Asian Quinoa Salad

Summer is my favorite time to make fun quinoa salads. So easy to toss veggies with the grain, add dressing, and have a nice cool tasty meal for a few days. I've been working this one out for a bit and it hit the spot. Lots of crispy veggies, some nuts, a creamy tangy dressing, and perfection!

It reminds me of a slaw meets a sesame noodle type dish. Any heaviness of the nut butter based dressing is lost in the mix of veggies and quinoa. I can even see this being good warmed up, too.

You can easily boost it as a meal by adding some salmon or chickpeas tossed in or on the side. Serve as a side. An easy lunch. This was so easy and has so many possibilities. I made it even easier to throw together by buying pre-shredded cabbage and carrots! 

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End of a Year!

you're a firework...

let it shine...

{Firework -- Katy Perry}

Another year is through.
At 12pm today, I say goodbye to 32 third graders and send them off to summer vacation.
This was quite the year and these kiddos kept me on my toes!
It's hard to recognize this group when I think back to the crew that sat before me on day 1.
They've matured, learned so much, gotten taller, and grown in many other ways.

I say every group is a special group and one of my favorites. And once again, this group will forever have a special place in my heart. They were hilarious, cheeky, curious, and had more energy than I have ever seen. We channeled it all into a year of learning and laughing.

But now...it's time for summer. Some downtime. Some working. Some gearing up for some minor changes in the year ahead!

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The Good. The Random. The Fun. v. 24

The Good:
My latest read - super good!

The Random:
I looked down at Trader Joe's on Friday and saw this staring back...

The Fun:
We wrapped up our huge Native American unit on Friday with a museum. The kids beamed with pride sharing their reports and artifacts with the parents and other grades!

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Scav Hunt Sunday: Skylight and Succulents

Window:

 Love the sunrise through the skylights at my gym.

J is for:

 ...jersey! Even Mrs. Mallard gets into the spirit when teams are in the playoffs!

Letters:

 Fun letter blocks at a local shop.

Minimal:

 Simple succulent shelves at By Chloe.

Repeat:

June skies reflecting in the Longwood area.

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June Randoms v. 1

tulip fields...flowing fountain...three swans

art fair...boston skyline...moody sky

letter blocks...city reflected...minimal shelves

garlic cloves...porch garden...public garden

park art...bruins spirit...orange paint

skylight sunrise...boston pride...stunning sunset

monthly donut...isis bloom...latest read

alium bloom...innovation stairs...dewey square

little bee...special projects...farmers market

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Things My Third Graders Say v. 28

me: where is your kippa

kid: in my lunchbox 

me: why

kid: it's hungry 

me: weather is determined by...

kid 1: meteorologists 

kid 2: god

kid 3: scientists who think they're god 

me: yes, but no...

me: food that is fresh is...

kid: organic

me: i was going for unspoiled but that works too

kid: i'm not savage...yet

me: bad use of yet

kid: i'm going to write with my ear

me: no

kid: what

me: see don't damage your hearing further

me: stop playing bumper study shields.

kid 1: what does it mean to produce pigs

kid 2: it's called fakin'

kid 1: what's a top knot

me: like a bun

kid 2: no more like a hipster

kid: why are our words weird 

kid 1: wow native americans hunted a lot of meat

kid 2: because meat is amazing

me: it's been a long week

kid: it's monday

kid: guess what

me: your face

kid: i have been a bad influence on you

me: the word is urgent

kid: don't cry for me urgent-ina 

me: wow

kid: i held a worm

me: i hope you used soap and water after

kid: on my hands or the worm

me: they ate succatash 

kid: you said a bad word

me: how about...

kid: your mom

kid: were JFK and Ella Fitzgerald related

kid 1: is an eyelid a real thing

kid 2: blink you just saw your eyelid

kid 1: no i saw black 

me: the font needs to look like normal writing

kid: it does...like normal death writing

me: no

me: ok you motley crew

kid: we're not moldy 

kid 1: is jk rowling still alive

me: yes

kid 2: she's like 58

kid 3: that's old...it's almost 60

kid: which side is the bright side

me: it's not a place it's a thing

kid: but where is it

me: how'd you know that

kid: it got memorized in my brain

kid: poptismism 

me: optimism?

kid: no peptosism

me: pepto bismol? 

kid: no peptimisticom 

me: i'm optimistic you will get this! 

kid 1: i am getting vulgar fractions

kid 2: it's using bad words?

kid 1: i'm confuzzled 

kid 2: is that confused and fuzzy at the same time

kid: ugh

me: what

kid: i'm ughing because this is boring

kid: i heard a study that said any music can help us focus

me: do you have a request

kid: beasty boys

kid: the pueblo hunted cantelope

me: i think you mean antelope

kid: i quit

me: you can't quit yet 

kid: why

me: you need to give two weeks notice first

kid: are there two weeks of school left

me: yes

kid: i give my two weeks notice then i am quitting

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Allium

My all-time favorite flower is most likely allium.
How can you not love tall purple puffy blooms!

The Public Garden is always the best place to find a sea of blooms.
Every path ends in a burst of blooms, standing tall, bright and vivid!
One of the best parts of spring!

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