Mele Kalikimaka

This just might be my favorite Christmas Break of all time.  To start with, it was kicked off a week earlier than most for the fam to head to Hawaii!  I've never been more excited to whip up some sub plans and pack a suitcase.  Matt's basketball team had a tournament that took us to Paradise (thank you, Pioneers) where we basked in the sun, ate Sno Cones on the beach--special shout out to the hotel deli run by cute Asian ladies, ate great food, and shopped. 

I could definitely see why people would move to Hawaii...weather was a steady 75-80 degrees and the scenery was beautiful!  We became quite the sport and leisure people which is sometimes a tad outside the Sauder norm (the sport part...we've got the leisure down).  Remember the jean shorts and penny loafers at basketball tryouts, Jana?  Anyway, we got to snorkel, parasail, and hike up Diamond Head, which was much more "sport" than I expected.  Seriously, I was thinking easy stroll as I saw little kids strapped to dads' backs, and old women wearing flip flops making their way down, but I really question how they did that.  It was much more strenuous than I expected and at one point I looked up to see what had to have been 1,000 stairs straight up.  So those thinking of going...be warned.  Maybe leave bread crumbs and wear a camelbac.   

The view at the top was well worth the sweat!

I'll save you the long documentary and just let you enjoy the pics. 





The Kid, naturally, became my photo buddy :)



We also enjoyed Pearl Harbor and a Luau

The roughest part was definitely getting on a plane in summer clothes and landing with snow on the ground.  Home sweet home.  T-minus three days to reality.  

The Lost Shall Be Found

Some could say I've been "lost" as far as the blogging world is concerned.  Others might say I've been far too busy lazy and have seen blogging as a major burden lately.  There are a number of things that could be documented:  Thanksgiving, KC shopping rendezvous with the fam, my current addiction to the television show Prison Break, or my putting off finishing starting the project for my master's class due next week. 

So....what fascinating event wins out to be the first thing posted in the last month?

Two words: Gingerbread House.



Allegedly the house sticks together via frosting...we resulted to a hot glue gun



Mom's love for decorating paid off when she spent an extra hour jazzing up the house.



Final product

 December has come which usually means I'm primed and ready for Starbuck's Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate and Christmas music blaring every time I'm in the car.  However, this crazy nice weather is throwing me off here.  And the fact that the fam is headed for Hawaii in less than two weeks might also be throwing me off this month.  Jana's husband, Matt, has tournaments there for his basketball team, so of course we've all decided to join the fun and support the team.  Bronzing on a beach in the middle of December doesn't sound half bad either.  Aloha!

This and That

I'm almost positive if I were to dig back through the archives I've got another post titled "This and That" somewhere, but let's get past my lack of creativity and catch up on life via pictures.  A few weeks ago the Sauder clan met up in the Bend and enjoyed a weekend together.

The last week has been a fun one filled with enjoying events at the Intrust Arena here in Wichita.  The roomies and I hit the court and posed as some of the biggest OKC Thunder fans ever.  We had great seats behind the goal and were in the section that received the blow up paddle things...you know what I mean, right?  Those bright yellow obnoxious things you bang together when the other team shoots free throws. We loved it, but not as much as the boy sitting behind us who scared us everytime he drilled his together.

Go Thunder!

Kevin Durant....so tall

My second outing had me at the Carrie Underwood and Hunter Hayes concert with my parents.  My dad's business went for an early Christmas party and I lucked out with the extra ticket.  I gotta say, I'm not a huge Carrie Underwood fan, but after listening to her live, she really is very talented.  It was definitely over the top with at least five outfit changes and a crazy cool stage that floated over the crowd.

Ya, that's a portion of her stage transformed into a hot air balloon flying over the crowd.



Beach balls and confetti....she knows how to party.

 Christmas decorations are officially out and I'm counting down to Thanksgiving break.  Not that I'm really dying for a break or anything, I really do think I've got my favorite group of kids this year....but who complains about days off?  Happy fall to you all!

A Magnificent Way to Make Meals!

Like the alliteration used in the title?? If that doesn't scream English teacher, I don't know what does...

I just completed my Action Research class for my masters where I had to choose a problem to study and create a paper/presentation over it.  The official question I researched was, "How will implementing a meal plan affect my budget and attitude?"  Now I hate to give up all my secrets, but I'm no great cook.  Three+ years out of college and I'm still no Betty Crocker.  This research project allowed me to discover the BEST meal planning website ever.  Seriously, best.ever.

You have to create an account, but it's FREE!  It will try to get you to upgrade to some better version for a price, but click no thanks at the bottom.  The site can link to your local grocery store (Dillons, Super Target, Homeland were the ones I was familiar with) and then it will let you know what items are on sale at your store for things you'd need in the recipes you select.

My favorite thing about this site is the plethora of recipes.  You select the types of food and dishes you like, then scroll through the many options of meals.  They include prep time, ingredients, recipes, sale items, ratings, etc.  At the end it allows you to print your grocery list (that they generate), recipes, and meals.  They also have an app for the Iphone.  Search "Food on the Table"

Here's the awesome website:

http://www.foodonthetable.com/

Enjoy! :)

Sock Hop, Anyone?

Need another reason for why I have the greatest job ever?

This past week was Spirit Week for Homecoming and favorite decade day had me in this little number.  I also got to wear my pajamas (my personal favorite day).  I wish I had pictures of other teachers throughout the week.  Let's just say, the Gorillas have some great school spirit.  

Another Year Older

Happy 20th Birthday, Kid! (Wow....)                        

To the most beautiful Cowgirl around!  You sure do have a lot of nicknames--Malibu Barbie, Cowboy Barbie, (Heck...anything Barbie) because of how darn cute you are, but you will always be The Kid.  You are such an encouragement to me and you stretch me to love people well like you do!  If you don't have this gal as a friend, you are missing out because she is a great one!

It's always a guaranteed great time laughing and being silly when we spend time together!  

You're a great vacation buddy and are always up for a good time.  I wouldn't want to share the hotel bed with anyone else :)  Hawaii, here we come!  (T-minus 73ish days)

We've all been more than impressed with the way you're dominating college life and growing up so fast.  Words can't express what you mean to me as a sister and friend.  

Excited for a great Sauder Sisters Reunion next weekend.  Love you, Kid!

I'm Back

I had been doing so good on blogging and keeping you all up-to-date on the latest...until September came, and then it left....so very quickly.  I can't believe it is October, people.  Here's a very quick update--because I'm sure you've been dying for it ;)

I've done some fall cleaning...

Before

After

I've had a very hard time finding a shoe organizer that I like and have room for in my closet.  This spinning one with pockets has been a keeper so far.  (Bed Bath and Beyond) 

Carved a pumpkin with friends

Sad to say, the pumpkin looked so great on the porch for less than a week because of all the rain we got here.  No complaints- just a nasty, soggy, moldy mess to throw away. 

The Kid (almost birthday girl) and I

This past weekend my mom came and stayed with me!  We shopped till we I dropped, ate out together, and we even went grocery shopping and she helped me make some meals to freeze.  Seriously, a great mom!  The next day we drove down to Stillwater to join in Cowboy Barbie's honor of being initiated into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.  Had a fun time touring the place with her.  We couldn't go 100 feet before she'd stop and talk to someone she knew.  #socialbutterfly

All in all, life is good and going by fast! I'm really enjoying my students this year and my master's class is going well. Get excited for some future posts featuring a birthday shout out and an awesome meal planning website!