High Five For Friday

What a week?  I have spring fever.  My students have spring fever.  And only 28 instructional days stand between us and exams.  This semester is flying by.  However, this week did not.  But it is Friday and we made it!

1- Spending time with my man is the best part of any week.  Double the pleasure this week, because we took my mom out to dinner!

2- I completed my second 5K this past week and it was so fun!  Its fun to enjoy the challenge of competing with myself, but I realized I need to actually train before I take on the next one!

3- The search for lampshades is going on week 2 now!  These were the second ones that I have bought only to get them home and realize that they had a pattern on the inside that you could see when you turned on the lamp :(  Hopefully the third time will be the charm!

4- Disney knows how to get to me.  In the midst of a busy week they can lift my spirits and get my mind on vacation planning with a simple email.  What do you say Mr. Pennington?

5- Isn't Pinterest just full of amazing things.  Case in point this absolutely adorable t-shirt that my husband will have in his closet very soon!


Have a great weekend everyone and I will see you Monday for a continuation of my European adventure!

Europe 2013: Day Three

Day Three: The Ring of Kerry

On the third day of our trip we explored an area of western Ireland referred to as The Ring of Kerry.  This 112 mile route around the Lakes of Killarney is full of breathe-taking views.  It is an area that is a balance of rural villages and beaches, with ample wildlife (sheep) and lush green fields.  Most of the day we spent getting on and off the bus as we drove the route, unfortunately though I had extreme motion sickness that day and it was not the most ideal way to spend the day.  

The first stop of the morning was a small museum called The Kerry Bog Village.  This was a recreation of an 18th/19th century village that produced bog for local areas.  Bog is a naturally occurring product (referred to as peet grass in the US) that when dried out can become flammable and be used as a type of fuel.  There were numerous neat things at the museum, particularly the statue of King Puck.  This statue of a goat is in honor of an old Pagen tradition in which the local village would select a goat from the wild, clean it up, place a crown on its head and keep it in the middle of town for three days while having a huge celebration.  The goat is treated like a king for the three days of the festivities and then released back into the wild.  They actually still participate in the tradition today!  The Irish Wolfhounds and miniature ponies stole my heart though!  Additionally, they had life size recreations of the homes and workspaces of real villages from hundreds of years ago.  

We returned to the road and stopped at multiple spots along the route.  We stopped at a small beach covered in rocks and pebbles.  This spot was the coastal hideaway of the infamous Charlie Chaplin and his family in the early 1900's.  After we left the beach the highlight of the day occurred   We had stopped for another scenic view and we had a chance encounter with a man with baby lambs and a deer.  I got to hold two of the lambs and see a 2-day old deer!  It was absolutely magical and they were so soft and sweet.  From there was stopped for lunch and I chose the traditional Shepherd's Pie.  I must admit that my homemade version is much better!  After lunch we finished the tour of the Ring of Kerry and made a pitstop in a small town called Sneem.  It was absolutely beautiful and I found many cute souvenirs   My favorite thing I saw was a bike bell that said "Pog Mo Thoin" aka Irish for "Kiss My Butt!"  

When we arrived back in Killarney late that afternoon some people took the opportunity to take a ride on the famed Jaunting Carts, but I still did not feel well so I opted for a rest in the hotel and spent time working on my travel journal.  When everyone returned we had dinner and then I headed into town with a small group.  We were in luck that evening, because some of the main streets had been blocked off for a road race and we partook in all the festivities.  Killarney is a great example of a bustling town, that is still very walkable and has the small town vibe while offering lots of options.  When we heard about the race we got hot chocolates, found a spot by the DJ (playing amazing music!), and cheered on the marathon runners as they finished their 26.2 mile journey!  We finally headed back to the hotel and got to bed soon after, because we had a big day in store the next day.... Blarney Castle!!  

I couldn't fit day 3 & 4 in one post, so check in later (or tomorrow) for more on Kissing the Blarney Stone and the Rock of Cashel!

