What's in the Lunchbox?

School is back in session for most of Oklahoma now. I'm back to teaching for the first time in 8 years. I've taught kindergarten and first grades, but now find myself teaching PreK for Owasso Public Schools. Let me just say, friends, it's rocking my spoiled little world! Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful for the opportunity and it's making me bring things out from the very old toolbox... my mind! Eight years at home raising kids and then back to the classroom, is not the easiest transition. I'm slowly getting the hang of it. All the little songs and nursery rhymes are coming back. My kiddos are giving me lots of hugs- I'll call that successful so far. 
With us back to school, I find it difficult to come up with lunchbox ideas for my girls and me. My high school daughter is gluten-free and manages her lunches very well. She makes lots of chicken salad with Greek yogurt, pineapple, grapes and nuts. She always has Greek yogurt, gluten-free crackers, and other fruits. She's such a healthy eater. 
My first grader eats pretty much the same thing every day. Blah. Turkey and mustard sandwich, Cheetos and a Roll-up. Whoop-ti-do! 
Sadly, my lunch everyday has been just like my first grader's, minus the Roll-up. I usually add in some fruit or yogurt. 
Our lunches need a little help. My high school daughter loves her Bento Box. She is so creative with her food in her box. I thought it might be helpful to you if I gave you some resources for some Bento Box ideas and other lunch choices. 

Lisa Storms - Lunches with Personality 

The Kitchn - Sandwich Art: A Mom's Awesome School Lunch Project

No one to give credit for this one, but I LOVE it!!! 

Wendolonia: Lunch Box Ideas -

 She has an awesome idea list for free download that gives suggestions for proteins, fruits, veggies, tummy-fillers, etc. 

Again, no one to give credit to for these darling lunchbox ideas. How cute are these?! 

What do you pack in your kids' lunchboxes? Are they picky eaters? I have a hard time with my youngest daughter. She is a picky eater. Blah.  My teen has come up with some creative Bento Box ideas to make for her little sister. I can't wait to see them. I'll be sure to take pictures. 

If you haven't started school yet (or, even if you have) I hope you and your kiddos have a terrific new school year! 

~Mrs. Albright Packin' the box, like.... 

No Longer JUST a Housewife

Have you ever taken a leave of absence from work and not returned for a long time? I have. I took what was supposed to be a year of leave that turned into eight years. During my year off from teaching, I ended up pregnant so one year turned into two years home. Two years home turned into eight years home. 
At what point do you decide to go back to work? Do you just continue to be a stay at home mom until your kids are grown? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being a stay at home mom. I've been pretty pretty spoiled. Blessed, but spoiled. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at home. I especially loved when my youngest went to FULL DAY kindergarten last year. It was great to exercise, grocery shop (doesn't every woman call all her shopping, grocery shopping?!?), catch up on DVR'd shows and, oh yeah, participate in my children's activities! 
Last week my dear friend, who is also a pre-k teacher, contacted me about a new pre-k position that was going to be posted. She wanted me to apply so we could work together. She's been wanting us to work together for years. Well, it finally seemed that it could be a possibility. 

It really did seem to be the perfect timing. My aunt now lives in my small town. She will be able to help transport our children and care for them should they not feel well and be able to take them to doctor's appointments. We will also be helping her by paying for her services.  
Do you ever just feel it's God's timing about something? I mean, really feel his hand over a situation? For instance, I have been home for eight years. I stopped receiving "teacher mail" after being home about four years, but then about a month ago I suddenly started receiving teacher catalogues in the mail again. It was like a sign. And then, my friend called me about this particular position. It really is the perfect position for transitioning back into the teaching world. PreK means I will also have my very own assistant. Can I get a "whoop?!" What teacher doesn't want her very own assistant?!  Plus, I will get to team teach with my sweet friend. And.... guess who is MOST excited about me teaching? My FAMILY! Yes, my family.... both my girls and my husband. With that kind of support, where can I go wrong? 
I interviewed for the position on Monday and Wednesday I was offered the position. I was super excited about the prospect and felt great about the interview. But ultimately, I knew I would be okay with working or staying home. I know God has always had me just where He's wanted me. I guess He's decided it's time to use my extra time to enrich some others' lives. I'm excited to be Owasso's newest pre-k teacher. Go, Rams!  

