Resolutions

I've decided to go big or go home.  I'm not going to have just one resolution for 2011.  No, no, I'm going with three.  Three things that I believe will really help me get my life back on track.  And I've made a plan for each one so I can't just say it without actually doing it.  Here's the details...

1.  I will stay active and focus on eating better so I can look FABULOUS for my honeymoon in April.  Then I will continue with this healthy focus so I can be proud to run around in a bikini this summer.  I know this will also help me feel better overall and give me more energy.  What could be better than that?


2.  I will spend more quality time with my hubby.  Steve and I have both felt like our lives have been too hectic and we haven't had time to just be "us".  We are determined to remedy that situation.


3.  I will NOT let my job control my life.  I love teaching, but it can't be my only focus or my source of stress.


I feel like all of these resolutions are completely possible and attainable.  I just need to stay focused and organized.  I have devoted too much time in 2010 to complaining and wishful thinking.  Now it's time to make it happen!

Here's to a wonderfully productive and successful 2011!  Happy New Year!

Blessings

Wow.  I really got the kick in the pants I needed last night.  My co-worker, Kristin and her husband Ron (who also works with us as the music teacher at school) invited me to church with them last night.  Actually, I think I might have invited myself.  hahaha  The music was so upbeat and the sermon was exactly what I needed to hear.

The pastor spoke about remembering that you are "wealthy in Christ" and that any blessings you've been given were meant to allow you to be a blessing to others.  So often, I focus on what I want or feel I need instead of remembering all the wonderful things I have.  Also, he mentioned that life is not meant to be easy and comfortable all the time, because if it is, you aren't growing as a person.  And when you are on the right path and doing what you are meant to do, Satan will probably try to step in and steal your joy.  I've always believed very deeply in spiritual warfare, and I've really felt it lately in my life.  Hearing the message last night made me realize that teaching is my calling (which I sometimes don't want to believe) and that whenever it seems to difficult, it just means that "someone" is trying to stand in my way.

I never thought I would be in church on Friday night, but it really was a great way to end the work week.  I'll definitely be going back.

I do

24 days ago I married my true love.  I know I should probably be writing about that, but honestly, putting it into words is virtually impossible.  It was such a perfect day that I can't even begin to express everything I felt.  I wouldn't do it justice.  For now, I will hold those memories close to me and continue to laugh and cry a little bit as I think about it.  I feel completely blessed that this man will be with me for the rest of my life.  And I'm so thankful to all the family and friends who made that day special.  I will post some more pics when I get the professional ones.  For now, here's one I got from the sneak peek.

Four weeks!

Exactly four weeks from today, I will be walking down the aisle to become a Mrs.  I'm so excited I could scream!  I woke up this morning with a permanent smile on my face, partly because today is my hair appointment with my wedding stylist and my bachelorette party is tonight!  I have been waiting for this super fun night with my friends for months!  My other excitement though comes from the fact that everything is happening so fast, and it has gone much smoother than I anticipated.  All our RSVPs are in, and mine and Steve's prediction for who would be coming were almost dead on.  I can't wait to see everyone!  The only things left to do now are just little projects like the seating chart, marriage license, and favors, etc.

Lately I have been thinking about the actual day and what it will be like.  It's still so surreal.  I try to picture Steve standing at the altar as I walk with my dad.  I tear up a little every time.  I know that moment will be indescribable.  Steve is my best friend and the man of my dreams, and  I can't wait until we are joined together in marriage...for all the days of our lives... :)

Soy Dreamy

I'm officially in love.  This stuff is incredible!  Trader Joe's has once again rocked my world.  This soy ice cream tastes even better than the real thing, and it's Vegan!  It's so sweet and creamy with real chunks of black cherries and dark chocolate.  I only need a little bit to satisfy my sweet tooth.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!  :)

What's your question?

Are you single?
When are you going to find someone and settle down?
Oh he's cute!  What does he do?
Are you two going to move in together?
When are you getting engaged?
When are you getting married?
When are you going to start having kids?
How many kids are you going to have?
When are you going to have another baby?