Europe 2013: Day One & Two

I may be alone in this, but nothing brings out excitement in my soul quite like arriving at an airport.  The anticipation of travel is at its highest and you are so close to beginning your amazing journey.  At the same time, leaving behind loved ones that you would like to take with you is a difficult experience in itself.  Saying goodbye to my mom and Daniel for two weeks was no fun, but Europe was awaiting my arrival!

After a short flight to Newark, New Jersey we settled in for a long 5 hour layover before beginning our international flight.  It was a fight for food and charging stations.  I stuffed myself with an amazing cheeseburger and grabbed the first plug in station that I could find to charge up my phone for the flight. We borded around 6:40, but did not actually take off until an hour after our intended departure time, due to a faulty coffee maker.  Once we were in the air though I tried to settle in and enjoy the luxury of having my own tv screen to choose movies from, but nothing seemed to settle me.  It was a long 7+ hour flight that involved very little sleep.  But Ireland was on the horizon, so I cannot complain.

Once we arrived in Shannon, Ireland we hooked up with our guide for the tour, Gavin and loaded up in our coach.  I have to give mad props to the guys in our group for hauling all our luggage in and out of the coach for two weeks.  We took a brief stop at a medieval castle called Bunratty and then continued on to our first stop of the trip, Killarney.  Killarney is a beautiful, quaint town with lots of things to see. We ate up a lot of our day making our way from Shannon to Killarney, so we when got to the town we settled into our hotel and set out to see a little bit of the town itself.  This was one of the things that I liked best about our trip.  We sort of settled into the trip slowly and built up to the larger experiences.  This gave our bodies time to recover and adjust.

Bunratty Castle

My first meal in Ireland was at a little local pub called Tatler Jack.  My goal for the trip was to eat only at places that were local or native only to Europe.  I mean who goes to Europe to eat Burger King?  BK did seem to be very big in Ireland though, there was one on every street corner.  At Tatler Jack's I decided on a loaded spud with Bacon and Cheese.  The bacon in Ireland is more like ham and while I had to take some of it off, because it was so thick, the taste of the spud and salad was delicious!  

Tatler Jack

We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping, sight-seeing, and napping.  Napping is not ideal on your first day after traveling a long distance, because you don't want to get your body off schedule.  However, when you are tired, you cannot resist the comforts of a soft bed, especially considering your last bed was an airplane set (that would not recline)!  We had dinner that night at a restaurant near by and I am sad to report it was not much worth mentioning.  We found from day one that most of our dinners in the UK and Ireland consisted of vegetable soup, some type of meat and potato dish, and was rounded out with ice cream.  My fellow teacher and roommate on the trip settled into our rooms around 6:30 and woke up at 10:30 realizing that we had unintentionally slept the evening away.  We quickly changed for bed and turned out the lights, because we had a big day of exploring the Ring of Kerry on the agenda for the next day.

See you guys tomorrow for Day 3 & 4!

Hello World... I'm Back

Hey guys, I am finally back on the blog and looking forward to sharing all of my recent adventures with you.  I am fresh off of the plane from the United Kingdom and still shaking off my jet lag.  Nothing throws you out of sorts worse than jet lag mixed with going back to work.  I am happy to be back on a normal routine though and I hope that means a normal routine for the blog too.  Tune in for the next couple of days (maybe weeks) for all the details on my travels in the United Kingdom and Ireland!

Travel Essentials

I realized Sunday at lunch that I am Europe bound in t-minus 17 days and counting!  I can barely contain my excitement for my upcoming trip and it usually controls my thoughts daily.  In preparation for my trip I decided to share some of my must-have travel items.  I have been to Europe once before and I learned a lot about what you need and do not need.  I mainly learned that I pack WAY too much!  So this time I am shaping up and improving my packing game.    

1:  You will be glad that you made this purchase.  Silly looking or not a long flight can be rough on the body and a neck pillow can certainly make the most uncomfortable flights a little more bearable 

2:  This will revolutionize your life in general.  On trips it is just amazing, because your on the move so much that missing a day of washing your hair equals 30 extra minutes of sleep :)

3:  Always sanitize your hands!  Do you know how many tourist touched that door handle????

