Happiness Project

I've had a busy month with reports and stuff, that it's been a few weeks since I've played along with Leigh. Scott was in South Africa this past week, and Ethan and I got to goof off around the house. 

Cooking With Swarn

Last week I started my first Indian cooking class. Scott thinks I need to be honest, and say I did not take a class, but attended a class, as I didn't really cook. I did measure out some ingredients, encourage others, drink some wine, take plenty of pictures, and of course, ate!

Swarn is a great teacher. She had all the ingredients laid out for us, to make searching through her huge pantry, an easy task.

This week's menu was Nan. We made plain ones, and some were stuffed with potatoes and chilli. We also made Murgh Cholay (Chicken with Chickpeas) and Simia Mirch Raita (Capsicum Raita).

Lara decided she would conquer the bread this week. She got her hands in there, kneading the dough, and even practised making the balls before rolling it out (Swarn showed us how to roll it into lovely circles.)

The raita was a lot of fun. Swarn explained how raita is used to cool the spices of the curry, yet somewhere along the line chillis are added, so how cooling is it really? The best part of Indian food is how  pretty it all looks.

We made two batches of Murgh Cholay. Kate's allergic to garlic, so one was made without any. I never knew what to do with chickpeas. Asides from using it in hummus, what can you do with it? Throw in some spices, tomatoes and chicken, and let it simmer, and tahdah, you've got an awesome curry!

Add some chillis and coriander leaves, and check it out.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. Black & White

My Mother-in-law gave me this for Christmas the year Scott and I got married.

2. I Ate This.....

Tiramisu from Epidor

3. Historic

Holland & Uruguay at semi-finals FIFA World Cup 2010.

4. Off-Centre

Unintentional, but the star at the top isn't centred. 

5. The End

End of the line.

Writer's Workshop

Interview your kids...what do they think Thanksgiving is for? What are they thankful for? etc.

I have one American student in my class, and he was absent this week. I was hoping to spend a little time with my class talking about Thanksgiving, even though I'm Canadian and ours was last month, but I didn't have time to do this.

Today, I told my students it was Thanksgiving in the US. I briefly told them what it was. Our school counselor is American, and she stopped by our classroom for a lesson, and told the children how it was Thanksgiving, and she was thankful to be able to come to our class and teach her lesson.

I thought it would be interesting to see what my Grade 3 students thought Thanksgiving means, and what they were thankful for. Here are some of their responses:

I think Thanksgiving means when you are thankful and happy with what you're given. I'm thankful for living in a house. 

I think Thanksgiving means thanking people for bringing such nice, tasty and great food.

I think Thanksgiving means to give food to the people who have helped you this year. I'm thankful for taking care of my dog.

I think Thanksgiving means when someone who helped you every time, and on that day, at night, you take a turkey and go to that person's house and have a dinner with them.

I am thankful for my parents, sister and friends. I'd be lonely without them.

I really like this last one. Reminds me a little of one of the other prompts, one about writing a poem.But not really a poem. :)

I am thankful for the life I have.

I am thankful for the family I have.

I am thankful for the house I have.

I am thankful for the friends I have.

I am thankful for the school I have. 

I am thankful for the teachers I have. 

I am thankful for the class I have.

I am thankful for to the earth.

 

My Christmas List

Scott and I are planning a family vacation to Italy this summer. It's on our top 10 list. So to help finance our trip, we've agreed not to buy each other gifts.

However, if Santa's watching, here are some things I wouldn't mind having. :)

1) New kick-boxing gloves.

 (I seem to have a current obsession with pink.)

While you're shopping at Everlast, mind picking me up a couple pairs of workout trousers?

2) New Camera 

(Would be great to take pictures with this summer.)

EOS Rebel T2i 

or

Nikon D3100

3) DVDs

4) Golda's Kitchen

I love this store. Anything that has to do with baking would be great.

5) Vampire Bite Silver & Red Swarovski Crystal Necklace

You can find it here.

Thanks Santa!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. The View Above

Love the rainbow around the sun!

2. Something Hot

Zanzibar Chai Latte. Yum!

3. Something Cold

I had a tooth extracted and an implant put in. The dentist said to eat ice cream. I couldn't decide between chocolate or mint, so I went with both!

4. Electronic

Scott and I saw this at Epidor the other day. Am not sure I really want to be sitting next to this. I also wonder if the stand was purposely made for this!

5. Sparkle

Don't you just love Jane's shoes.

Writer's Workshop - Coffee

 A list of 10 reasons you do or do not drink coffee.

I'm not a coffee drinker. Never have been. But recently, I find myself slowly moving away from the teas, and ordering a coffee of sorts. Here's why:

1. Epidor. Have you ever had their Moccachino? I started off asking for kidogo (little) coffee and lots of chocolate.

2. Starbuck Vanilla Latte - Yum!!!!

3. I feel grown up!

4. Ice moccachino. It's not coffee, it's not a milkshake. It's great on a hot day.

5. Iced latte. The adult milkshake!

6. Cinnamon latte. Come on. A little cinnamon. Yum!!!!

7. A moccachino with a piece of chocolate cake. It's the chocolate orgasm.

8. Frappes. Why did I never know about these before?

9. Add a touch of Bailey's or Amarula, and it's better than a spiked hot chocolate!

10. It's a treat! Want to spoil myself? Have a coffee (flavoured of course). I can't shop here, so a moccachino or latte is a great treat!

Wordless Wednesday

IST offers a sports camp on Saturdays.

For the EC students, that just means swimming.

Happiness Project

I think it's great that Ethan loves books.

He picked this one up, as we were out of the room, and began reading to himself.

I wasn't fast enough to catch a video of his story telling. 

Don't forget to visit Leigh to see what makes others happy. 

Rainbow Around the Sun

It was the coolest.

There was a rainbow around the sun.

Some say it means rain will come.

One of my students said it was so we can't get to the pot of gold!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Yeah it's Sunday!!!

1. Self-Portrait

I like taking pictures. Not getting mine. So I decided to play with this one.

2. Handmade

Birdy showing off the sling I made.

3. Orange

I came across these at school the other day.

4. Candle

5. Traffic Signal