Fall Favorites | Aggie Game Day

It's that time again! Aggie Football is here and now in full swing! The players are looking good, so why shouldn't we? Here are a few of my favorite game day pieces that are out there! 

Fall Favorites | Gameday Style by hnbormann

THEORY SLEEVELESS TOP | MAROON SLEEVELESS TOP

PATTERNED SHORTS | SCALLOPED SHORTS | SUEDE BALLET FLATS

LEOPARD FLATS | MAROON PURSE | BROWN LEATHER TOTE

OVAL EARRINGS | GOLD PENDANT NECKLACE | MAROON BRACELET

MAROON STUD EARRINGS | LEOPARD SCARF

Highlights of Summer + First Weeks of School

Why the month of no posting? You probably could have guessed. School started. And may I say TGIF?! The first few weeks are hard. New students, new expectations, new curriculum, new year. Before I get too far into the start to school, I want to share some highlights from the summer.

We spent time in Galveston, in Dallas, going out with friends, having reunions, celebrating weddings, serving the inner-city, playing/watching softball, and spent lots of time with family. It was really a great summer. But, as all summers do, it came to an end far too quickly.

The end of the summer brought the beginning of school. The first week back was full of setting up my classroom and attending staff development and planning for the year. I had told myself that I didn't need to make any changes to my classroom decor, but once I stepped foot in there, I couldn't help myself. I started by updating my bulletin boards to keep up with the constantly-updating apps.

One for birthdays, one for studying tips, one for reminders, and one for housing those dear iPhones (that all the middle schoolers have) and graphing calculators.

A few other new things were added this year, because once I started, I just couldn't stop. So, a few more pictures to pull it all together for you!

 For two weeks now, those empty desks have been full. Oh so full. Full of life and laughter and energy--teenagers. And this bright-eyed, year-3 teacher is exhausted. These teenagers are hard work sometimes. They are thirteen going on thirty, so impressionable, and it's wonderful and scary all at the same time. They can so easily fall for temptation. I pray every day that they don't. I pray that they stay young and pure and use their youth to set an example for others.

I pray 1 Timothy 4:12 over them every day. I pray that they enjoy their time in middle school and don't look back one day with regret. I am so thankful for my job and for the kids I get to teach each day.

Happy beginning of school!

Hello, August!

How in the world is it already August? I feel like I was JUST locking up my classroom door for the last time before the summer started. Wasn't the 4th of July like yesterday?! Obviously not. So, hello August! While I am not quite ready to go back to school, I am definitely ready for routine. I thrive off of having a routine, a schedule. Because of this, I am SO EXCITED about a little something that came in the mail this week, BUT you'll have to wait until the end of this post to find out what it is ;) ...don't scroll down, silly! Patience...

The end of the summer brought us some fun events and activities. There has been LOTS of summer softball. Aside from being out on the field, there's nowhere else I'd rather be in the summertime than watching hubs play ball with my main gal.

We have also had the chance to enjoy some fun time with good friends. We went to see an outdoor play with a few of our favorites and our furry chicas.

                  

We've celebrated a few birthdays and had birthday parties for old(er) friends and new(er) ones :)

You can find these two lovely ladies at Caitlyn's Blog and Steph's Website and Blog--both with huge hearts for the Lord and oh so talented!

We got to witness two wonderful people promise to be together forever at their wedding, and unfortunately, I did not snap a picture of them, but snapped a few others.

Sorry ladies, he's taken!

We call this our #selfiesession

We still have a few more fun things planned, and we are going to soak up every minute. For now, I will leave you with my newest purchase... 

That's right, my 2014-2015 Erin Condren planner came in!!!!! EIGHTEEN months of organized awesomeness. They made a few changes for the '14-'15 planner that I really like am obsessed with. If you like keeping a paper calendar/agenda book, this is for you. It is worth the money spent, I promise. AND if you are a first-timer with Erin Condren, by using my referral code, you will receive $10 off of your first purchase! Just click the link above, and once you sign up, it will send you a code via e-mail to use toward your first purchase. Okay I'm finished. 

