Glorious Day

it is absolutely beautiful outside today!

the sun is shining and i cannot wait to be on a patio somewhere

it is perfect weather for the rodeo cook-off this weekend...hope to make it but we shall see if the hubs if feeling up to it...considering he's "sick" but playing golf today...hmmmm

can't wait to meet jwh for a drink in a few short hours

can't wait to meet some of my fav ladies tomorrow for food, drinks, sunshine and shenanigans...always good times to be had with them

ready to hit the backyard full force and cut back all the dead from the lovely freezes we had this winter and start deciding on what will in the flowerbeds...

ready to get some MAJOR projects tackled in the upcoming weeks: base cabinet for TV, dresser for entry...i am in DESPERATE need of storage for our china...=), the guest bath will be painted with new linens, and the office is getting a bookcase and overhaul!

this is what sunshine and pretty weather does to me...makes me want to knock out projects and get things in order! i love spring time!

today is Go Texan Day at school...the kiddos are sooo presh in their outfits...i truly love this place. =)

i think that is all the rambling for now...hope you all get outside and enjoy this beautiful weather we are having! it will be pool time asap!

What's Cooking...

well we are home from Vegas and finally feeling rested! I do NOT recommend landing at 10:45 PM on Sunday night and having to be at work on Monday at 7:30 AM...

last night was the first night back that I didn't have something planned...so I actually cooked us a meal. after eating out all meals for 7 days in a row it was time for a nice healthy home cooked meal!

so i hopped on to the trusty allrecipes.com and found a couple of healthy pasta dishes to try...
i called J and he told me to surprise him...i decided on Greek Pasta with Tomatoes and Beans..

Ingredients



2 (14.5 ounce) cans Italian-style diced tomatoes


1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed


10 ounces fresh spinach, washed and chopped (We only used about 4 ounces)


8 ounces penne pasta


1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

** And I added grilled chicken breast for protein**



Directions


Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente.


Meanwhile, combine tomatoes and beans in a large non-stick skillet. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes.


Add spinach to the sauce; cook for 2 minutes or until spinach wilts, stirring constantly.


Serve sauce over pasta, and sprinkle with feta.

Jonathan loved the meal and so did I...it was quick and easy and I am having the leftovers today for lunch..and I am NOT a huge fan of leftovers!

Tomorrow is Go Texan Day at school and I can't wait to see all the kiddos decked out as well as wear my boots...

So excited that Rodeo Season is here!

Happy Thursday!

Nothing Says Love Like....

a new water heater??? Yep that's right. Our lovely water heater decided it was time to start leaking from the attic into our guest bathroom....oh just one week before we leave to celebrate the hubs 30th bday..

so yesterday afternoon the hubs set out to get a new water heater and have it installed all before I got home..because let's face it..who takes a cold shower when its 70 degrees much less 29 degrees outside.

it amazes me that those things are SOOOOOO expensive! you can buy one for 250, 500 and up to a 1500 for a water heater...you've got to be kidding!

All in all the water heater is installed i took a HOT shower this morning and the house isn't a wreck. The bathroom walls and ceiling have to dry before we can really assess the damage and determine what the plan is for that room. All I can say is it's agood thing I have a Spring Break again, so I can tackle that lovely painting project. I do have a few colors in mind and ideas already but I am not sure I want to totally re-do that bathroom from blues and browns and to blues and gray or neutrals and colorful towels...we shall see.

Is anyone else wondering where the heck Spring is? I am tired of these 25 degree mornings in Houston. Supposedly it will reach 72 next week...I'll cross my fingers that the groundhog got it right this time!

Happy Friday!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes...

that's right i mentioned changes in the previous post about 2 weeks ago and can finally share the the most recent change in the Lenz household.....

i decided to change jobs and get back to working in the schools. Many people scratched their heads and looked at me with disbelief but when you are not looking forward to going to your job everyday a change MUST be made. I am fortunate enough to work in a field where currently my profession is in demand..so it worked out perfectly. made a few phone calls my old boss had me a new job in no time.

So things are going great. I am less stressed, happier and get to wear normal clothes again everyday. I am truly happy that i made the switch back..happiness is worth something!

In other news I am still going to boot camp and trying to get back into shape..few more pounds to lose and a few more areas to tone..seeing results is the best reward. I had originally set out to run a half marathon with Meredith in April and soon realized that it was a long shot. So I have decided to set smaller goals to build up to a half marathan at some point. It is something I would love to accomplish. In March one of the elementary schools in our neighborhood is doing a 5K...I think I can handle a 5K..roughly 3.2 miles. My goal would be to do it in under 35 minutes. The training will begin because I have never ran more than 2 miles at a time outside on our trail next WEEK because the weather this week is insane! Temps in the 30's and possibility of SNOW on Friday?!? We live in Houston right?!?!?

Stay bundled up fellow Houstonians it's only going to get colder as the day continues on!

well hello again....

im not going to bore you with the usual well we have been super busy spill because everyone has been. i checked and it has been 2 months since my last post which is quite pathetic. to say that i havent missed blogging would be semi-true. i get on and still read all about your fabulous lives but i find myself not having much to say....it seems that when i was in the school setting with young kids everyday i needed the outlet of blogging to connect with adults and have adult like conversations. i called my mom almost as soon as i pulled out of the parking lot and we talked almost the whole way home. since i have been working with adults with dementia..once i get in the car my brain is done..i am all talked out...nothing to say because i have been reasoning with adults who are confused for 8 hours straight. to say that mom and my friends havent had to adjust or have been asking me if everythins is okay would be an understatement..i dont blame them for being worried or concerned because it was a complete 180 from what they had become programmed into by me. but i think everyone is on the same page now...im trying to be a better daughter, friend and wife and taking into consideration that i cant not totally go from one extreme to the other.

with that being said 2011 is all about contentment for me. content in life, content in where i am in life, content in the fact that the hubs and i are doing very well at this point in our life and content in life is pretty stinkin good. :)
although this will be hard for me it is for the better (for me and J). i think it wears on him a little that I am always adding to the never-ending "to-do" list....and i can honestly say right this very second that i have pretty much everything i NEED. now that doesn't mean my "want" list isn't a mile long but i need to be more realistic and be CONTENT with all I have because we are super blessed and super fortunate to be where we are today.

i have so many pics to upload from the past few months from thanksgiving to my brother graduating college...do we feel old!..to NYE and this past weekend..those will come soon.

hope everyone enjoys the rest of their sunday...more posts to come...as changes are headed to the Lenz casa and NO we are not expecting...just to put that little idea to rest. ;)