Monday, February 28, 2011

!

I'm a little stressed right now. So, in order for me to sleep, I have to make to do lists or I think about everything all night.

And all I can think about is that I have to play the recorder in front of my music class tomorrow with two hilarious girls. This is going to be a legit disaster!

My semester:
-Science Exam 3/1 (literally can't tell you 1 thing about the class)
-Men's Choir Concert 3/5 (a requirement for music class)
-PRAXIS 3/12 (have to pass this to student teach :/)
-Teach Sunday school 3/13
-Student Portfolios due 3/17
-Mikey comes home!! 3/23
-Teaching Resume' due 3/24
-Savior of the World Concert 3/25 (another requirement for music)
-Literacy III test 4/1 (have to pass to student teach)
-Last day of school!! 4/8

I can do this...

Oh snappp

So...I can officially be a part of my Texas family.
Let me preface this statements by telling you about them and their phone addictions . They (Edy, Michael, Julee, Dave, Dad, Sister...everyone) are ALWAYS on their phones playing Scrabble, Facebook, Words With Friends, etc.

They used to give me so much crap when I was in high school about texting, and now I can't get them off THEIR phones (and you alwaysss deny it lol!) And now they make fun of me for having a ghetto, old school flip phone.

I like T9 ok!?

Well, Matt got me a smart phone for V-day. Sooo now family, I can be like you.
That is all.

Just watched the new Lady Gaga and I'm pretty sure they showed her giving birth to an alien??

The new edish.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Happy Bday Ma!

Today, 2-10-11 is my ma's birthday! She is the coolest lady ever, and you are lucky if you are her friend.

Julee Christene Tate in a nutshell:

She is the most ADD person I have ever met. If we watch movies at home, there's a rule that she is not allowed to do anything else besides watch it (even though that never happens) She has to be doing SOMETHING... ALL THE TIME!

80's Rock is how Julee rolls. Journey, Rush, and Def Leppard are some of her fav bands.

Her laugh sounds like a cat dying, and it is hilarious!

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me, "You look just like your mom!", I would have thousands of dollars. We have the same nose, smile, and eye shape.

She makes the best food. There is always something good to eat at our Texas house.

We have the same middle name.

Her fav color is purple.

The only horrible trait she gave me is migraines! :(

She knows how to find deals on everything...especially Bath and Body Works. The people there literally know her by name. Julee could probably be on "Hoarders" for all the B&BW stuff she has.

Julee is down for anything coconut, pina colada, peanut brittle, salsa, or spicy.

She always makes "potion" with EVERYTHING she eats. Nothing can be plain. She has to mix things with salsa, put fruit in her cereal, or have jalapenos on the side. She could eat jalapenos for every meal.

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people on earth.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

THEE best orange chicken

I have never made asian food before, but when we tried this at the Ash's house I HAD to make it again. I loveee orange chicken, and this is way better than Panda or any other place. Promise.

I'm not a big fan of recipes that have a lot of ingredients or steps, but this one is totally worth it.

Photobucket
Ingredients:
2 Large Chicken Breasts
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
Oil (for frying)
1/2 cup Cornstarch
1 tablespoon Cornstarch
1/4 cup Flour
1 tablespoon Ground Ginger
1 teaspoon Minced Garlic
1/2 teaspoon Crushed Red Peppers
1 Green Onion (sliced thin)
1/4 cup Water
1/2 teaspoon Sesame Oil
3 tablespoons Soy Sauce
3 tablespoons Orange Juice
9 tablespoons Sugar
10 tablespoons White Vinegar
1 Orange, zest of (OPTIONAL)

Directions:
1. Cut up your chicken breasts into bite size pieces. Put the chicken into a bowl. Stir in the egg, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.

2. In a seperate bowl stir in the flour and the 1/2 cup of cornstarch.

3. Spoon out the chicken from the liquid mixture and put the pieces into your flour mixture. Stir around well until the chicken is fully coated int the flour and cornstarch.

4. Heat up some oil in a large pan on medium heat. Once the oil is really hot, spoon your chicken out of the bowl and set the pieces in the oil in a single layer. Flip each piece over once it is golden brown. When the chicken is cooked and brown, pull it out of the oil and set aside. Dump the oil and clean your pan.

5. In a bowl add the soy sauce, orange juice, sugar, and white vinegar. Stir.

**You need to work QUICK in the following steps and be ready with your ingredients. I burnt my first batch because I wasn't fully prepared...so I had to start over. Get out the remaining ingredients and measuring tools. Have the lids off the spices and have your onion cut so you are ready.

6. Add a tablespoon of oil in your clean pan. Add your ground ginger and minced garlic. Stir-fry until fragrant. (about 10 seconds)

7. Add and stir-fry your crushed red peppers and green onions.

8. Add the sesame oil. Stir for 3 seconds.

9. Add in your mixture that you have in your bowl containing the soy sauce, orange juice, sugar, and vinegar. Bring to a boil.

10. Add your cooked chicken and stir until mixed.

11. Add in the water and the remaining tablespoon of cornstarch. Stir until smooth.

12. Heat until thickened. If you want to add the orange zest you do it at this point. Only add it if you want it to have a lot of orange flavor, as it adds a ton. I would recommend skipping the orange zest if you dont want it REALLY orangy.

13. Serve with rice.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Creed

No, not the horrible band. I'm talking about Creed Bratton.


He has always been my favorite character on The Office. He rarely speaks, but when he does, it's creepy and hilarious. This season, he has gotten more lines in the show. I have never laughed so hard. I know my parents (especially Dave) will appreciate this...

Creed is supposed to be speaking about how to grow your small business...


Thursday, February 3, 2011

Last semester. Well sort of.

My life has felt a lot like my desktop lately. Chaotic and just all over the place. I have to keep thinking of April 9th. THE LAST DAY OF CLASSES OF MY BYU-I CAREER- the day I can smile again.

(K that was a bit dramatic)

Matt: "It looks like you're gonna have to start shopping around for a bigger monitor now that yours is almost full."

Smarty pants.

In my last semester of school school (meaning my last semester where I actually have to walk to campus to attend classes...I still have student teaching in the Fall), our fridge has looked a lot like this.

B a r e.

The other day I found a cheeseburger that was back there since October.
I think we have enough tortillas to share with everyone in Rexburg.

Is it odd that we still have our Christmas tree up? It helps make me happy in this stressful time, so I don't even care!

Oh hello, Kourtney Kardashian.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

-22?!

Look. I know this is a national freezing weather week. However, I bet you didn't have to walk out into -22 degree weather this morning. I teach in Idaho Falls 2 days a week, and my district was like one of the ONLY ones that didn't close.

So I drive to school in Sheila's car and we see 3 cars on the side of the road. I think to myself, "Hm the roads aren't icy. What are these cars doing?" Then it happened.

Our car broke down. So there we are stranded on the side of the highway in -22 degree weather. Awesome! Thankfully, we were right by Matt's cousin's house so we just chilled at their house until Paul came and fixed (hopefully?) our car. We drove home and I slept for a longgg time.

Paul Dial, you are a life saver.

So, to my Texas peeps, when you're sad that it's 22 degrees, please remember me in your prayers. (It's going to be -29 on Friday) (OR think of my dad who bravely works in Alaska in
-50 temps!)