Enjoy your last few days of summer! Hope you are doing something fun to celebrate while you can!!!

Tomato Basil Spaghetti Squash Bake

This is one of those "don't knock it until you try it" recipes. After just typing that, I realize that sounds very negative and you may not want to try this recipe now, BUT keep reading. For real, this dish is one to try!

I found the recipe here, but as you may know if you have ever stumbled upon my blog before, I cook for TWO--hubs and me. So, whenever I see recipes that end in the word, "bake," that usually means it cooks in a 9"x13" baking dish, and we could eat on it for a week. So, I altered the portions a little to feed our little family of two. (Just don't tell Avery she wasn't included in that count.)

If you have never cooked spaghetti squash before, I also included directions on how I do it. Feel free to browse the web for other methods. I have heard you can use your microwave, but I would be terrified to try.

**Sidenote: I have always had a fear of something exploding in my microwave. Thankfully, it is NOT because of a past experience, just a fear. 

Tomato Basil Spaghetti Squash Bake
Ingredients:
-One spaghetti squash (on the smaller side)
-Olive oil
-Salt
-Ground black pepper
-Garlic Powder
-2 large tomatoes, sliced
-Onion Powder
-Dried Basil
-Dried Parsley
-3/4 cup of shredded Mexican cheese blend
-Fresh basil for garnish

Directions (for Spaghetti Squash only):
-The first thing you have to do is cook the spaghetti squash to get your "noodles" from it. The most difficult part of the whole thing, which happens to be the very first step, is cutting the darn thing in half, lengthwise. Be SO careful!! I've heard of people putting it in the microwave for fish minutes to help soften the squash a little bit.
-Once it is cut, with a spoon, scoop out the seeds from both halves.
-Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
-Brush each of the insides with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. I like to sprinkle a little garlic powder here, too, because we love garlic. Feel free to omit. You can't mess this part up.
-Place halves face down on parchment-paper lined baking sheet and roast in the oven anywhere from 30-50 minutes, depending on the size of your squash. You want a fork to puncture through the flesh of the squash easily, and then you know it's done.
-Remove squash from the oven and allow to cool a few minutes. I am usually too anxious and just handle the squash with oven kits anyway. Whatever your patience-level is here, I am not judging. :)
-With a fork, scrape out the insides/flesh of each half and set aside in a small bowl.

Directions:
-Once you have cooked and set aside the spaghetti squash, change your oven's temperature to 350 degrees.
-Spray an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray.
-Spread 1/3 of the spaghetti squash on the bottom of the baking dish.
-Top with a layer of sliced tomatoes.
-Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, and dried parsley.
-Top the spices with 1/3 of the cheese.
-Add another layer of each: spaghetti squash, sliced tomatoes, spices, and cheese.
-Top with a final layer of squash.
-Then top with the remaining cheese, and sprinkle spices one more time.
-Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
-Top with fresh basil before serving.

Enjoy!!

Summer Lately

Last week, our church participated in Houston 1:8, an inner-city mission trip. One day, I hope we have the opportunity to travel to another country on a mission trip, but so often we think that the only "unreached" people are outside of the United States, not true. There are unreached people on the other side of the state, in the neighborhood over, down the street, and even next door. It was such a blessing to get to serve a group of unreached people in our own city. Matt and I, along with one of Matt's closest friends, were Recreation Leaders for the week, so we got to love on and play games with (and sweat with, see below) over one hundred kids. Being a middle school teacher, I am around kids all the time, but I loved getting to see how Matt interacted with the little ones and how attached to him they were. I pray that these children's lives were touched by their VBS leaders last week and that if nothing else, they will begin to wonder and ask questions and seek answers about our awesome God. I pray that they know how very loved they are.

After a fabulous week serving the Lord, I knew I had a fabulous reunion weekend planned with my roommates from college. With life evolving, we do not get to see each other as much as any of us would want, but even being apart for so long, it was as if no time had passed. We didn't have anyone take a really good, posed picture of all of us, but we managed to capture a few of the highlights from the weekend.

