5 for Friday

Happy Friday!

 

A few paint spills later...We made it!  I feel like this has been the longest week ever.  Probably because it's the first week since Thanksgiving that I have worked every single hour of the school day.  And now I know for sure that the kids are crazy.  Why?  I'm not sure.  Perhaps because they have not been on a normal schedule for several weeks.

 

I have had things happen in my room that have never happened in my room, like spilled water jars, "accidental" painted tables, and more painted shirts than I care to mention, including a winter coat that was green, but is now looking a little more red. 

 

OOOY!

 

Let's have some positives shall we?!

 

 

1.  There is a carry-in lunch today at school.  The Soup-er Bowl Lunch.  I made s'mores bars which might just be the best things ever.  I can't wait to get my soup on.

2.  We are going out with some people from my school tonight!   Pizza and then a local 70's and 80's bar.  Kelly is on board with the pizza...not so much for the bar, but there is still time to convince him!

 

3.  Tomorrow we are going to French Lick, a nearby town that was once known for their sulfur springs with health perks.  Now there is a couple large resorts, a casino, and lots of yummy restaurants there alongside a small town, a perfect weekend getaway, and a perfect way to spend my bestie Megan's birthday weekend!

 

4.  Sunday is the Super Bowl, which I could really care less about, but it's a cheat day, and I like the commercials.  We are going to my parents and my mom is trying out some new appetizers on us.  Fine by me!  Go Broncos, I guess?

 

5.  I am starting a business!  Sprinkles and Splatters is the name!  You know those little painting parties that are popping up all over?   Remember I went to one last week? Well, I was inspired, and I am going to be having those little parties starting in May!  I have been going to these here and there, and decided that there is no reason why I can't do that!  I am an art teacher after all.  I have already booked my first birthday party for April!

 

I am only having one problem so far.  I want to do canvas and door hangers, you know the big painted pieces of wood that you hang on your front door?  Or on your wall perhaps. 

 

 

I cannot find anywhere that sells these babies unfinished.  I have checked etsy, all I can find on there are steel cutouts, and I have googled and googled it.  I can only find small ones, like 2 inches wide small. 

 

Now I am a crafty person, and I have used a saw before, but I am not sure that I am ready to cut these out myself.  I wanted a good stock to start out with at least!  Every party I been to with these door hangers has had a handy man husband that cuts them out for the wifey.  This girl has used more saws than her man has so that is not going to work for me.  Ha!

 

Anyone know of a place to get these?

 

I am VERY open to suggestions at this point.

 

HELP!

 

Oh and have a fab weekend!

 

Let's Pretend

I am drawing a blank today and cannot come up with a thing to blog about!  So I'm going to pretend like It's OK Thursday is still a thing and go with that.

 

It's OK if I ate one of the s'mores bars that I made for the carry-in at school on Friday.  I had to make sure they weren't poison right?

 

It's OK if 40 degrees feels like spring break weather.  I'm so tired of the cold.

 

It's OK if I get excited to go to bed because I know I get to have coffee in the morning.

 

 

It's OK if I had to load and unload the dishwasher twice last night just to combat the pile of dishes that was taking over our sink and counter area.

 

It's OK if I signed up to get the Sunday paper three weeks ago because I want to be a newspaper reader.

 

It's also OK that I have never once even opened said newspaper. 

 

It's OK if I just finished my coffee, and I feel like it was not enough.

 

It's OK if I don't want to be one of those people that counts down to Friday, but I still think it in my head everyday.

 

Favorite Things Wednesday

Oh hey!  Remember me?  I haven't posted anything yet this week.  Monday I was too cold, and I just wasn't feeling it.  I was feeling sleeping in later and laying on the couch.  Yesterday I wanted to blog, but I woke at 6:30, which is 2.5 hours later than planned, and I thought it was Saturday, so needless to say, I was running a little behind.   But I am here today, and I am sharing my favorite things, including my favorite pins!   Kelly and I celebrated our anniversary on Saturday, even though our actual anniversary was in December.  I felt I needed a redo because we were so busy then.    Kelly surprised me with flowers!  

 

 We went to a local gastropub for dinner!  Commonwealth Kitchen and Bar is a little bit of a drive but totally worth it.  And totally worth waiting for our reservations for 30 minutes!  We ordered several small plates to share, which is right up my alley!  I can try more things that way!

 

 

The brussel sprouts were SO good.  I don't know what they do to them, but I'm pretty sure it makes them not healthy.  And we got them for free since we had to wait!

 

Philly Cheese Steak Egg Rolls with an A1 aioli.  I wish there was more of them!

 

My second drink was a cucumber something.  Very yummy!  My first drink was not picture worthy.  I ordered a Manhattan Jam.  It was smoked bourbon whiskey with apple butter mixed in.  I thought my love for apple butter would overcome my dislike for whiskey, but I forgot how much I dislike whiskey.  Kelly kindly finished it for me. 

 

Parmesan Truffle Fries.  There was also Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese, but that didn't make it long enough for a picture.

 

The bill came inside and old book!

 

And then when we got home, as if we weren't full enough, we celebrated with a Gigi's cupcake!  And yes I ate the whole thing, and no I don't regret it.  Banana Toffee Pie...I die. 

 

Ok enough about food.

 

My craft room is also becoming one of my favorite things.  I worked on it some this weekend...if only I had a table to put in there (p.s. I do but its still in the box, and Kelly has to out it together)! 

