And you thought tornadoes were bad...

HA!

I'm sure if you've kept up with any news in the past 24 hours, you've heard about the New England Flooding.

Well, poor Little Rhode Island is drowning. The flooding is really bad here.

Specifically, in our town.

Even more specifically...in our neighborhood.

We had news crews and people from all over coming to take pictures ALL day yesterday!

Things are in such chaos. Almost every single highway is closed. Schools are closed. The mall is literally underwater. Some of our neighbors had to be evacuated.

You could literally go white water rafting in the street behind us.

Check out this video - if the camera were to turn about 6 inches to the right, you would see OUR house!!!



Just SOME of the damage on our street:






Thank the Good Lord - we are DRY and safe. Our house wasn't damaged at all!!!

Some Major Competition

Watch out, Mr. Ruby.

You have some MAJOR competition.

So yesterday, I was substituting at a different site for work. I hadn't met any of the kiddos. So...the other counselor was introducing me to the little cuties.

When we approached one of the first graders, this is how the conversation went:

Counselor: "Ben, this is 'Mrs. Ruby'. She's substituting today."

First Grader: "WHOA! She's GORGEOUS!"

Other First Grader: "Yeah, I KNOW. I was thinking the same thing!"

Me: "Why thank you." (Nervous chuckling and turning bright red with embarrassment ensued)

I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't flattered...even if they were first graders. :)

STILL sporting my purple

Me in hopes of a Wildcat win

I am so, so proud of my Wildcats.

Although I had to wipe my tears and pick my stomach off the floor after our loss to Butler on Saturday, I have never been prouder to be a Kansas State Wildcat!!!!

I had such a fantastic weekend.

I got certified in CPR and headed to Newport for fun Saturday festivities. I dressed in head-to-toe purple (almost) to cheer on the Cats in the Elite Eight, and then we went to dinner for three friends' birthdays. Yes, three.

Yesterday, I spent my entire day (literally from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.) studying. Yes, I studied ALL day on a Sunday. I do it all the time. And you know something, I was...(gasp) enjoying myself. I LOVE what I'm studying so much, that I don't mind that it completely consumes my life at times.

I actually don't remember what life was like without studying during ANY free time...

Highlight of the weekend = the ENORMOUS "No Way Jose" ice cream dessert. (Check out pics below)

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend...four more days til the next one! ;)

Notice: I'm the only one digging in here

Elite Eight

Need I say more?

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So proud of my WILDCATS!!!!

kids say the darnedest

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According to two of my third graders, I was wearing way too much makeup today.

Ok, so maybe they aren't used to seeing me with much makeup on. I do go to work in a t-shirt jeans, and grungy tennis shoes most days because we play outside and get dirty. Most days I wear a minimal powder, blush, and mascara. I mean, I always have to wear a little bit of mascara because my eyelashes are transparent.

Today (like every Thursday), I was dressed nicely and actually had on a wee bit of eyeliner. It was my day to actually observe in a classroom, and of course I wanted to look nice and professional. So, I looked a bit more girly than I usually do...but it's not like I was wearing a lot of makeup. At all. Seriously.

So, I went to the school to pick the kiddos up and two of them ran up to me and the following is our conversation:

Kid #1: "Whoa Miss 'Ruby', you are wearing WAY too much makeup today!"

Me: (Saying nothing) I looked at her in a very perplexed manner.

Kid #2: "Yeah, you just really put your face on way too thick today."

Kid #1: "You just kind of look gothic."

Me: "So, maybe I am gothic."

I honestly couldn't think of anything else to say.

But just to prove that kids say the darnedest, see below for my "massive" amounts of eye makeup:

Poor, poor quality from my camera phone...but you get the idea

Seriously???

Right Decision?

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So, it's been three weeks since I left the corporate world.

In only three short weeks, my world has completely changed.

I've gone from suits and stilettos to cardigans and flats.

From rushing through airports to rushing to crying children with bleeding noses/knees/any other body part you can possibly imagine.

From stewing over my boss being too hard on me to stewing over that five year old saying "You're really mean!"

From using professional communication methods to speaking in simplistic terms.

From getting really nervous when presenting to top executives to getting really nervous when a child approaches me with a problem I'm not quite sure how to solve.

Sigh.

A LOT of changes.

But every Thursday reminds and reassures me that I made the best decision for ME.