 

It's time the crazy frenzy of throwing together a classroom begins. Do you realize that when a teacher takes a job, that 9 times out of 10, she walks into an almost empty room, void of anything fun and exciting? Do you also realize that anything fun and exciting usually comes out of that teacher's own pocket? I hear parents complain often of having to purchase this and that supplies. I truly don't think most parents realize how much their child's teacher spends out of their own pocket. Most good teachers never complain about it. They are happy and willing to spend some money in hopes they can make the biggest impact on their students. It wasn't 4 hours after I accepted my new position that I spent $289 on classroom materials. Sadly, that doesn't go very far. I would LOVE to find a corporation or local business that would like to sponsor our brand new classroom. Wouldn't that just be the best?!? If you, or someone you know, is interested in investing in the future of our local children, PLEASE send me an email! Teachers are NEVER too proud to ask for help when it comes to the betterment of their students. NEVER. My new classroom could use some math and science manipulatives, cubbies for their backpacks and papers and some book displays. 

What does taking a job mean for this housewife as far as my position on The RHOK? Well, I'm going to do my best to continue to be a part of this awesome blog. I love my housewives that I work with and the ones I've gotten to know along the way. I think it's important that we continue to support wives and moms in whatever journey they are taking. Some of us are called to be at home full-time, some are called to homeschool, some are called to work full-time and some, to do all of the above. Let's continue to lift one another up during each and every season we are in. 
Wish me luck (mostly pray) as I start this newest adventure. I'm truly looking forward to enriching the lives of other children, as well as the lives of my own children. I'm sure I'm going to have some fantastically wonderful stories to share with you in the future. It turns out that pre-k kids are some funny creatures. 

~Mrs. Albright Happily spending that first paycheck that I don't have yet, like... 

Sup, Girl?

Mrs. Albright and I love to go out dancing.  We love the night life.  We love to boogie.  We love to get out and show the world just how silly we are. I'm sure we should be embarrassed.   See?

There is never a dull night on the dance floor.

This is an absolute truth.

Most of the places in our city that have live music also have a lot of men on the prowl.  We have discovered that the pick up lines and moves have not changed so much over the years.  It brings me back to one of the first days in college on the dance floor when I was asked the old standby, "Hey baby - what's your sign?"

I am seriously amazed by the menfolk who try these lines.  But then it begs the question -- do these lines actually work?  Wise up ladies!  Somehow, someway these must have worked for them once or they wouldn't use them again.

This past weekend was no exception.  

Best line ever was asked while the band played "Jessie's Girl" who asked... (drum roll)... (tell me you don't see this one coming)... 

"Your husband's name isn't JESSIE, is it?"

Geez.

But there is just one thing I don't really understand.

Maybe you can answer this for me.

Why are the men using these lines on middle-aged, married women out for a girls' night out?

Mrs. Priss

Who just loves to dance like...

Do You Know If This Hotel Is Pager Friendly?

If you follow us on Facebook, then you are probably aware of the fact that Mrs. Albright and I took a trip to Vegas with one of my high school girlfriends.  No husbands.  No kids.  Heck yeah!
It was crazy fun. I would tell you all about it, but then I'd have to kill you.
If I didn't leave a bit of mystery, it wouldn't hold all the magic of Vegas, right? I will tell you this - the last time I slept this little was when I had a newborn.
We did manage to get this one very tame picture by a fountain at the Venetian.

We posed for funny pictures.

I won free shots for Mrs. Albright by answering TV theme song trivia.

We made lots of new friends.

Meet the California girls! 

We danced.

And danced.

And danced some more.

We took pictures of people crazier than us.

(We might appear in a few people's videos as well)

I saw one of my favorite bands.

My husband is a tad bit embarrassed that this guy knows me when we visit Vegas.

And I even sang karaoke with another band friend.

* I'm a groupie *

Bohemian Rhapsody, if you must know.

I would show you the hilarious video, but he says if I share it I would be killing his career.

I'm sure he is referring to his performance, not mine.

Mrs. Albright will be posting more about our trip later this week. If she doesn't mention a need for a babysitter, then she is lying. I can't wait to head back to Vegas with these girls next July!

Mrs. Priss
Doing Vegas properly like...

We Went Out Last (Friday) Night.

Seems like every time I get out I'm in the middle of a Kenny Chesney video.  There is a whole lot of weirdness going on out there.   And I love it.

Mrs. Albright, Mrs. Montgomery and I headed out with a gaggle of girlfriends to listen to one of our favorite bands and do a little boogie-ing.  I won't lie and pretend I wasn't looking for something to report.  As far as I am concerned, we found success. Here's a little recap. You just can't make this stuff up. 1.  I learned that Mrs. Montgomery likes the macho, gangsta look.  I personally thought the Beastie Boys pulled it off but it has been unpopular ever since.  Before you go thinking a married woman was chasing down young men on the dance floor, don't.  She was scoping out for a few of the single ladies with us. 2. I would like to personally thank the woman who followed me to the bathroom to ask my age.  Because of the language barrier it took some time to figure out what she wanted.  Alas, I am not up for entertaining her 20-something year old cousin who is coming to town soon.   True story. 3. If you have a stain on the crotch of your pants, please stand in front of the bathroom dryer until it goes away or go home and change.  If you do not, you will be have a new name - Captain Peepants.   4. If you are a true friend, you will NOT abandon your girlfriend on the dance floor with Captain Peepants.  It was a mass exodus.  I turned around and they were running.   Joke is on them because they missed some of the best dance floor laughs, including #10 on the list. 5. I do not understand these youngsters and their dance floor grinding trains.  It is wrong on so many levels.   Just say no. 6. The dance floor is a safety zone from all the wrongs in the world.  No fighting, please.  This is our happy place.

