minutes of magic

After a busy day of piano lessons and apartment hunting~I got to have dinner with my Littles.

It did my soul good to feel and see their enchantment of the magic of the festal season. 

VERY excited 3yo waiting for the Nutcracker to begin. (She would be the one on the left.)

Not sure the 6 yo was quite as excited, but he does love going out at night~it's both delightful and bittersweet to watch him transition out of pure babyhood and into an elementary school child. 

I'm actually becoming a fan of local productions~tix are cheaper, parking is easier, and one is supporting local artists. The costumes were stellar tonight and they had the high school jazz choir singing before the show. And we now have another funny Nutcracker moment to add to our long history of amusing moments~ the Drosselmeyer almost took out a dancer with his elaborate and fancy cape swirling.

And we're all safely home through the pouring rains.

the song is true

A student gift~her English is minimal, so not quite sure what it is other than a Spanish recipe that is close to cheesecake~but when the Spanish word is spoken in Arabic, I'm really lost. Nevertheless, it was delicious.

So proud of my low beginner class this session. They can write a full sentence now and ask/give directions.

And, as the title says, even the stop lights are blinking a bright red/green.

stretching the brain

Who knew that when I began tutoring over a year ago, that it would develop into a full-time job in an adjacent field? Got my official log-in this morning and am beginning to learn how to read/speak Bureaucratese.

I snagged my favorite work mug and settled in to read. 

sparkles

While I am not at all enjoying traffic, I am savoring the sunrises/sunsets that I get to view while sitting.

Got a text from my boss this evening saying that I just got approval from U.S. ICE to become a DSO for our school.  I am looking forward to learning an entire new world of student/visitor visa requirements. Always happy to expand my brain.

dem bones

Our hilarious composite drawing during a vocab game today~the hips especially made us all shriek. I wish I had captured the original elbows. But please admire the purple thumbnail polish and the elegant earrings. 

The air is zippy, more lights are appearing in various neighborhoods, and the search for my lily pad continues.

weekend stills

Bday flowers still going strong. 

I've found my decorating style and it's Mid-Century Cardboard. 

Just. Ugh. Really. Trying to find the joy that I'll SOON have a real kitchen and real apartment~something I haven't had in a couple of years.  But, I've yet to find a lily pad and I've got a ton of work to do before the joy comes. 

So. In the meantime, I eat my snacks with this happy little face.

And my week is ready~at least foodwise! 

'nuff said

a little joy in between

"She wasn't where she had been. She wasn't where she was going…but she was on her way. And on her way she enjoyed food that wasn't fast, friendships that held, hearts glowing, hearts breaking, smiles that caught tears, paths trudged and alleys 

skipped. 

And on her way she no longer looked for the answers, but held close the two things she knew for sure. One, if a day carried strength in the morning, peace in the evening, and a little joy in between, it was a good one…and two, you can live completely without complete understanding." 

~ Jodi Hills

mid-week

Crispy little latkes kicked this day off well.

As did the sunrise~at least I have a good view while sitting in traffic.

Another jam-packed day~am not sure why I keep thinking "oh, today will be slow". But best of all? I met a realtor tonight who is going to help me find an apartment. For free. I didn't know that happened in Virginia. So, yay! 

shalom

Had dinner tonight with a fellow WCC alum and as she's celebrating Hanukkah, she got the first gift of vanilla. What a joy to sit and talk with a friend.

Srsly?? How can I NOT read this book? I will admit when I read reviews awhile ago, I did want to read it~but not enough to track it down at the library. My colleague's mother is a librarian and she is helping to stock our little library at school and this came across my desk this morning.

glimmers & twinkles.

The scrappy little tree we unearthed from a closet at work~the batteries arrived today and now that it's blinking~the students/faculty also light up when they walk by. 

Took my walking shoes and finally did a mall walk after work~figured it's a good way to exercise and to avoid (some) traffic. It wasn't very crowded and the decorations were gorgeous.

CupKate wearing my stocking stuffer to her (no, I cannot wait to give gifts~especially when the recipient is growing quickly.) The saying on it: "Nobody sleeps until I say they do."

to light, in all its forms

It's comforting to know that it's the first night of Hanukkah and candles are being lit all over the world.

a corn concoction~between a souffle and a frittata

Today was lovely~zero appointments, no driving, and a quiet day of prepping meals for the week.

And I also know the world is all about the blues & purples of the above holiday and Advent, but my toes wanted to be red.

bake your own biscuits

I do not know how this keeps happening~ending up with three blank spaces and three pieces that do not fit. I'll blame it on low lighting. 

Since vanilla is ridiculously expensive right now, decided to make my own. A good project for this misty day.