Orange you juicy?

When I am "under the weather", my go-to medicine is freshly juiced orange juice.  The fresh enzymes + the Vitamin C is perfect for my mind, body, and soul.  I love to use Valencia oranges because they are much juicier than Navel oranges.  Don't be deceived by the color, size, and shape of the Navel oranges! They tend to be more pulp-y and less juicy! Valencia oranges are incredibly juicy and tasty though they are mis-shaped and small! A bag of them is about $2.99 at WF :).

What do you do when you are feeling "under the weather"?

The Dog Life

 I miss being able to sleep 8 hours.
I miss waking up to the sunrise.

I miss the simple life of naps.

I miss the free spirited days.

I miss the unhurried life.

Anyone else ready for the weekend? 

Sweet Pancakes

It's sweet pancakes day. :) Who doesn't love a good pancake? Sugar + Bread. Yum. :) Last week in cooking club, we made chocolate chip pancakes topped with strawberries, whipped cream, maple syrup, all drizzled with more chocolate syrup. :) This week we made a Korean pancake called Hoddeok from Maangchi's website and it was a hit! So easy to make and the kids made these all by themselves!

 Heated up three electric skillets at around 350 degrees with a few TB of veggie oil.

Sophia made the dough a few hours earlier to let the yeast rise the dough.  

Flour, sugar, warm water, oil, and yeast.

 Mixed brown sugar and cinnamon together.  

Dusted the cutting board with flour...

 Rolled the dough into a ball.

Stuffed the dough with the sugar mix in a manner that seemed logical. :)

 Closed the dough with the sugar mix and rolled into a ball again. 

Cooked the dough on the skillet for 30 seconds on one side until golden brown.  

Then flipped and smushed. :)

Sugar caramelized in the heat.

Dough crispy out, yet soft within.

Pancakes devoured hot off the skillet.

Do you ever have a craving for a nice stack of pancakes? What's your favorite way to eat 'em?

The MS Life #7

Love is in the air in my 6th grade classroom. I was mindfully sitting at my computer before class started and I overheard a conversation between two boys.  Well, it was being publicly discussed, so I couldn't help but listen.

E said, "I don't understand why S won't go out with me! I asked her out and she said 'NO'! I just don't get it. WHY WON'T SHE GO OUT WITH ME?! Ugh."

C said, "I know, she won't go out with me either. Sigh."

E said, "I bet that you won't be able to keep your eyes off of her during class."

C said, "I know, it's just so hard."

During class...

E looks at C (from across the room), and mouths "Stop looking at her! I told you that you wouldn't be able to!" S is in the back blushing and pretending not to notice...

Later on in class, E didn't have his computer, so I told him he could work with someone else. Of course, he pulled his chair up to work with another student, who was right next to S.  S turned to him and said, "You can look at my computer if you want to..., "blushing again.

Lessons Learned

--6th grade boys are persistent and hopelessly in love
--6th grade girls secretly want the attention
--they know how to play the game already
--love is complicated even in middle school 

Do you remember your very first crush? When was it? Any fun stories? :)

No Other

My heart will sing

No other name.

Forever Reign, Hillsong Live Album.

Took part in the historical first church service of Hillsong NYC today.  God's presence was beautiful and glorious.  Loved seeing the first seeds of church planting and worshiping alongside with my HMCC-ers. 

Lesson learned: Whatever God calls us to do, His glory will be our rear guard.  Isaiah 50:10.  Simple, yet profound. 

Any lessons learned today from church? Please share! :)

The MS Life #6

Yes, it's that time: Spirit Week! I've been to several pep rallies in the past five years and I must say, today's was the best one yet.  Gotta love the energy they bring. :) And yes, our colors are similar to Maize and Blue! Instead, we are gold and blue. :*)

Tuesday: Pajamas Day
Wednesday: Sport Team Day
Thursday: Color Day
Friday: Twin Day

What was your favorite Spirit Week or Homecoming festivity? Any crazy happenings?

Camp Hope

"Te esperamos." 

"We wait for you. We hope for you".

We saw faith literally move mountains today.
It's been a historical day of redemption and miracles.

"There are actually 34 of us," wrote Jimmy Sanchez, 19, the youngest trapped miner, in a letter sent up from the shelter on Tuesday through one of the narrow tubes that have been the men's lifelines, "because God has never left us down here."

God is good.  All the time.

What was the most touching moment in the rescue mission for you?

Just Because

I love snail mail.  Gone are the days of envelopes with handwritten addresses and freshly smeared post office ink.  I used to collect used stamps from old cards that would come in the mail in elementary school.  And now I treasure every card that I've ever received since high school in my "memoir" box.  When I'm bored, one of my favorite places to browse is Papyrus, an exquisite paper handmade card shop.  I buy cards on the whim when I see one that I absolutely cherish and hold on to it for the right moment.  Yes, I am a bit quirky. :)  Sometimes I feel like a thoughtful, handwritten card means more than an extravagant gift.  I love words, what can I say :). I saw this handmade card painted in watercolor and calligraphy by a local artist in NY and I loved the colors, the flowers, and plainly, just the simplicity of it.  

This card is on its way to one of you "just because". Hope it brightens your day :).

Do you miss snail mail like I do?

The MS Life #5

There is no "I" in TEAM.
But there is "me". 