 

It looks so nice and organized right?!

 

Ha! NOT.

 

There is definitely some work to do in there.  Again, if only I had a table...

 

Last night my flowers opened up!

 

SO pretty!

 

Now for my favorite pins of the week.

 

You can find all my pins here!

 

Cute dress!

Why did no one ever think of this?!?

Would be fun to teach with cave painting!

 

It's what is for dinner tonight!  Did I mention I made four meals on Sunday?  Yay for being organized.

 

This makes me want to get my haircut.

 

The truth.

 

On my to do list!

 

Yum!

 

 

Kelly would love this!

 

I am done now.  Sorry for the long post!   Happy Wednesday!
 

5 on Friday

There are two things I am wondering today:

 

1.  Why is it not pay day?  I am needing that to happen.

 

2.  Why did I not sleep last night?  Perhaps I am too hyped up.  I feel wired, like anxiety wired.  Maybe because it's the 100th day of school.  Maybe it's because I have a good weekend ahead of me.  Or maybe, just maybe, I ate spicy food right before I went to bed.  Is that a thing?

 

Whatever it is, I hope it goes away.  It's cramping my style.

 

I'm linking up for 5 on Friday!

 

 

 

1.  It's the 100th Day of school! 

 

You know what that means?!

 

Nothing for the art teacher.  Kindergarten wears cute little 100th day shirts.  First grade wears cute little hats decorated with 100 things.  Fifth grade dresses up like they are 100 years old....and the art teacher?  She wears jeans and attempts to do a bubblegum machine project with Kindergarten that doesn't even work out because they can't count to 100 yet.  It's kind of hard to make 100 gumballs when you can't count to 100.  Duh Elyse.

 

This is what it is supposed to look like.

 

 

2.  I went to a painting party last night.  It was so fun, and I cannot stop thinking about how it would be my dream to have a company like this!   Maybe that's why I couldn't sleep!  Seriously, this lady is a teacher, and she does these parties in her basement, which has basically been transformed into a giant craft room.  I was dying.  And floating up to heaven. 

 

 I tried to take pictures without being creepy.

 

(Just look at all that ribbon on the wall)

 

Thanks to my friend Katie for inviting me!!!

 

3.  Speaking of craft rooms, my new rug came for my craft room...which means I can finally put the whole thing together!  I can't wait to show you!

 

4.  Kelly and I are having an anniversary re-do date tomorrow night.  We spent our actual anniversary driving up to his mom's on the weekend before Christmas.  We kind of went to the movies (and I got called mean names by a lady...Did I forget to tell you about that traumatizing experience???) and ate Mexican food, but I didn't give him his anniversary gift because it just felt rushed. 

 

I am taking him to a restaurant that I have really been wanting to try! Commonwealth Kitchen and Bar.   I'll let you know how it is!

 

5.  It's Friday, which means I can finally have some wine!  Even though I may have had some last night while painting...and a beer at Buffalo Wild Wings afterwards.  Don't judge me.

 

HAPPY FRIDAY!

 

Have a great weekend!

Italian Beef Pizza..Oh my word!

I recently made Italian Beef in my slow cooker for Italian Beef Sandwiches, an easy and delicious meal.  But as delicious as it is, it makes SO much for two people.  It is virtually impossible to find a small version of the necessary meat, which usually is sold in giant hunks for a family of 5. 

 

So we always end up with A TON of leftovers. 

 

I decided this time, instead of eating Italian Beef Sandwiches for a month, I would use some of the leftover meat for a pizza!

 

 

For the Italian Beef:

 

Use beef roast of your choice, I like to use a rump roast .  Place meat in the slow cooker.  Season a with a package of Louie's Italian Beef Seasoning.  Add 3/4 cup of water and cook on low for 8-10 hours.  You can also use a jar of pepperoncini peppers ( with juice) in addition to or instead of the seasoning and water.

 

 

For the pizza you will need:

 

1 store bought pizza crust, I like Boboli.

1 TBSP butter

1 TBSP flour

1 cup milk

1 cup shredded or cubed provolone cheese

1-2 cups Italian Beef (depending on how meaty you want your pizza)

1/2 cup- 3/4 cup giardiniera (I used store bought, but you an find my homemade recipe here)

1 cup pepperjack cheese (sliced or shredded)

1 cup mozzarella cheese (sliced or shredded)

 

Make a rue by melting the butter and adding the flour.  Stir and let cook for just a minute until the flour cooks down.  Add the milk and bring to a boil until the mixture thickens.  Add the provolone cheese and stir until combined.  Mixture should be thick like a cheese sauce. 

 

Pour the cheese mixture on the pizza crust (you may not use all the sauce).  Spread evenly, leaving a crust around the edge.  Top with Italian Beef, giardniera, pepperjack cheese, and mozzarella cheese.  I like to put the cheese on last to hold all the toppings on. 

 

 

 

 

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until cheesy is melty and crust is golden brown. 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

This pizza is seriously so good!  It has the perfect amount of spice from the giardiniera, and the meat has such good flavor, topped with cheese it is even better!

 

The best part is we can have Italian Beef Sandwiches, then Italian Beef Pizza, and we don't have to eat the same meal for a month!  It's a great use of leftovers!

 

 

 

 Sandra Lee round two recipe anyone?