Sometimes I just want to tell people to shut the hell up.  For our entire adult life we answer stupid questions like this because people can't be happy for us in the here and now.  As soon as you answer one question, they're ready and waiting with another one for you.  When Steve and I were dating, everyone kept asking when we were going to get engaged.  We dated for 3 years and for some people I guess that was "too long".  Personally, I loved it because we really got to know each other and we had no doubts that we wanted to spend our lives together.  For some people though, I guess we didn't move along the path fast enough.  Now that we're getting close to our wedding, people are asking the baby questions.  Why is it anyone's business when we plan to have kids?  I don't mind discussing this with my close friends, but with complete strangers?  It's just weird.  A lady at a party last night spilled her guts to me about trying to conceive with her husband.  Um, I'm sorry, but I don't want to hear about your sex life or invitro fertilization process when I'm enjoying my buffalo chicken dip.  I just want to enjoy being married for a hot minute before everyone starts pushing me towards "the next step".  Many of my friends have adorable children, and I'm very happy and excited for them, but I'm just not there yet.  And I will not apologize or make excuses for it.

I will step off my soapbox now.  :)

Nightmares

I've always experienced very vivid dreams.  I'm surrounded by familiar people and places in full color, and I always second guess that it happened when I wake up.  It really creeps me out.  In college I would take naps in the afternoon and have dreams that would rival a drug-induced hallucination.  Usually I really enjoy my dreams though.  Sometimes I can run super fast, or fly, or even see family members again who have passed away.  I consider it a little gift from God that I can spend time with these people again.

However, this gift has felt like a curse lately.  I'm having nightmares that are sending me into a panic and causing me to wake up in a cold sweat.  Last night I was reading before bed and fell asleep for about 30 minutes with my bedroom light still on.  I dreamed that I was watching a DVD at my parent's house and the movie kept changing to reveal another rotting dead person on the screen.  I wanted to turn the movie off, but the girl on the screen wouldn't let me!  I was screaming for my mom (like a scared 5 year old) but no one heard me.  Again, it wouldn't be that bad if I didn't feel like I was actually there!  When I woke up, I realized I was completely alone in MY house and I was fine, but then I was too freaked out to sleep.  When I finally did go back to sleep, I started dreaming the reoccurring theme that has been popping up lately.  I'm having wedding nightmares.  I used to do this before a big event like prom or graduation.  I think I panic that something will go wrong, and my anxiety comes out in my dreams.  Last night I dreamed that I was having a destination wedding on an island.  I was trying to do my own hair and nothing was working out.  My mom ended up styling my hair and it looked ridiculous.  Then Steve and I got married right in the surf and my dress was completely ruined.  We didn't have a photographer either, so again, my mom took pictures which turned out horrible.  After the ceremony, Steve took off to hang out with his friends and I was left alone.  I went back to the hotel to change into regular clothes and ended up going to my reception alone.  A little later, I tried to find my hotel room again to see if Steve was there, and I ended totally lost in a huge gift shop or something.  SO WEIRD!  Does this happen to other people?  All I know is, I get married in 78 days so hopefully after that, my dreams will go back to normal.  You know, like when I can fly and stuff...

What's in a name?

Labels are kind of silly, but I found out today that there is actually a name for me and my funky diet. I'm officially a strict Pescatarian, meaning a person who does not eat red meat, poultry, dairy, or eggs, but does eat fish and seafood. I even joined a Pescatarian group on my favorite website: Sparkpeople.com. We swap advice and recipes and pretty much show some love for others who have made the same choice. It just makes me feel like I'm not alone or crazy for choosing this nutrition plan. Yay!

*Side Rant:
I tried a new sushi place tonight called Sushi & Spice. It's right across from CNU and I pass it every day on my way to work. My curiosity got the best of me on my way home tonight so I decided to stop in. I placed an order for take-out and was told the wait would be about 15 minutes. I figured that was no big deal because I needed to make a phone call anyways. After a huge glass of water and 35 minutes of waiting, I FINALLY got my food and bill. First of all, I was charged $20 for 3 sushi rolls. Ridiculous! Second of all, 35 minutes is too long for sushi. Sorry. Finally, the food was terrible! The sushi rice was falling apart, my Spicy Tuna was completely bland, and the California Roll tasted about as fresh as a toilet paper roll. I think I'm going to write a nasty review on Yahoo. I don't usually do that, but come on people!