Every Thursday is the highlight of my week as I visit a third grade classroom and observe. I get to ask the teacher lots of questions, and I get to see true learning in action. I love it!

I am very lucky and very thankful to have a supportive husband with a great job so that I can focus on my future in teaching. Although I am working two part-time jobs, their purpose is definitely not to pay the bills! They are more experience-builders, and I am soaking in as much information possible.

Let's just say my two measly little part-time jobs are fabulous building blocks to some of the challenges I will face as a teacher. I am learning something new every day!

Can't get enough

I really can't.

I haven't shared my latest obsessions in awhile. It's been a long time coming...

Mr. Ruby and I reeeally love shopping at Trader Joe's. I mean everything is all natural, healthy, delicious, and cheap. Not to mention it's pretty darn fun shopping there.

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I drink SO many liquids. All day, every day. My latest drink craze is the zero calorie Sobe Life Water. It's a nice substitution for lame-o water, because not only is it so tasty, but it actually has natural vitamins! (This has only contributed to my bladder problem - I pee at least 67 times a day).

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I seriously love.love.love. my new Teavana Perfect Tea Maker! It makes the most wonderful loose leaf iced tea. Mmm. (#2 contribution to my annoying bladder).

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Does anyone else frickin love edamame? I mean, Mr. Ruby and I go crazy for this stuff. I mean, you can't go wrong with such a fun and nutritious snack!!!

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What are some of your current faves?

Hello Monday, here so soon?

As usual, the weekend FLEW.

We were busy every waking moment.

Saturday was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, so we took full advantage and went for a run. Then, I went to a bridal shower. Good food. Good friends. Fun times. A friend and I were in charge of making the ribbon bridal bouquet for the rehearsal. I have to say...we did a pretty darn good job. I mean, we should become ribbon florists. :)

Saturday night, we went to a bar to hear a friend of a friend's bland play. They were awesome! Although, the bar was really smokey. Yuck.

Is it weird that every time I am in a smokey environment I develop a sinus infection. I'm not kidding. Every.single.time.

So, green phlegm and I have been battling for the past two days.

Mmm. Mmm.

Hope everyone had a happy Monday...

Never felt so sweet...

We're going to the Sweet Sixteen, Baby!!!

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* I do have to say awesome job to our sunflower state rivals - The Jayhawks. I really am sad for them...and everyone else in the country who had them ranked #1 on their brackets...

Spring, don't tease me

Oh my goodness.

The weather this week has been absolutely sun-tastic.

I mean it's been sunny, in the 60's, and no wind or rain! That's pretty impressive for New England.

So, of course now I'm in the mood for some SPRING FASHION!!!

And yes, I am very aware that Mr. Ruby and I are in the midst of watching our budget due to my new life. However, that doesn't mean that a girl can't dream, right?

Some of a few goodies I came across...

Elizabeth & James

Ellie Tahari

Shoshanna

Catherine Malandrino

KORS Michael Kors

Elizabeth & James

Oh springtime, go ahead and bring it!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend, Everyone!!! :)

Fiesta in your mouth

I mean, I don't know how many times I have to say it: I live for Mexican food.

I was craving some On the Border this week (go figure)...but I refrained from indulging and instead of heading for the Border, I decided to try a new recipe from my new Cooking Light Cookbook!

Honestly, it would be a travesty if I did not share these simple new found recipes. I mean, they created a true fiesta in my mouth. And Mr. Ruby said, "Mmm, BABE!" at least 27 times.

Now, these recipes are nothing special. I mean, Samson and Sienna could probably follow the instructions (maybe even Mr. Ruby). But so tasty I literally got sad when I had no more bites left.

*I'm a big advocate for taking a recipe and sort of making it your own. Therefore, I did not follow all directions completely. I'm more of an "eye-baller" than a "measurer". Hey, gotta add your own flavor somehow!

Mixed Greens w/ Lime Vinaigrette

2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 cups mixed baby greens
1 peeled avocado, cut into 8 slices
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk.
2. Arrange greens on plate and top with avocado and tomato. Drizzle evenly with dressing.

Portobello & Black Bean Quesadillas

4 (8-ing) fat-free flour tortillas
2 (4 1/2 inch) portobello caps, chopped
2 tablespoons light balsalmic vinaigrette
1 cup no-salt-added blackbeans, rinsed and drained
1 (2 oz.) jar diced pimiento, drained
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded reduced fat Mexican blend cheese
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
Salsa (optional)
Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

* I added Mexican-spiced grilled chicken pieces for extra protein! (As if this dish needed more protein...)

