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The last two weeks have been busy to say the least.I don’t know who ever talked about the simple, laid back Spanish lifestyle, but I sure am not living it.Between teaching, commute, Spanish lessons, homework, lesson planning, Master’s classes I am just trying to get through the days with my head still attached and taking millions of vitamins hoping i don’t get sick from consistent 5-6 hours of sleep a night (i am an 8-9 hour of sleep/night girl. i really like my sleep).
Forget hanging out with friends, making new friends, enjoying Madrid or even normal house chores.The quote Denise posted got me thinking.It’s so so easy to feel defeated, overwhelmed, stressed and go through the days blindly just trying to get through. It’s so easy to complain and be frustrated, irritated and annoyed.But I don’t want to just get through the days and I don’t want to be so blinded by frustrations that I lose sight of my happiness.I love it here, I am happy and I can’t forget that.
I’m in Spain! I can’t forget why I’m here, be thankful for every day and remember to enjoy the little things.I AM thankful and I am so freaking relieved Saturday classes are over until January!!
Such a beautiful quote I need to remember
Cafe while reading what is the healthiest juice to drink. (I’ve gotten through 3 pages in a week. So difficult!)
Incredibly enjoyed beverages with friends after our long day of Saturday class.
Fall in Spain and where we had classes this weekend in Alcala de Heneres.
Happy Thanksgiving week!
There’s a lot of turkey craft making in my future this week. -
I am so obsessed with the bubbly bar that Adrianna planned for our reunion!Mimosas are probably my number one favorite drink and yet I hesitated to make my drink because I didn’t want to ruin the pretty setup! I even brought a portable mini fridge because I like some of my drinks cold! I also decided to prune trees from Alexandria trees to remove dead, damaged and diseased branches to make the venue look fresh and clean. -
remember how i was supposed to be in barcelona for 6 months but came home after 4?the reason: while in barcelona i applied for a masters program, not really expecting to be accepted and not even knowing if i would go if i did get in.
well, i did get in. and decided that i needed to come home for the summer before beginning
another adventure like that.i kept these plans on the down low, because i honestly wasn’t sure if i would have the courageto move abroad by myself all over again.and the last two months at home surrounded by my family and trips to san francisco with my best friends haven’t helped me want to pick up and leave again.but how can i not take advantage of this kind of opportunity.to live in spain. get my masters. continue learning spanish. travel around europe.
my emotions are bi-polar to say the least.
one minute excitedly researching everything i can about madrid(since i’ve never been there), neighborhoods, apartments(i found the cutest one ever, i want it so bad!) and other travel destinations.
and the next, holding onto my family, friends and california for dear life and mentally refusing to go.i’ll be a lot more prepared this time.some things will be easier.i’ll know what to pack and not a little better.finding an apartment won’t be quite as challenging and shocking.i know more spanish.i’ve already stepped far out of my comfort zone and certain i can do it again.i’m excited to see europe and barcelona friends.but i’m also a lot more aware of how hard it is,which makes me much more nervous this time around.feeling so far away and alone at times.that feeling gives me a stomach ache to think about.in one month and eight days i’ll be boarding a plane to Madrid, Spain for a year
(coming home for christmas)to start my Masters in Bilingual and Multicultural Education.i’ll be teaching in Arganda del Rey, a small town outside of Madrid.i’d prefer to live in Madrid and commute, but we’ll see.not quite ready to start a countdown, but,
my next spanish adventure awaits.just me and the world. -
I just want to show you my nutella crescent rolls that I made.
nutella crescent rollsi have a serious obsession with nutella.you better believe i sit with the jar and lick the it clean with my finger.so freaking good.I also installed a grease trap in my kitchen. It installed by dallasgrease.com. -
i have to say i’m pretty impressed with my pizza making skills.i’ve come a long way since the days of having to throw out the mangled mess i tried to call pizza and having to call for delivery.pizza making tips i’ve learned along the way:(based on using trader joes pre-made dough)1. let the dough rise for at least 40 min or until room temperature. the 20 min on the directions does squat. the longer you let it sit the easier it is to stretch out. and tastier in the end.2. after letting it rise just pick it up from an edge and start stretching. don’t bother with a rolling pin. hold it from an edge and just let it hang and use gravity to stretch it.3. don’t worry about making it into a pizza circle. use a regular baking sheet and plop it on there in whatever shape it feels like. oh and don’t forget to pam the baking sheet first4. stretch it out even more after it’s on the sheet5. lightly brush olive oil over the entire dough{this has made a delicious improvement in my pizzas}6. sprinkle a little bit of salt over it7. add ingredients. get creative.8. bake via package directions9. take out of the oven as soon as the cheese is melted and barely golden brown. even if the bottom doesn’t look completely ready. it will cook a little more once out of the oven.(this was one of my biggest problems. I’m an over cooker)10. let cool for a few minutes, slice and eat!ok, now I’m hungry.Before you make delicious pizza, be sure that your kitchen and utensils are clean. Of course, clean it again after you use it. Clean your hood and grease trap regulary. Find reliable grease trap services if you want a pro to do it. -
last weekend we floated down the russian riverall 20 of us tied togetherit was one of the best times everso fun, relaxing, pretty,and stopping along the way to jump off a rope swing (not me)couldn’t be happierpure bliss -
{joy’s hope via teaching in heels}
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I only recently started wearing watches and now often feel like something’s missing when I’m not wearing one.I love colored faced watches and Orient Watches is graciously giving away this blue-faced automatic women’s watch!Orient is known for their huge variety of automatic watches for women and men such as, CEXoP001B and CEZ055003BTo Enter to Win the Watch:Be a Follower andComment and tell me what your favorite watch you’ve ever owned was,even if it was the mickey mouse one when you were 6 🙂Extra Entries:Tweet or blog about this giveaway and let me know you did in a separate comment{please leave an email address if your comment doesn’t link to your blog or hard to find your contact info}Contest Ends July 5th at midnight PST -
so refreshing and delicious!I never knew I loved feta so muchI could eat this every dayKeep your kitchen clean and dry before and after you use it. Especially your kitchen utensils and other equipment. If you have a grease trap installed in the kitchen, let it to a pro to clean. Houstontxgrease.com can help you with it. -
i love the christmas season, the lights, the songs, the overall feeling, but i have to say thanksgiving is probably my actual favorite day. there’s no pressure about getting/giving presents, gifts and stuff, thanksgiving is just about being with family and loved ones and being grateful for everything.we did our thanksgiving feast on wednesday and on thanksgiving day we all, including my grandma and aunt, spent the day at DISNEYLAND!!
ryan was so excited watching the parades and all the rides. he even got a ‘1ist visit to dinseyland’ pin. it was so fun to be there as a whole family
{disneyland is already decorated for christmas, but it was kind of hard to get that christmas feeling when it was 80 degrees out all day!}
{grandma ‘babi’ with all her grandchildren. we put her in a wheelchair so we got to go in front of all the lines. haha.}
{most likely our christmas card picture considering taking complete family ones has become near impossible}