4:  Be sure to invest in a quality outlet converter.  The outlets are not the same in Europe as they are in America and without a quality converter your hair appliances will most likely bite the dust in Europe.  I took a curling iron the last time I went and in France it got so hot that it almost burned my hair off!

5:  I am super digging this blanket and eye mask set.  9 times out of 10 it is freezing on an airplane and if your flight is overbooked and your at the back of the plane don't count on getting a blanket.  This would be easy to put in your carry on and use for your entire trip.

6: A rain jacket is certainly dependent on your travel location and time of the year, but a packable, waterproof jacket is never a bad idea for Europe in the spring time.  I will be traipsing the countryside of Great Britain and Ireland and we all know that rain will most likely be in that forecast.

7:  Now I know your main goal is to not standout like a tourist, but this neck wallet was a security blanket for me the first time I traveled internationally.  I kept all my money and important documents in it and stored it safely under my twenty pound winter coat.  I never worried about being pick pocketed or losing anything.  This time around I am trying out the Moneybelt.  I will let you know which I prefer. 

Currently Craving: Spring Must Haves

I am currently obsessing over anything J Crew.  I love the simplicity of their style and silhouettes.  With spring on my mind, I have been drooling over these items.  Neons, stripes, polka dots, pastels, and neutrals are all hot for spring!  Now, if my fairy fashion godmother would put all of these in my closet I would be in heaven!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

A Month of Love

With Valentine's Day around the corner, I am sure love has been on the mind of 95% of women and 0% of men.  Don't worry ladies they will come around on February 13 or 14.  This whole concept of Valentine's Day got me thinking recently though.  I use to be a strong anti-valentine kind of girl.  You know the one who says, "Why do we need one day for you to tell me you love me, you should do that everyday."  Then I began to realize that for some couples its important to have that reminder, because everyone loves differently.  

With that in mind I thought, why not declare February the Month of Love.  People spend hundreds of dollars each February 14th, but it doesn't have to be like that.  A Month of Love just implies that you spend a little time each day emphasizing your love for your significant other.  A great way to do that is by speaking their love language.

If you are unfamiliar with love languages, you need to pick up The Five Love Languages.  Its a simple book that allows couples to find out not only what way they prefer to be loved, but more importantly how to love their spouse/significant other more effectively.  Find out what your spouse likes: acts of service, quality time, psychical touch, gifts, or words of affirmation   If you can figure out what your spouse prefers and speak to them in that language, the entire make up of your relationship can change.  No longer are you attempting to figure out what makes them happy, but you are truly making them happy.  When their "love tank" is full then they can better love you as well.  Love languages flow both ways and it is important for both people in the relationship to be intent on speaking that of the other, rather than their own.  

So with all that said I encourage you all to take up the challenge of making February the Month of Love.  Do something each day to make your spouse or love feel special.  I assure you that at the end of the month your will have so much more invested in your relationship and get so much more out of it.  I have listed a few ideas below on how to take up this challenge.

• Complete a household chore you know they hate
• Listen when they talk
• Say "thank you" for even the small things
• Let them watch something they want 
• Cook their favorite meal
• Pick them up a small gift to show you think about them when you are apart
• Read a book together (The Bible is a great start!)
• Turn off the TV! Spend time together
• Fill up their car with gas
• Avoid pushing their trigger when arguing 
• Offer them a foot rub or back massage
• Try out a new experience together
• Leave work stress at work
• Give them compliments, often
• Ask for hugs and kisses
• Share- food, feelings, and love
• Pray together
• Go on a treasure hunt
• Send letters or love notes
• Give them space when they are in a bad mood
• Make them laugh
• Go on a couples retreat
• Tell them WHY YOU LOVE THEM

I will be posting each Friday with real ways that Mr. P and I have been showing our love!

Join the Month of Love Challenge! 