That is what a middle schooler said the other day. LOL. What can I do, but laugh?!  Can't help but enjoy the wittiness of their thoughts. :)

Lesson learned: I must not laugh -- only maintain the teacher pokerface with the "raised brows with hands on hips" or... the teaching moment will be lost. But not sure how possible that is with moi.  I am not a big disciplinarian nor am I witty enough to combat that response.  And I think I like to laugh. :)

Do you remember thinking this way in middle school? Any ideas for responding to this wit? :)

The Glass Window

I don't deal with change well, I've realized.  Wherever I am in life, I always feel like there is a glass between me and the world.  Always looking out, maybe one foot in, but never fully in it.  I think I operate on the mode of "the grass is greener on the other side" -- but once I make my move to the "other side" things aren't as daisy as they may have seemed in my head.  Yes, I live with my head in the clouds, I don't think that will ever change. ;). I know it is a matter of perspective, but I can't change how I feel at times.  Wishing so very much that I was still in Ann Arbor.  Hopefully this season of transition will pass soon and I will be on the other side of that glass window in due time.

How do you deal with change in your life?

Peacefood Café

 Welcome to Peacefood Café. :)

 Daily Specials Menu. Love the colors keke.

Green juices to start the meal...

Green Lemonade (greens, apple, lemon, cukes)

Asian Roots (daikon, sweet potato, apple, ginger)

My BFF couldn't finish her drink, so I drank hers too... :D

 Fluffy Quinoa Salad with live sprouts.  

Dressing was a creamy lime mustard vinaigrette, but I opted out as usual.

I think there was half an avocado on there, wow.

The ideal meal: protein, healthy fat, greens, extra veggies. :)

My tummy was gurgling after this meal...hello fiber.

 Roasted Bok Choy and Kabocha, garnished with some more sprouts.

Nice combo of greens + carb-y veggies.

Other roasted options were eggplant, zuchinni, cauliflower, & brussel sprouts.

My BFF devoured her veggies though she was quite full! 

 Homemade Minestrone soup with rice (no pasta here!).
Do I need to mention the gigantic bowl of soup there? haha.

We left feeling satisfied and full. Love how those veggies can satiate without food coma!

Anyone else want to check out more vegan/vegetarian eateries with me? :)

Have you eaten at a vegan restaurant yet? If so, how was it? If not, what are you waiting for? :)

The MS Life #4

I have a posting board in the classroom where the students can write encouraging messages for the class or for me. Haha check out some of these things that they wrote (warning: may contain grammatical errors keke).  I'll translate what they were trying to communicate. :)

1. feliz navidad y un feliz nuevo ano (merry christmas and happy new year)
2. unicornio feliz dia viernes (unicorn happy day friday)
3. senorita kim es una ninja. (ms. kim is a ninja)
4. esta lloviendo. (it's raining)
5. esta es el dia de el examen. el dia del muerte. (this is the day of the test. the day of death)
6. feliz cumpleanos. (happy birthday)
7. feliz feliz feliz feliz miercoles. (happy happy happy happy wednesday)
8. viva espana (long live spain!)

Ms. Kim is a ninja. I have NO idea where they are getting this from. Oh deary me. I wonder if it's because I am asian. :) And unicorns? I love it! They are super cute. I love the middle school imagination!

What do you remember about your middle school teachers and/or classes?

Bambi Sighting

On my late night runs, I usually bump into an animal or two like an occasional raccoon or a garden snake.  Lately, I've been seeing this white deer staring at me through the woods.  I seriously was spooked the first time I saw this bambi because I've never seen a white one before.  I got home from work today and while eating a snack in the kitchen, I saw three fawns grazing in the backyard, one of which was the white bambi! I googled it and apparently they are called the Seneca White Deer. They are native to the upper New York area, which I live pretty close to.  They are rare and near extinction.  Their survival rate in the forest is difficult because of its white coat.  Hmm, makes me think about life in that sense.  Sticking to my values in a world that doesn't always agree is sometimes so difficult.  Do I choose to blend in the world and follow along absentmindedly or do I choose to be different? Of course, the latter, but not sure why being different spooks me so much.

Amazed at how many different varieties of animals there are in this world. God is so creative. ;*)

Life is Beautiful

 Café Lalo with my BFF for some birthday love.

 Picturesque modern French café.

 Organic chocolate bars! :D

Decadent desserts to share...

 My motto for this upcoming year :*)

Look familiar? :)

It was the epic beginning of the romantic movie, "You've Got Mail." :)

 
What is your life motto this year? :*)

Mozzarella Bocadillo

 

D-E is known for its exceptional cafeteria and catering.  Our students and faculty get local, fresh, healthy gourmet meals for lunch every day.  This one is a bocadillo with local tomatoes, spinach, fresh mozzarella, and pesto.  Just by the looks of it, this sammie might beat Amer's pesto melt. :)  I might not be able to eat a lot of these yummy foods anymore, but I love appreciating the culinary creativity of these chefs! Seriously, I am wow-ed every day.  I miss my dairy-full days!

Have you tried Amer's yet in Ann Arbor?  What is your favorite deli place? :)

Fall is here

 Fall is officially here. It's October and there are leaves slowly scattering the ground.

 Hopefully it won't be a season of the blues...

But a season of curiosity, hope, and love.  And maybe some open doors. :)

Any kudos for the fall season for you all? Please share away! :*)