Slowly Cooking

Today is Menu Plan Monday! I know, we are all excited. With cooler (read: not colder) weather, we have wanted soup. Last week, it was cold. This week, it's significantly warmer than last week. And I've been cooking with my crock pot! Sometimes it works. Sometimes, it goes wrong.

Prep is easy. I've been prepping the crock pot dinners the night ahead. I peel, rinse and dice my potatoes, cover them in water and store in the fridge over night. Drain them before putting them in the crock. I set out the colander and the crock and put the dry ingredients in the colander. All I have to really do is strain, pour and stir.

Last week I made a baked potato soup. It was surprisingly delicious! The recipe is below. I'm also going to review the recipes.

But first, this week's MPM!

Sunday - Chicken fettuccine alfredo
Monday - Crock pot beef stew (recipe below)
Tuesday - Crock o leftovers!
Wednesday - Crock o leftovers!
Thursday - YOYO - I'm going to a work holiday party
Friday - Possibly chicken with couscous
Saturday - Possible leftovers ... it's time to clear out the fridge!


Today's adventure in crock-potting is beef stew. I picked up the following recipe from MyBiscuitsAreBurning

Ingredients

2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 clove garlic, minced

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 onion, chopped

1 1/2 cups beef broth

3 potatoes, diced

4 carrots, sliced

Directions 

Place meat in slow cooker. In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and pepper; pour over meat, and stir to coat meat with flour mixture. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, onion, beef broth, potatoes, carrots. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 10 to 12 hours, or on High setting for 4 to 6 hours. 

Adapted from allrecipes.com

I think we had a bit too much of the beef. I got two packages at just over a pound each. I only used two large baking potatoes and I didn't have any room for the carrots. I also eliminated the onions as I don't like them. But everything else went in.

It turned out... okay. The liquid was a bit too 'brothy' for me. I think I would've liked it more if if the stew was thicker and more 'stewy'. Maybe next time, I will half the recipe. I think it also needed some more salt. 

Aaaand the baked potato soup from last week!

Crock Pot - Style Loaded Baked Potato Soup from Food.com

Ingredients:

6 large baking potatoes, peeled, cut in 1/2 -inch cubes

1 large onion, chopped

1 quart chicken broth

3 garlic cloves, minced (or pressed)

1/4 cup butter

2 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 cup cream or 1 cup half-and-half cream

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

1 cup sour cream (optional)

8 slices bacon, fried & crumbled

cheese, for sprinkling

Directions:

Combine first seven ingredients in a large crock pot; cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours (potato should be tender).

Mash mixture until potatoes are coarsely chopped and soupy is slightly thickened.

Stir in cream, cheese and chives.
Top with sour cream (if used), sprinkle with bacon and more cheese.

Completely easy! I thought all the broth still sitting there before mashing was unnecessary and took some out. Wrong! It actually ended up being pretty thick and I put some broth back in. But it was certainly yummy!

Oh, Rats!

I totally cannot stop thinking about this rat!

A couple of the science teachers have classroom animals. And there are students who take care of the animals during the day and over weekends. For some reason, one kiddo came by my room with a rabbit and it hasn't stopped since. It may have to do with the fact that I squeal and baby-talk because I love animals so much. 

The teacher who these little friends belong to had to just check with me the other day. Making sure the kids weren't telling stories. I told her that any animal is welcome and the kids ask me first and I am totally okay with it.

The other day, one kiddo brought this rat and I got to know her... "Truffles." The kids have started to bring in animals during my class (of course, I approve of it if it's an appropriate time). I have started to request Truffles. She is just the sweetest little animal I have ever come in contact with! I put her on my shoulder yesterday and she just hung out there for two classes! For one class, she was walking back and forth and tickling my neck - and avoiding all of the other hands that tried to reach for her ;). The second class period, she relaxed and fell asleep. When it was time for her to go back to the teacher, I held her in my hands and nosed her and she fell asleep in my hands too! Love it! Her little tail wrapped around my wrist and neck. If I could, I would totally take this little baby home.

A Pleasant Surprise

Where first?

