Need Classroom Help?

Office Max had teamed with some sponsors to offer a program called Adopt-A-Classroom.  Teachers simply go to the Adopt-A-Classroom website and sign up their classroom.  The program is similar to Donors Choose.   It's also a place for people to go and sponsor a classroom.  Just take a look at what this program has done for so many classrooms already!!



So teachers.........go to: http://www.adoptaclassroom.org/  and register your classroom today!!

A First For Me!!!

Yesterday, Harley Man received a large box from UPS and he was stoked! (Note: the photo to the left is just a photo I found to illustrate how the bike looked in the box) You see he has been riding this around town for almost 2 years!

Recumbent Trike

As of 5:00 P.M. yesterday, he is now riding this!  For the first time ever, I helped him assemble a recumbent bike!!  Yep, I was his assistant...helping to put on the chain, cut the chain, put on the seat cover, help with the gear line, etc.  It took over 3 hours to assemble (part of that time spent putting the chain on and off after repeated measuring) but we got it done.

Recumbent Bike



Let's just say the whole process has been interesting:  missing parts due to UPS knocking a hole in the large box, overnight shipping of missing parts, the cutting of the chain that was too long due to the chain being in the missing parts box, the missing parts arriving from the UPS Center (they found the box, opened it and found out it belonged to Harley Man so they sent it) after we had finally cut the chain to the correct length (yep, the missing chain cut to the appropriate length was in that box), the side mirror that wouldn't fit in the handlebar and required so additional assistance from a hammer!!  Oh there were more adventures with this bike assembly, too many to list but you get my drift!!  Anyway, it's done...it works and he's been out on the road testing it out.

Now we are off to get pedal clips, reflector tape and a new helmet!!  This adventure has just begun!! Lol!!!!!







Score One for The Lasagna!!!

I am by no means an awesome cook but I can put something fairly good on the table to eat (at least Harley Man and the girls have said so)!  I found a lasagna recipe on the Pioneer Woman's website and decided to try it.  Instead of breakfast sausage, I used hot Italian Sausage in with my ground beef and omitted the salt in this recipe because we don't do that much salt! If I do say so it was quite good.  No not gourmet but worthy of adding to my recipe collection because it was easy and yummy!!  Do you make an awesome lasagna?  If so, please share the recipe with me...in the meantime I'll continue to use this one.


The Best Lasagna Ever
Pioneer Woman

Ingredients:

• 1-½ pound Ground Beef
• 1 pound Hot Breakfast Sausage
• 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes
• 2 cans (6 Ounce) Tomato Paste
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Basil
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 3 cups Lowfat Cottage Cheese
• 2 whole Beaten Eggs
• ½ cups Grated (not Shredded) Parmesan Cheese
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 pound Sliced Mozzarella Cheese
• 1 package (10 Ounce) Lasagna Noodles
• (add 1/2 Teaspoon Salt And 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil To Pasta Water)

Preparation Instructions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for lasagna noodles.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet or saucepan, combine ground beef, sausage, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain half the fat; less if you’re feeling naughty.
Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil and salt. After adding the tomatoes, the sauce mixture should simmer for 45 minutes while you are working on the other steps.
In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 more tablespoons parsley, and 1 more teaspoon salt. Stir together well. Set aside.
Cook lasagna until “al dente” (not overly cooked).

To assemble:
Arrange 4 cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping if necessary. Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Spread evenly. Cover cottage cheese with a layer of mozzarella cheese. Spoon a little less than half the meat/sauce mixture over the top.
Repeat, ending with meat/sauce mixture. Sprinkle top generously with extra Parmesan.
Either freeze, refrigerate for up to two days, or bake immediately: 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until top is hot and bubbly.

Back To School Photos!!

I found the cutest photo props for back to school photos that moms or teachers can use.  Tip Junkie designed these and they are for personal use only.  You can see them at: Tip Junkie Photo Props for 1st Day of School.  Or these from I Heart Naptime.  What a great way to start school!!!



Help A School!!

The beginning of a new school year is just around the corner for many families and even though I am retired, I am still very much an educator at heart.  As teachers prepare their classrooms, administrators prepare their schools, money must be spent on all the items needed to make a school ready for a new year and with all the funding cuts..this becomes harder and harder to do. Yes, teachers spend their own money and so do some administrators (yep, it's the truth)!!! So..........I wanted to let you know what TARGET is doing for schools right now.  TARGET is sponsoring "Give With Target" program that:
provides $2.5 million in support to K-12 schools—up to $10,000 each in Target GiftCards^®. You can help by voting for a school each week until September 8 through Give With Target^®and telling your friends to do the same. 

All you have to do is find a school you support and vote for that school.  You don't have to have a child in school; you can be a grandparent, an alumni of a school or just a member of a community! Just go to their Facebook page and with a click of your mouse, you are done.  Won't you please support a school of your choice today?  It doesn't cost a thing!!!

Just go to: Give With Target for more information or here: Every Kid Deserves A Bright Future.

P.S. I receive no compensation from Target for this...I just support a business who supports schools!!

Back to the 50's!

Last weekend, we went back in time....back to the 50's!!!  What an awesome time we had...we snacked on foods popular in the 50's: Cheese Whiz, Ritz Crackers, Chex Mix, Moon Pies, RC Colas, Rootbeer Floats, Mary Janes and more.  Of course, we had to play a little between snacking...what a sight to see us with paddle balls, yo-yos, Silly Putty, Slinkys, Jacks, WoolyWilly, Checkers and Bubbles!!

We played games: Car Hop Relays, Paper Dance Off, Bubblegum Blowing Contest, Contest for the Cutest Couple, Oddest Couple and then the crowning of Ms. 1950 and Mr. 1950!!  It was such a fun time and the photos only provide a glimpse of the good times!