Pinteresting

Hello, my name is Summer and I am a Pin-a-holic.  Aren't we all though?  I spend way too many hours each week pinning projects, recipes, and clothing that I will probably never make or buy.  I have recently stumbled upon some doable projects that I hope to tackle in the coming weeks.  

I think this would be so cute in my kitchen and a perfect ode to the woman herself, Julia Child.

Spring is just around the corner, kind of feels like it already.  

This wreath is absolutely precious and screams spring!

Valentine's Day is around the corner and who wouldn't love to take a bit into these delicious little hearts.  They are surprisingly easier than they look!

Perfect for a rolo-loving sweetheart!  "Your The Bomb" sends the perfect message to your Valentine!

An outdoor Scrabble board! OMG!  Enough said!

Have y'all made any amazing Pinterest Projects lately?  

What's your favorite?

Check me out on Pinterest!

Updated Shepherd's Pie

I have to start by saying that Shepherd's Pie is one of my favorite recipes.  I have tinkered around with a couple of different versions, but this one is by far my favorite.  It is incredible easy as well and I bet you have a lot of the ingredients on hand already.  I slightly modified the original recipe found here in order to make it work with what I had in my pantry. I don't think the picture does justice to the deliciousness of this recipe.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Ingredients

1-1/4 lb. red potatoes (about 4-6), cut into chunks

1 Tbsp. garlic powder

1 lb. ground beef

2 Tbsp. flour

1 small onion, diced

1/2 cup carrots, parboiled

1/2 cup frozen garden peas, defrosted

3/4 cup beef broth

3 Tbsp. ketchup

3/4 cup sour cream

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

Cook potatoes in boiling water in large saucepan until potatoes are tender. Meanwhile, brown meat and onion in large nonstick skillet. Stir in flour; cook 1 min. Add carrots and peas, broth and ketchup; cook 5 min., stirring frequently.

Heat oven to 375°F. Drain potatoes; return to pan. Add sour cream and garlic powder; mash until potatoes are smooth and mixture is well blended. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese.

Spoon meat mixture into square baking dish and cover with potatoes.

Bake 18 minutes Top with remaining cheese and turn on broil until cheese is melted and potatoes are slightly toasted.

Traveling Tuesday: Travel Essentials

I realized Sunday at lunch that I am Europe bound in t-minus 2 months and counting!  I can barely contain my excitement for my upcoming trip and it usually controls my thoughts daily.  In lieu of Traveling Tuesday this week, I decided to share some of my must-have travel items.  I have been to Europe once before and I learned a lot about what you need and do not need.  I mainly learned that I pack WAY too much!  So this time I am shaping up and improving my packing game.    

1:  You will be glad that you made this purchase.  Silly looking or not a long flight can be rough on the body and a neck pillow can certainly make the most uncomfortable flights a little more bearable   

2:  This will revolutionize your life in general.  On trips it is just amazing, because your on the move so much that missing a day of washing your hair equals 30 extra minutes of sleep :)

3:  Always sanitize your hands!  Do you know how many tourist touched that door handle????

4:  Be sure to invest in a quality outlet converter.  The outlets are not the same in Europe as they are in America and without a quality converter your hair appliances will most likely bite the dust in Europe.  I took a curling iron the last time I went and in France it got so hot that it almost burned my hair off!

5:  I am super digging this blanket and eye mask set.  9 times out of 10 it is freezing on an airplane and if your flight is overbooked and your at the back of the plane don't count on getting a blanket.  This would be easy to put in your carry on and use for your entire trip.

6: A rain jacket is certainly dependent on your travel location and time of the year, but a packable, waterproof jacket is never a bad idea for Europe in the spring time.  I will be traipsing the countryside of Great Britain and Ireland and we all know that rain will most likely be in that forecast.

7:  Now I know your main goal is to not standout like a tourist, but this neck wallet was a security blanket for me the first time I traveled internationally.  I kept all my money and important documents in it and stored it safely under my twenty pound winter coat.  I never worried about being pick pocketed or losing anything.

What are your travel essentials?