After several ridiculous roller-coaster cycles of emotions, I noticed so much of a decline that my depression really hit me. I was constantly feeling anxious and angry - for no apparent reason. Lashing out at everyone. I lost 10 pounds because of the anxiety affecting my digestive system and appetite. And I had daily thoughts of suicide. After a panic/anxiety/asthma attack at work, I made the decision to go to the doctor. I don't like to rely on medications. Sometimes I feel that it is a cop-out. Why can't I do this on my own? But then I realized I probably needed it.

And my life has changed. It. Has. CHANGED. I've been back on my medication for about a month. We can all tell a difference. I'm happy. I don't yell at anyone. I rarely get angry - unless it is warranted. I have patience - a TON of it. The downside is that I notice I still have a low energy level. I'm tired. I go to bed early - I'm talking fall out on the couch at 8pm. I have dizzy spells too. Not quite as bad as the first week, but it's still there. I'm also having trouble with my memory but I've gotten The Lists going again to help out with that.

This is necessary.

And I think I am more productive too. Last night, I cooked a side for our dinner of leftover chicken. I prepped a crock pot soup that I made this morning. I also made an actual lunch for myself today too. I did the laundry, we made this week's menu, and went grocery shopping.

Here's a Menu Plan Monday!!

Sunday - Leftover Hot Wings with Smashed potatoes

Monday - Crock Pot Baked Potato Soup (recipe forthcoming if it's any good)

Tuesday - Leftover soup

Wednesday - Leftover soup

Thursday - Nachos

Friday - Fettuccine Alfredo

Saturday - Pizza

The Rest of my Thirty Days of Thankfullness

The first 12 are here.

13. Thankful for family and new additions.
14. Thankful for restored appetite and an early Thanksgiving lunch at work.
15. Thankful that the medication is working.
16. Thankful for excellent time spent with Ivy. Girl's day!
17. Thankful for a break from work.
18. Thankful to finally see my momma again!
19. Thankful for my child's health. I'm glad she is feeling so much better.
20. Thankful that I can help.
21. Thankful for my quick reflexes and my child's life.
22. Thankful for some yummy yummy food.
23. Thankful for a good book.
24. Thankful for my little girl and everyone involved with her birthday to make it such a special day for her!
25. Thankful to be back home. Not quite so thankful that the vacation is over.
26. Thankful for awesome coworkers who covered my classes for me so I could go home when I got sick.
27. Thankful that I can finally eat after two days.
28. Thankful for another holiday. I get to experience Christmas through the innocent, excited eyes of my three-year-old.
29. Thankful to work at a great school. We got new laptops - MacBook Pro!

30. The most important thankful... Saving the best for last. Family.
Ryan, my soulmate. We have learned so much from each other and grown together. I can't live my life without him.
Ivy, my precious character of a daughter. I never thought I would have her in my life. I can honestly say that my heart no longer beats in my chest, it runs around the living room making silly, bird-like noises with a wildly unkempt hairdo.
My parents and Ryan's parents who have taken care of us and brought us up to be the intelligent individuals we are today and who also take care of Ivy and are the greatest grandparents.
Our brothers and all of extended family members who have influenced our pasts and continue to grace us for our present and future.

20 Birthday Questions

I saw this on Pinterest, of course. You ask your child a series of questions on their birthday and they see how they change. Since Ivy has 'conversation' down, I decided to do it!

1. What is your favorite color? Purple
2. What is your favorite toy? Cars
3. What is your favorite fruit? Pizza
4. What is your favorite tv show? Chuckie (Chuck E Cheese - but there is no tv show)
5. What is your favorite movie? Rapunzle (Tangled)
6. What is your favorite thing to wear? Princess dress (her Halloween costume)
7. What is your favorite animal? Zebra (I don't think she was really 'serious' about this one. But I asked her a second time and she gave me the same answer.)
8. What is your favorite song? Never Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift
9. What is your favorite book? Dora
10. Who is your best friend? Dora (The Explorer)
11. What is your favorite snack? Fruit
12. What is your favorite drink? Apple juice
13. What is your favorite breakfast? Crackers - said with a giggle
14. What is your favorite lunch? Food
15. What is your favorite dinner? Chick-Fil-A
16. What is your favorite game? Footie - We don't play a footie game so I'm not sure where this came from
17. What is your favorite thing to play outside? Car - Again, I don't know what this is
18. What is your favorite holiday? Birthday
19. What do you sleep with at night? Rapunzle - At this point, she had no Rapunzle to sleep with but she got one for her birthday and has slept with it every night since.
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Batman

My kid is cute!