   

   

    

Even after staying up WAY TOO late the first night, a few of the girls woke up and did 21-Day Fix Pilates Fix with me (above, left). We were all sore the rest of the day! But, above (right) is a picture of what we did the rest of the day, so the soreness obviously did not bother us too much. It was so fun getting to catch up and talk endlessly about everything.

   

Still on cloud nine from all the fun we had. I love these girls with all my heart and am already looking forward to the next reunion!


Matt started his second season of Summer Softball--double headers. Thankfully, my parents came to support for the first game, but the second game, which was WAY past my bedtime, it was just the pup and me. She found entertainment in a soccer ball we found, but every time Matt got up to bat, it was as if she knew. She would jump up and watch him, just like her mamma. Such a little human!


   
















Hope you are enjoying your summer, too!

4th of July

As always, another holiday weekend at the bay did not disappoint. While I have time in the summer off, most of my family does not get to enjoy that luxury. But, this weekend, we did. The whole gang was there by Thursday evening, and we enjoyed 3+ days of sweet summer together. 

One of the highlights for me was definitely getting to spend some time working on a project with Matt. My parents had brought an old gate from their old house down to the bay a long time ago with the intention to use it in some way. But, almost two years later, and it was out by the trash, waiting to be picked up. I moved it from the trash and into their garage a few weeks ago, only to find that it was back by the trash. Thankfully, it still had not been picked up, so this was the weekend something had to be done, or it would be a goner. 

When the rest of the family went on an afternoon fishing trip, we stayed behind and got to work. In true 4th of July fashion, an American Flag. 

I had painted the entire fence white the day before, so that we had a blank canvas. First thing we did was use measuring tape to decide how thick the stripes should be. I wanted the stripes to be as authentic-looking as possible, since I knew the stars would be... less than authentic-looking. Once we decided on a thickness, we began placing painters' tape in place of where the white stripes would be. 

Above is a picture of what the flag looked like after it had been completely taped. Then, I started spray painting the red stripes. Once I was about three-fourths of the way finished, Matt sweetly asked if he could finish the red stripes. I had gotten so in my zone that I had forgotten that he was there to help. :) So, he finished up the red stripes.

Once we removed all of the tape (see above), we re-taped/covered what we needed to be covered in order to paint the blue section.

I wish I had taken a picture of this next step, but I got too excited and forgot. But, I took an Exacto knife and cut out a star shape in a piece of cardboard. Then, we used that as a stencil, and sprayed white paint into the stencil to create stars in various spots of the blue section. And then after letting it dry....

It makes me so happy to DIY with my sweet hubby. He is very creative and enjoys a good project, too. 

So, what else did we do this past weekend? Well, we hung out in the canal- floating, kayaking, paddle-boarding, AND Avery got a new life-jacket. Yes, she can swim, and actually maybe a little TOO much. Since my parents' house is on the canal, there is always a chance she could go in purposefully or accidentally and no one is right there to pull her out. Therefore, the life-vest. It calms my nerves, and she looks adorable in it! 

Don't you just want to hug her?

My mom always overdoes herself on food. She made this red (and blue) velvet cake. It was delicious! And look how pretty it was!

              

     

This is one of the reasons I am currently hosting a 5-Day Clean Eating Challenge group right now. I have over 20 people who have committed to eating clean this week, and today is just Day 1. Just look at all of those bright colors?

Don't worry if you missed this 5-Day Clean-Eating Challenge. I'll be doing it again in August. But if you are really interested in getting healthy and making a positive change for you and your family, 21-Day Fix is where it's at! Commit to 21 days with me!

Fitness + Nutrition + Accountability = Success.

We can do it together! Comment below or send me a message if you are interested in knowing more!

I just finished my first round of 21-Day Fix and drinking Shakeology and am LOVING how I feel. Today, I am still doing it, but I'm looking for people who want to join me in this journey!

I will leave you with one last picture from the weekend with my family.

I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July, as well! 

Happy Monday!