Adventures in the kitchen

So...my pseudo-Vegan diet seems to be going quite well. This month I was only in pain for a mere 3 days. That is a vast improvement over the usual week I would spend in misery.

Now that I know it's working, I've attempted to become more creative with my meat-less meals. My first "gourmet" attempt was what I like to call, Roasted Red Pepper Stuffed Mushrooms. I again ventured to TJ's (I affectionately now refer to Trader Joe's with a nickname because I'm literally there twice a week) and I found some soy "mozzarella" cheese and some meat-less "beef" strips. I also bought two large portabella mushrooms caps and a sweet red bell pepper. I wasn't exactly sure how I would combine the ingredients, but it sounded like a good start. When I got home, I sliced the red pepper up into strips and then cut each strip in half. I sauteed them in a small skillet with a Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil over medium high heat. I seasoned them with a little garlic and black peppercorn. While those were roasting, I placed the two mushroom caps in a large skillet with a little olive oil cooking spray. Over medium heat, I allowed them to cook until they began to produce some excess water in the pan. I've heard that's the trick to good mushrooms. I then sliced about 1 oz of the soy cheese and placed the slices on top of the underside of each cap. They melted quickly, which really impressed me since it wasn't "real" cheese. Finally, I added the meat-less beef strips to the pan so they could become hot. They only require about 3-4 minutes to heat through.


My final presentation looked like this:





Pretty impressive, right? It was soooooo delicious. Definitely not like your usual meat and cheese, but it was so nice to actually have a meal that I COOKED. I've been relying so much on soups, salads, wraps, and pasta. This really gave me the inspiration to check out more options and see what I can come up with. Who knows. Maybe one day I'll have my own Vegetarian/Vegan cafe. Now THAT would be awesome. :)

Go Cavaliers!

I can’t even believe it! I’ve been accepted into the Hampton Reading Cohort and I’ll be receiving my Masters in Reading Education for FREE through UVA! Holy crap! I applied back in January, but for some reason I wasn’t accepted during the first round. (Honestly, I think the fact that I temporarily moved back to PA and then returned to Hampton didn’t look so great on my resume…) Regardless, I was contacted a couple weeks ago and told that some people didn’t make the cut so I’m in! I had to quickly check my schedule and luckily I could take the summer course, Children’s Literature. This 3 week class is currently kicking my tail. We meet 7 times over 3 weeks and the work load is intense! Basically, our professor has taken the usual course load for a semester and shoved it into 3 weeks. It’s rough, but I’m learning so much! I’m excited to apply the strategies in my classroom this fall. My next step after this class is to take the GRE so I can be “officially” accepted into the Curry School of Education at UVA. I’ll be honest. I’m a little nervous. I’ve never had a problem with standardized tests, but knowing that so much is riding on this makes me anxious. I bought a study manual though, and I will definitely be prepared!

The best part about this program is the fact that I get to take classes with two of my best friends, Erika and Melissa! I think we call each other or talk on Facebook at least 12 times a day to make sure we’re doing our assignments correctly. Thank goodness I have them to rely on!

My tutoring is also going really well. I’m working with a 7 year old boy who is going into second grade. We meet twice a week and he is so cute and well-behaved. It’s the easiest job I’ve ever had!

The next couple weeks are going to be crazy busy. On top of class, tutoring, and homework, I also have two days of computer training for work. Geez! But luckily, I get to go home after all of that to see my family! I haven’t been to PA since Christmas and I can’t wait!

Here's hoping...

