with her, cooking with her, adventuring with her, sleeping over with her, & laughing with her. i love the way she listens, the way she cracks up at my jokes, the way she cares from her heart.

since she got a new job [!!!] we've had more time to hang out & that makes me so so so so excited.

here we are, pausing before a weekend of fun:and here are the sweet potato quesadillas i told y'all about [pre-spinach & the top tortilla]. we're making them again tonight! YUM:

quotes from life lately

i think one time i blogged about how i used to wish my life was like a movie. and how now i realize that my life is even better, b/c it's real life.

but sometimes my life IS like a movie... filled with hilarious/sweet/adorable quotes from my darling bf.

take these two examples:

1. last week J. said "you want a dog. and i want a cat. so let's compromise & get a ferret" <3
2. yesterday J. said "do you like grilled cheese/tomato soup? i think we should make it a sunday afternoon lunch tradition"

what a fabulous idea!

i've now blogged THREE times today. zoiks. maybe i should get a life...

anyway, the site i'm about to share should stop all your judgements about me being a compulsive blogger right in their tracks. look at this wicked rad idea i found in my random blog meandering just now...

this awesome gal created a scavenger hunt scrapbook for her boyfriend's birthday! i'm totally going to do this someday. maybe next year on march 3rd...?

ice cream cake

apparently J. really likes ice cream cake. even though i'm not a huge fan, i agreed to make one for his b-day shindig last weekend. i attempted to get a recipe but my attempt fell through, so i got a different recipe. it turned out to be wicked easy & delicious. here's the gist:

1. take about 5 Oreos out of the package. take off the tops of those 5 and set 'em aside. at the same time, take two cartons of ice cream out of the freezer [i used cookies & cream, but next time i'll use coffee or java chip!]
2. crush the entire rest of the package of Oreos in a giant plastic bag. i used my hands & a rolling pin.
3. once the pieces are relatively fine crumbs [but not powdery!], add about 4 tablespoons of melted butter and mix it all together.
4. with your fingers, spread the mixture out on the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
5. spread softened ice cream across the oreo mixture [i used a spatula & my fingers]. don't let the ice cream get mushy, just softened around the edges of the containers. cover the Oreo mixture completely but don't worry about making it all even.
6. mash those 5 Oreo tops into tiny pieces [basically like powder] and sprinkle them onto the top of the cake.
7. put cake in freezer until ready to serve. we actually just put it outside in the snow for a couple hours, but this won't work in every season/climate.
8. top with candles, sing the song, and celebrate! YUM~

don't underestimate the power of a simple phrase

i've been thinking recently that there are a few under-used phrases which have the potential for great impact.

you're welcome.

i forgive you.

i'm proud of you.

i told J. the other night that it makes me sad to say "thank you" to someone and have them respond "ok". it makes me feel like they don't realize my gratitude is genuine. how sad! when i say thanks, i totally mean it. and i would like to hear that i'm welcome, not that it's ok. did you know that in japanese, there's not really even a response that means "you're welcome"?! they always say "ie, ie" [no, no]...

it's easy to say "no problem" or "it's no big deal" when someone apologizes. saying we forgive sounds so serious and formal. and yeah, i suppose it is. but if i receive a genuine apology, i should give a genuine response. and i should genuinely forgive.

i want to tell people that i'm proud of them. if the thought enters my mind, i don't want to hesitate to say it aloud. i always love to hear if someone is proud of me so i should tell others when i'm proud*

2 big birthdays

mom & dad had their b-day on sunday. i'm used to not seeing them on their special day, but it made me sad to be apart this year. maybe cuz i'm growing up & i don't get to see them that often. i dunno. but regardless, it was their birthday and i love them so very much.

today is my bf's actual bday. we're going out for pizza to celebrate[!!!]. i finally get to give him his presents & i'm super excited. they've been ready for at least 3 weeks and the wait has been killing me...