The Eve of Her Birthday

It's taken me a lot of thinking for the past couple of days. Do I want to write about it? Put it out there? But then I think, it could save someone.

I saved my child's life.

The day before Thanksgiving, we were in the front yard just hanging out. We were all taking pictures, even Ivy. She loves taking pictures with our cameras. It was time to go inside and since we were at the front, it was the best option. Ryan went inside and Ivy took off along the driveway to the back gate. And I followed. She was fighting the gate and couldn't open it and started to get upset but she let me open it for her. And that was when she started to have a tantrum. She didn't want me to go into the back yard with her. She didn't want me to close the gate. And she didn't want to follow me to the back door, which I found to be locked and knocked. She started to run along the side of the pool to the back-back yard. She turned to look at me and she veered left and slipped into the pool. One of the things that I am always afraid of when we visit just happened.

And I ran.
*Jump in here*No*I won't make it in time*

Somehow, she grabbed the side of the pool and looked straight at me. A look of shock. And she slipped under. I can still see her little body sinking below the surface of that cold water.

I was able to reach and grab her left arm and get her out of the pool.

Five seconds. Five seconds.

She was standing and crying. Breathing. She swallowed no water. She held her breath. She is fine.

And my mind starts playing the should've-could'ves and what-ifs. It could have so easily ended very badly.


Ivy has so bravely retold the story and replayed it in a much lighter point of view. She's called me Diego because I rescued her. And she will pretend to fall and say "grab my arm and pull me out!" Later that night, she asked to see the moon and stars and she asked me to take her. So I carried her outside in the back to look at the sky and she laughed "but not to go swimming!"

I hope that she is not traumatized by this. I want her to not be afraid of the pool. It's not something to fear, it's something that we have to be safe around. Summer isn't the only time to be alert around a body of water.

Tomorrow is her third birthday. I hope we can make all her wishes come true.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness

I saw this on a blog I read and I've seen it several times over on Facebook. I have been posting them over there so I'm going to collect them and post them here.

1: Thankful for 4pm
2: Thankful for students who surprise me with the progress and change we have all made.
3: Thankful for ... sleep.
4: Thankful for the sortof mini-vacation and the extra hour of sleep.
5: Thankful for suuuuushiiii.
6: Thankful for my freedom to choose.
7: Thankful I can have fun at work.
8: Thankful for down time.
9: Thankful for new opportunities.
10: Lamely thankful that Target had Pumpkin Pie PopTarts.
11: Thankful for my freedom. Thank you veterans!
12: Thankful my momma taught me how to cook. I have a very full tummy and a happy husband.

Crab Rolls

I saw this recipe on Instructables and tried it out. The husband is actually fond of it and when I say let's have appetizers for supper, this is actually requested. And he doesn't really like imitation crab. Winner!!

So I was too lazy to look through papers tonight and found this recipe:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup green onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed 
1 (8 ounce) can Pillsbury Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls
1 cup imitation crabmeat, chopped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl combine cream cheese, green onions and dill weed.
Unroll crescent roll dough onto a greased baking sheet, being careful not to separate dough into pieces. Press dough into an 8X11 inch rectangle.
Spoon crabmeat lengthwise along center of dough.
Spoon cream cheese mixture over crabmeat.
Fold long edges of dough over cream cheese mixture, slightly overlapping edges;pinch edges together to seal.
Place seam side down on baking sheet.
Cut slits in top of dough.
Bake 20 minutes.


My notes:
I didn't use green onion. I just sprinkled garlic powder to taste.
I added a little salt.
I don't measure dill.
I did separate the sheet into rectangles, pressed the triangles to create a solid rectangle and cut in half (to make a square). Dalloped some crab mixture and pulled up the corners much like a wonton wrapper. No need for slits if using this method.
Temp and time is perfect!

Just Breathe

I really should be doing some work right now. But it is Friday and I want to have a smidgen of fun or relaxation.