Ok, I don't want to jinx myself, but this endometriosis diet might actually be working! Usually by this time of the month, I would be miserable and in severe pain. I would not be able to sleep, eat, or do anything besides lay on my couch. But where have I been instead? Wherever I want to be! I spent yesterday morning at work, then had coffee with a friend and went to the gym. I hung out the block party downtown last night, and today I was swimming and soaking up the sun with my friends.

I did wake up this morning with some minor pain, but it actually just felt like normal cramps. I took a couple ibuprofen and it was gone. I don't want to assume anything at this point, but I'm very optimistic and hoping that each month will show the same or even better results. If so, I'm totally rubbing it in my doctor's face! Take that modern medicine! Sometimes nature DOES know better! ;)

Surprise!

Oh my gosh, I love my co-workers! They surprised me today with this huge beach bag full of wedding gifts for me and Steve. Since my wedding is not until November, and I'll be at a new school next year, they decided to do this instead of throwing me a shower. How awesome is that?! I got a bunch of gift cards to Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond, some picture frames, candles, cookbooks, and even Steelers stuff. They are so sweet! I really will miss this group of ladies, especially my 4th Grade teammates. I love that no matter where you go or what new journey you embark on, you can always find even more amazing people than you thought possible. :)

I WON!!

On my way home from work yesterday, I randomly turned on the radio to 92.9 The Wave. I heard them mention that they were giving away tickets to an upcoming Kansas/Foreigner/Styx concert at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater. I got really excited because I LOVE these bands! I know that might seem cheesy, but I'm a sucker for 80s rock bands. My dad would be so proud. I quickly grabbed my phone and called, assuming that I would get a busy signal like always. On the second ring someone answered and asked "Have you won anything in the past 30 days?" I was like, "Um, no!" I was then put on the air and told I had won the tickets! I was so excited and kept saying "Oh my gosh!" and "Thank you so much!" over and over again. I sounded like a squealing teenager! I found out that the concert is tonight and Steve and I are going with some friends who also had tickets. I'm so freakin' pumped! I've seriously never won anything in my life, and I could use a little break right now.

I'm helping with the Hampton Roads Triathlon sponsored by the YMCA at 5:30 tomorrow morning. I'm gonna be tired, but I don't even care!

I think I can, I think I can...

My current to-do list:

1. Pack up and clean my classroom
2. Meet and greet at new school
3. Bridal shower for co-worker
4. Choose ceremony music for wedding
5. Volunteer for triathlon this weekend to benefit the YMCA
6. Retirement/End of the Year Party at work
7. Parent/Teacher Open House at new school
8. Inventory lists
9. Final grades and report cards
10. Meet friends for dinner in the OBX next week
11. Last day of school for the year!
12. Move everything out of my classroom and put it ?????


I also have some fun activities planned with my kiddos like a kickball tournament, spelling bee, field day, ice cream party, awards ceremony, and game day. I just hope I can remember what I'm supposed to do when so it all gets done!! ;)

You Are What You Eat

Wow. This book is intense. I had heard buzz about it before, but this past week one of my vegetarian co-workers suggested I read it, considering my recent jump into the veg world. I knew I was making my personal choice based on my specific health concerns, but now since reading it, I'm so glad I did! The amount of crap we are pumping into our bodies through animal products is just astounding. It's not so much the animal meat itself that I have a problem with, it's the absurd conditions in which these animals live (and die). And we end up eating them and shoving any antibiotics or hormones they ingested or were treated with into our bodies. Gross. It gets much worse than that, but I won't go into detail. I understand that people have varying viewpoints on this issue, and I just know now where I stand. Obviously for 26 years I was wandering along aimlessly, shoving McDonald's burgers and Chi-fil-A sandwiches in my mouth without a care in the world. We don't have to "see" what happens to our food, so it makes us ignorantly (and possibly blissfully) unaware.