1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add mushrooms; saute 2 minutes or until tender. Add vinaigrette, beans, and pimiento; cook 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, or until liquid evaporates. Mash bean mixture slightly with potato masher.
2. Spoon about 1/3 cup bean mixture onto each tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese and onions. Fold tortillas in half.
3. Wipe skillet with paper towels; heat over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Place 2 quesadillas in pan; cook 2-3 minutes on each side or until cheese melts. Repeat with remaining quesadillas. Cut into 3 wedges.
4. Serva with salsa and cilantro.

Our mouths had such unbelievable fiestas, that they needed siestas afterward.

Thus, we did not tend to the aftermath of our mexi-mouth-fiestas for a couple of hours:

Paranoia

That's what I have.

I get a bit nervous sometimes about silly things.

This is why I decided to delete my last post regarding my current "babysitting" situation.

Thanks to those of you with the incredibly helpful hints. I really appreciate it.

For those of you who missed out on my maybe-a-bit-too-detailed post...the gist is that I am catching a brief glimpse of what is to come in my teaching career (with how parents discipline their children). Let's just say I'm dealing with some difficult behavioral issues. Also, I have realized that I am so thankful to my mom who actually disciplined me and didn't let me get away with murder while I was growing up.

Moral of the story: Parents, make your children mind. And don't always give them what they want.

Thanks.

Things that make you go "awwww"

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Aww.

That's exactly what my heart said today.

Let me back up a minute.

Last week I started my new life, remember? Went from the glamorous-ish corporate life to dealing with dirty, screaming, whining, hyper, snotty-nosed kids.

Don't get me wrong. I love kids.

But some of the kids I deal with at my after school program are a bit "rough". I was told four different times last week, "You're not my mom, you can't tell me what to do". I was also told "No" about 80 times when I told the kids to do something.

Needless to say...it was a bit stressful.

I kept telling myself, "Ok, you've given huge presentations to over a hundred people and the CEO of a company, you've dealt with a boss who gave you insomnia, and you've sure as heck been thrown into many situations where you had to think quick on your feet."

Never could I ever have been prepared for this.

But, I'm learning.

It's week number two and I'd say the kids are already respecting me more, and my supervisor said the kids are "responding quite nicely" to me. My supervisor also told me that he wanted to run as far away as possible after his first day on the job.

So, I'm already ahead - haven't run away yet.

Now, for the "aww" part.

So today, I walked into the classroom and TWO of my "problem children"ran up and gave me HUGE hugs. I mean talk about confusion. Last week they were back-talking and wouldn't listen to a word I said. This week, they're hugging me so tight I can barely breathe.

I must say, of course I was a bit taken back, but I was so flattered. And of course my heart completely melted.

Sigh.

Such.a.sucker.

Oh, and speaking of hugs and being a sucker for them, does anyone remember this video from a couple of years ago?

I still love it and it gets me every single time!

Over so quickly?

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Per usual, this weekend totally flew by.

I mean, I feel like I blinked and it's now Sunday evening.

Sigh.

Friday night we went with friends to one of my fave restaurants on Federal Hill. I was pretty boring and ordered pizza (couldn't help it...it's just so delish!) And then we all split the most amazing dessert:

Scripelle con Gelato.
Miniature fried doughboys dusted with cinnamon sugar and served with
vanilla bean gelato and warm Nutella spread.

Basically sugary, fried balls of dough smothered in Nutella spread and served with Italian rich, creamy ice cream.

I felt the onset of diabetes within seconds. So worth it though.

Then yesterday, I relived the good ol' college days. We woke up at 7:00 and met up with friends in Newport for St. Patty's Day festivities - i.e. plenty of green gear, breakfast buffet, bloody mary's, mimosas, and irish car bombs.

Lesson of the Weekend: I am NOT still in college, therefore, I should not act like I am. Mi body is too darn old for this nonsense.




So much fun! Then, went home and took a nap with the pups and went to another friend's for dinner.

I am officially exhausted. And I have been ever-so-melancholy and Lazy Pants McGee in this rainy weather.

Ugh. I'm ready for spring!

Hope everyone had a fab weekend!!!!