Challenges at work - I am not going to lie. I haven't been enjoying it. With a younger crowd, it has just been so challenging. I cannot relate to the kids as well. This has been leading to a lot of anxiety issues. However, the one class that challenged me the most has flipped completely. They're the first to refocus, share their feelings and visit with me throughout the day. My class has become their favorite. I do have to admit, I knew this would happen. My most challenging students become my favorite and we all care for each other. This feeling is amazing.

Vlogging - I have really enjoyed filming every day of October. It started off just fine but then my program wouldn't work so I had to find another. And I was able to use it on my computer finally but then I haven't had time and I am so far behind. I do intend to edit and upload those vlogs. And I am considering vlogging again at the end of this month through Christmas or even New Years. "Vlogidays?"

Crafting - Just like last year, October became Craftober! I made several costumes and t-shirts. I made Ivy's princess dress for Halloween. I have started a stuffed knit bunny for Ivy's birthday - it looks so weird. I've started and unraveled a scarf for myself. It just looks strange and I keep messing up, stupid yarn. I am even extending my crafting into November as well. The students are making clothing projects and I'm right along-side them. I'm making a few Christmas ornaments too.

Halloween - Ivy had her first real trick-or-treating experience. Last year, we only visited my brother-in-law. This year, we took her to a few houses behind my place of work. She was excited at first but when it came down to really trick-or-treating, she got timid. But then didn't want to stop! Next year though, she will be all over that. Halloween lasted for about 5 days. We went to a Halloween dance one day, the next day was a city festival, on Tuesday she went to the family night festivities at Chick-fil-A and then the real deal on Wednesday.

And fun was had by all!

Brain

It hurts right now. I am in a down again. Which was pretty quick after the last one. I cannot discern if it is because of the cyclic nature of this junk or if it is the seasonal malarky. I cannot decide if medication will help with this or if it will just be nothing again.

Just waiting.

Sleepy

My blog has been asleep for quite some time now. I've just been really neglecting it, haven't I?

I have really been putting my all into vlogging. But I am having technical issues. I cleared up one just to find another. It is rather disheartening. I am nearly 20 days behind. I am really having fun vlogging - even though my day-to-day is boring and repetitive.

Every time I open blogger to write, I am so concise and it all sounds so compact and facebook-y or tweet-y.

Apparently October this year is Craftober just like last year! I have only made one mum this year so far. I already made Ivy's Halloween costume - a purple princess dress. And I've been making other little things. I've started knitting again because I'm teaching the kids. So I'm making myself another scarf and a bunny for Ivy. I am making a couple of Christmas ornaments this year. I'm considering making Christmas cards (an Ivy hand-print thing). Other crafts going on that are work related - I painted a shirt and altered another shirt for a spirit week. And the students and I will be reconstructing and tie-dyeing shirts. I guess that this is the time of year that I feel most crafty.

Until later!

What? Huh??

I know this isn't going to be the best post ever. Allergies are in full force and I feel like crap.

Work... I'm finding that I am enjoying teaching middle schoolers. Except for one class. They have a huge sense of entitlement. They're my worst attitudes and they automatically hate me because I'm the new teacher. I don't care that they don't like me. They just aren't open to the idea of a new teacher being awesome, if not better than the previous.

And flipping the classroom videos? Loving it. I don't have to lecture and take two days to do it either. And the kids like it too.

One thing we are doing is working on confidence and self-esteem. So I'm having some students write about themselves. "How I See Me." Then, I'm having the students stand in front of the white board and the class is writing positives about each person. I take a picture of the student and they'll put it in a project and they reflect on it.

I told the kids a personal story and their faces just dropped. This was no longer a funny game activity. It was a serious moral booster. It made a connection. Then they all wanted to do the board activity with me. I wasn't searching for compliments because I'm over all that. I know me. I'm awesome. But this whole activity clicked with them.

Proud moment!

Moving on...

H&M opened in a local mall recently. I decided to take a peek. And I think I officially love that store. I picked up a pencil skirt and a very pretty dress that actually fits without my having to alter it. That's always a difficult thing to find. So I got them both. And the total was really inexpensive!

I think that's all I want to write about. No, not really but I cannot remember what else I thought of! Hate!

I HATE you, Home Depot!