I found an interesting part in the book though that reinforced the other research I had done about diet affecting women's health issues. The book dedicates a section to talking about PMS, mood swings, cravings, and cramps. This correlates with my problem because my pain would become the most intense during this time. I knew it had to do with hormone levels (which my doctor, of course, wanted to correct with hormone therapy) and I knew there had to be a more natural way to remedy the situation. The book explains:

"Every month, our bodies produce extra estrogen in case of pregnancy. When we don't become preggers, estrogen levels plunge, triggering bloating, irritability, and cravings. The trick to avoiding these heinous feelings is maintaining balanced estrogen levels throughout the month. Like everything else, this can be done through diet. Fatty foods increase estrogen levels, and fibrous foods help reduce estrogen production. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology conducted a study exploring the effects of diet on menstrual symptoms. Women who eliminated animal fats from their diets experienced dramatic decreases of bloating and cravings. On average, menstrual cramps were reduced from four days to about two and a half days."

Now since my pain is not from menstrual cramps, but from Endometriosis, I'm not sure if the affects will be the same. But I definitely feel like this points to a possibility!

*Side Note: I went to the gym to do yoga this morning and weighed myself before starting. I weighed 144 lbs WITH my clothes and shoes on! That's 2 lbs lost in a week! The beauty of it is that I worked out moderately, but I don't feel like I killed myself at the gym. This diet is definitely helping me find a balance in my life where I don't feel dependent on caffeine to wake up, sweets to cheer up, or the neurotic need to count calories. I know that what I'm putting into my body is wholesome and clean and it just feels good!

Ode to the squat

This my friend, is a kettlebell. A miniature wonder of the fitness world. I love and loathe it equally. Now mind you, I do not lift, swing, snatch, or press anywhere close to 32kg, but I do look pretty badass with my 10lb version. It's black, so that makes it convincing. Tonight I returned to my kettlebell class at the gym after a short hiatus, and let me tell you, the kettlebell does not forgive you when you ignore it for weeks on end. After 20 minutes of repeated squats in combination with lifting, swinging, and pulling this little beast, I thought I might have a heart attack. I was sweating from places I didn't know I could. At one point, projectile sweat was flying from my forehead. I kept going because everyone in that class is ridiculously hardcore and I didn't want to look like a chump. In my head though, I was secretly wishing this little, stupid, weighted ball could just fall on me and put me out of my misery. Why do I do this to myself? Because it's hands-down the best exercise I can think of. It makes all parts of my body sore, which means it has to be doing something, and it makes me sweat out at least 3 lbs per class. Plus, my fiance always observes that my butt looks tighter after I've been kettlebelling. That right there is my motivation. Summer is coming quick, and I want to flaunt my tight booty in a little bikini without a care in the world. I'm not there yet, but the kettlebell will be my loyal friend who will help me control the junk in my trunk.

More squats anyone?

Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue

OMG! It needs to be summer now before I flip out and lose my job!!!

*End Screaming*

Now, on to a more pleasant topic. This weekend is the wonderful, 3-day-long Memorial Day celebration. I love any holiday that:

A. Gets me out of work for a day

B. Involves delicious cookout food

C. Features outdoor games and has a patriotic theme

I'm also very excited that my college roommate is coming to visit. We're planning to head to the beach on Saturday, block party it up on Saturday night, and probably go to church and grab lunch on Sunday. She can't stay as long as I would like (some boy is stealing her away on Monday) but I'll take any time I can get.

The only bad thing about holidays like this is that they make me a bit sad. I miss my family back at home. I miss my loved ones who served their country and have passed away. My mind always wanders back to my uncle's funeral 2 years ago. It was one of the toughest memorial services I ever sat through. He served in the Army and a traditional military service was held in his honor. Anytime I hear "Taps" being played I just break down. It's a reminder for not only me, but so many others, that this country we might take for granted is not free by accident. We may have our struggles and problems as a nation, and I'll be the first to admit I don't always agree with our leaders, but we are incredibly blessed compared to many nations around the world.

So here's my tribute to those who have served, and a huge thank you to those that continue to do so. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, even if it does feel that way at times. Our country still needs you, and we appreciate your sacrifices.

A day in the life of a vegetable nut...

So I thought I would share what I've been eating on a typical day.  I've always been curious about how vegetarian/vegan people eat so here goes my share time...