7. If I'm not at Chippendale's (and I'm never there), then I am not looking for a lap dance.  Same goes for Mrs. Albright who was offered one and never given the chance to say, "No, thank you."   8. If you are 50+ -- you are to old to offer up that lap dance.  I don't care how good you are at dancing or if you work out at the gym every day.   (Side note: that pillar by the dance floor is not a dancing pole) 9. I am in my 40s.  Why, oh WHY, would any 20-something think I need his full attention?  Just because I'm dancing doesn't make me a cougar.  And he already noted the wedding ring.  I've renamed Captain Peepants to YoYo.  He goes away, but he kept returning. 10. If someone rubs their butt against yours on the dance floor, you should always turn around and see who it is.  ALWAYS.  Guess what, Peepants/YoYo?  That wasn't me.  It was gracious of you to thank me for it, though.  If you had bothered to look, you would have seen a skinny 60-something white man shaking it for you. Does this sound like your average night out? Maybe you go to the wrong places. Or is that me?

*Mrs. Priss*



...who likes to get out and boogie.

Bacon. It's a Food Group.

 

 I've always been a lover of bacon. Thanks to social media, ALL of my friends know I have a big, fat love affair with it.  Take a look at a few of things that have been posted on my Facebook wall by my friends or me, just because they know about my insane infatuation with the duct tape of all food.

Being the resident recipe housewife, I must share a favorite recipe involving BACON! 

I make so many things with it, Pampered Chef Chopped Salad (it's the BEST), Bacon & Tomato Cups, Outback's Alice Springs' Chicken, Cooked Cabbage, Arkansas Green Beans, broccoli/cauliflower salad, pasta salad, BLT's, etc. But, the one that comes to mind right at this moment and that I would love to sink my chompers into is...

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts! Mmmm!  

Click link to go to the original website -  

Oh So Delicioso

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds bacon

2 cans whole water chestnuts

1 cup barbecue sauce

1 cup honey

toothpicks

Directions

Cut your bacon in half. Wrap each water chestnut with bacon and secure it with a toothpick. Place in a 9"x13" cake pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.

Combine barbecue sauce and honey and whisk to combine. Drizzle over water chestnuts.

Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour, or until bacon begins to crisp.

Serve warm.

Dear, SWEET Mrs. Priss even got me my very own BaCoN necklace the other day. Isn't she so thoughtful?! 

Do you have a favorite recipe that includes bacon? If so, I'd be ever so grateful to have it. 

I shall leave you with one more little bacon tidbit....

~Mrs. Albright Putting bacon on my bacon, like a...

Sum, Sum, Summertime!

Most people love summertime. They love the heat, they love the sun and can spend hours on end out on the water. Not me. Summertime is my least favorite season. I loathe heat and am allergic to the sun. For reals. But, there are a few things I do love about summertime. I love that my kids have no homework. I love not having schedules, and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE summertime fruits and veggies. That's my absolute favorite thing about summer. 

I really wish I had a garden. I always say, "Maybe next year!" and it never happens. I end up buying my fresh fruit and veggies at produce stands. It tastes so good that I don't even complain much about how expensive it is. 

One of my very favorite summertime salad recipes is this pasta salad. It is so easy and absolutely delicious. One of my college roommates shared it with me and I've been making it for the past 25 years. 

Pasta Salad

1 box of Rotini pasta - cooked and rinsed with cold water

1 cucumber - chopped

2 tomatoes - chopped (or 6 Roma tomatoes, chopped)

1 can of sliced black olives

1/2 red onion - chopped

1 bottle of Zesty Italian dressing

3-4 Tbsp. Salad Supreme by McCormick

Toss altogether and let set in refrigerator for at least 1 hour. 

What is your favorite thing about summertime? Do you have a favorite summertime recipe you'd like for us to try? If so, please share it with us. If we love it, we'll blog about it. Have you ever used McCormick's Salad Supreme? If so, have you used it other than for the recipe on the back? 

~Mrs. Albright Enjoying the outdoors before it hits 90 degrees, like a....