Talking about flipping my classroom... I wanted to get 6 whiteboard panels. The people who came up with this concept recommend having them cut. Okay. Go to the lumber store, have them cut a whole sheet down. Cheap! Fifteen dollars as opposed to ten dollars per each precut sheet. You do the math: $15 or $60?

So I went to Home Depot. Against my better judgement, because I thought "Nah, forget it, yo homes to Bel-air!" Uh, Lowe's. I considered going to Lowe's first. That's my point. I walked through Home Depot and found no one working in the lumber section. Surprise. I grabbed a cart and picked out my own white board. I looked for someone who may have shown up to their station... nope. So then I found the nearest person who then walked to find someone. Dude disappeared. Five minutes later, I hear a "ma'am!" from the front of the store/aisle... that guy I asked for help just decided to yell "someone's coming, it'll be just a minute!" at me from across the store.

I was standing there for a good 10 or 15 minutes waiting. So I facebooked, checked my email, checked twitter... then I decided to place a call. To Lowe's. And not quite so quietly either.

Customer service: How can I help you?
Me: Uh, yeah, so I'm over across the street at Home Depot and need some whiteboard cut. If I come over there now, will someone do that for me real quick?
CS: Of course. We've got like three guys back there.
Me: Mkay, be there in 5.

All the while this obvious call is being placed, no less than TEN workers walk past me and don't even stop to help me or anything. And I am giving them gigantic WTF looks too. Tools. So I went over to Lowe's and I was in and out of there in 10 minutes. It only took the guy about 5 minutes to get my board cut.

I really want to say so much more. Mostly profane stuff. But I just need to get back to work.

Flip the What? What the flip??

Okay. I mentioned this is a recent post but I want to talk about it again. Mostly because I'm excited and nervous about it.

The school district is pushing technology and 'strategic design' and I'm just gonna run with it like a pair of scissors. E-portfolios for the students and flipping the classroom. Since I really like vlogging, and I attended a 'flipping' workshop, I thought "YES! I can do this!"

Flipping a classroom is like vlogging a lesson, the students watch it before the enriching activity and we get to the fun stuff without having to really have an in class lecture. Because they are just so fun, right? And I have THREE of these bad-mamma-jammas done already! Two I won't be able to use until spring because that's how my schedule is going to work out. And the third is just an intro thing for the students and parents.

I have a ton of ideas! Demos for cooking and food labs. Egg baby demo. Clothing illustrations. Color scheme illustrations. House tours. All kinds of fashion stuff. Holy pajoly! Do I want to share the links here? Guh, I don't know! Of course, it will be on a completely separate 'Tube channel.

I'm getting nervous about going back to work with the kiddos tomorrow. Middle-schoolers! And a faster schedule! Eek! I just don't know what to expect. I know I'm going to forget so much stuff.

Pinterest Evidence - Part 1

How I have applied more of Pinterest to my life.

I was putting away laundry. I tend to avoid this because I am lazy and my dresser is getting full. There are pins for life organization or 'whod've thoughts!' Here is one such case. Tshirts that I cannot part with (some I do wear) and have no where else to put them. Instead of stacking them vertically, stack them horizontally. The stack at the bottom of this picture wouldn't have fit in this drawer had I not stacked them like this. I still have room to add to this.

I don't know if I saw this on pinterest or not. It may have been something similar. I finally just got around to doing it. This top photo is how I use to store my flat iron. Out of the reach of Ivy's delicate fingers. Job done, but annoying. So then I decided to get a metal/mesh magazine bin and hung it in my closet. I've also put my hair dryer in the bin and I'm going to put my curling iron in it too. No dangling cords, still out of Ivy's reach, no wire hangers. NO WIRE HAAAAAANGERRRRRRRRRRSSSS!

Here's that calm down bottle...

 

And a discovery bottle...

And an honest to goodness pit stain remover. Remember that guy on Pete and Pete? I really was sceptical but decided the mix was free and the brush was inexpensive.

Before:

And the after. One part dawn dishwashing soap, two parts hydrogen peroxide and a sprinkling of baking soda. Pour, scrub, let sit, launder as normal. And voila! The after picture looks off color, but the shirt was back to normal. Seriously! Even used it on a couple color shirts. No harm done.

