M.I.A.

Yes, I know I have been quite absent as of late with my blogging, but I have a good excuse:
I've been busy....really busy...

1. Stressing out for a solid two weeks with preparations and administration of state standardized testing. You could say it was well worth it, considering my kids did pretty darn well--obviously there is room for improvement, but I can't really complain.

2. The school year is almost over, and by almost over I mean two and a half days left of school and then summer...for me. The end of the year stuff is so time consuming.

3. Sometimes I think I chose the wrong concentration, English requires so much grading. 95 research papers later, 10 poetry assignments, and 3 other assessments my grading is finished.  I realized it took so long because much of my time was taken up planning Prom with my go-to-lady, Holly.  That, however, was well worth all the time because it turned out rather spectacular.  Not something anyone would want to plan every year, yet it turned out rather spectacular.

Have a gander...

pretty spectacular decorations some
of our students made--Big Lights, Big City

Holly and I--best prom organizers, Ever!

3. I have taken a slight break from baking to do some other things....well until the last three days happened...

Beer drinking on a Thursday....this Brewer's Choice by Schalfly = new favorite beer

watching the crazy weather in St. Louis;
golf ball sized hail

wanting to buy this puppy, but I didn't.

I baked a few things in the last few days: oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, strawberry lemonade cupcakes, and key lime pound cake.  Honestly, the only thing that really turned out the way I wanted it to were the cookies. Nothing was decent enough for me to document and brag about....so I didn't.

Alas, summer will be here in a mere two and a half days for me and I have practically a solid three months off of work....the beauty of being a school teacher. These three months are going to be full of baking, cooking, and I think a lil' bit of sewing....might as well keep busy.

Until then, finding recipes will be taking up my time and then the blogging will return.

So if you're missing me, no worries, I will be back...