Ready for the end

As much as I love summer, it is time for it to end. I am so very ready for fall. I really love all of the seasons. Each have their own positives and negatives... But fall is my favorite season.

Back to school time - school supplies, school clothes... I always loved shopping for school. Oddly, high school football season only for pep rallies and Tx homecoming mums.

The weather - cloudy, sometimes drizzly, and cooler. The crisp smoky smell in the air.

Fall festivals and fairs. And the food, petting zoos, and games.

The decorations and holidays. I am very partial to halloween and thanksgiving.

And the rest of this will be quite random.
I'm anxious about going back to work (with the kids) in 3 days. I don't know how these middle-schoolers are. It's almost like starting for the very first time all over again.

I'm changing some things up in my classroom. I'm "flipping" it. Meaning lectures, lessons and learning are done on the YouTube and homework is done in class. This should save me (and the kids) some time. I already have two videos done that need editing. Oh my! I swear. The district is pushing for technology and something called strategic design. And they block YouTube. I know there are other video hosting websites. But damn.

So there is this new coworker. He and I grew up in the same city. Graduated from the same high school. And lived in the same city (like where I lived two years ago). And now we teach at the same school. It's so odd.

And I think this is where I stop. I could've sworn I had more, but I don't.

Stats... For muh bloggg

I don't know what the heck is up or how it's even happening. There are a lot of hits (because I like to know about my audience) from a lot of strange places. Some, I expect. I do link round-ups and I have my blog connected to facebook and other social media.

But some, how is my link even there?

And then, kerplewie! My link shows up on an *ahem* adult social media thingamabob. I had no idea what it was by the name and I clicked the link. BAD BAD BAD STUPID IDEA. I hope mal/spyware doesn't pop up on the computer. I just saw big giant uh... parts and shut that down.

So I looked at my settings. And I fixed what I think what happened. I just hope my blog is legit-searchable now.

Foooooood!!!

Today is my husband's 33rd birthday. (Happy birthday babe! I love you!) I know! We are so young! Today he gets his choice of meals. I made him sausage and rolls for breakfast so far. I got our babysitter to watch Ivy on Saturday. We went to a dinner movie theater to see The Campaign. I choose not to watch Will Farrel movies because a lot of the time it is gross humor. This one wasn't that bad though. Highly recommend? No.

I made myself some fruit and granola yogurt. Thank you Pinterest for reminding me to freeze my berries when I did. They still taste good, whereas the ones I would buy now don't.




















I had some yummy vegetarian nachos the other night. There are egg whites, black beans, corn, seasonings, cheese abd hot sauce on them. Pretty tasty!




















I was going to do a Menu Plan Monday, but I'm out of sorts. Hooray? Thought not.

Today was my first day back to work. Granted, it is only inservice. No students yet for a week and a half. Phew! But I just re-emotioned the crap from May.

New to campus teachers had orientation today and the quote from the principal today was... "You are Top Gun. Everyone I spoke to proved that to me. And there were five times the amount of people in this room (about 20), if not more, lined up to get these jobs." Oh, except for you Lena. You were handed to us. I feel like a hand-me-down. I'm grateful for my job. I could've, you know, just been fired with a Good Luck Loser letter. But I feel like I didn't prove my worth. I didn't fight for my job.

And then I replayed all the parts of the situation in May and went ahead and cried again.
A fine romance, indeed.

FaceTweet?

Am I treating my blog like a facebook status or tweet box? I dunno.

Have you heard about the Rory Gilmore Book List? There are about 250 books that Rory read and/or mentioned on the show.

Challenge accepted.

I feel like I have lost touch with actual books. I got a Kindle as an early christmas present. And while I really love the gadget, I have to admit that I really miss touching books. Turning pages. Smelling the paper. Hearing the spine crack - oh how I wish mine would... But I cannot justify purchasing books. To the library I must get! But I read so darn slow. Oh well.

The?

It looks like I'm not going to be doing any 'real' vlogging for a little while. The only thing that I think I'll be able to manage is iphone vlogging and that'd have to be unedited stuff. Eww. For some reason, my editing program keeps crashing. I'm going to try something else and see if there is just too much going on in what I'm doing because it's huge. But I've done other rather large videos and had no problem. GAH!