Breakfast:

- Whole Wheat English Muffin w/ 2 Tablespoons of Smart Balance Peanut Butter (It has extra Omega 3s)

- Banana

Lunch:

- Either a salad full of tomatoes, cucumbers, and garbanzo beans w/ Asian Peanut Vinaigrette OR Trader Joe's Vegan Black Bean or Lentil Soup

- Cooked Broccoli (which has tons of protein) or fresh broccoli with hummus

- Strawberries or apple

Afternoon Snack:

- Handful of almonds (with our without dried fruit)

Dinner:

- Seafood with rice or baked potatoes and mixed vegetables OR pasta with marinara sauce and mixed vegetables  (I plan to get more creative with my dinner options once I get a better handle on this plan)

Evening Snack:

- Lowfat Granola w/ mixed berries (frozen or fresh)

So far, so good.  I only caved once yesterday when I was giving my students Poptarts and broke down and ate one myself.  I'm supposed to stay away from refined sugars....but they were calling my name!  I know that each day will have its own temptations, and I'll just have to learn to choose better options instead.  Honestly though, I'm just proud of myself for sticking with it this long!  hahaha

Vegan...with a side of fish

I can not believe I'm actually doing this.  I'm going pseudo-Vegan.  For about 6 years now I've been dealing with a condition called endometriosis.  I'll spare the gross details, but basically for about one week out of each month I'm in extreme pain to the point where I can't function. I've tried different pain meds, but those were a waste.  The next step was birth control pills, which helped with the pain but caused other side effects.  Next, my doctor wants me to do hormone therapy, which would send me into early menopause.  Um, hello?  I'm a bit too young for that. The final step would be a hysterectomy, which at this point is out of the questions since I want babies someday.  I was beginning to lose hope, until I started doing some research and found that many women had relief from their symptoms after following a very rigid diet.  I was skeptical at first, but I figure if this can help me avoid surgery, I'll give it a try.  The plan focuses on natural and plant-based foods with no red meat, chicken, eggs, or dairy.  They also recommend cutting out refined sugars, most salt and sodium, alcohol, and caffeine.  At first I thought, "What in the world am I going to eat?!"  Then I started researching vegetarian and vegan options for protein and other nutrients and found that lots of vegetables, beans, nuts, and fish can supplement my usual choices.  Of course, I can also eat lots of fruits and whole grains.  I used my favorite healthy website, Sparkpeople, and tracked my food for the past 2 days to make sure I was getting enough fat, carbs, and protein.  It's been much easier than I thought.  I found a lot of great options at Trader Joe's, and it's amazing how much better I already feel. Last night I slept well and only had minor pain.  I also have so much more energy!  I woke up this morning BEFORE my alarm and actually didn't need coffee!!  Amazing!  I'm also curious to see how this affects my weight and blood pressure (which is one of the nasty side-effects I mentioned earlier).  

Here's to my healthy eating adventure!  Updates to follow...

Give me liberty, or give me a Corona!

OMG, I might seriously lose my mind. This is the point in the school year where most teachers look like Ms. Frizzle. I have to give myself a pep talk just to get out of bed in the morning, and don't even dare talk to me until I've had my Starbucks.

On a lighter note, I made THE COVER of my kickball league's weekly newsletter. Cheesy? You bet. Am I pumped? Of course! I'm in my kickball gear, Cupid shuffling in a redneck bar, throwing up the peace sign with the most ridiculous look on my face. It's priceless. See the fantastic-ness below:

Never Never Land

Picture this:

It's a beautiful Saturday morning.  The sun is streaming across the water, the birds are singing, and it's a breezy 65 degrees.  Where am I?  In bed with 3 of my friends, one of which is snoring obnoxiously.  We're passed out after a crazy night together, and pretty soon one more of our friends comes running in to join us.  The 5 of us proceed to talk and giggle like school girls for the next two hours....discussing boys, stupid things we said last night, fashion, body woes, and ofcourse, more boys.  You might think from this story that I'm 16 years old.  No, no.  I'm 26.  I love the fact that my friends and I just don't care when it comes to social "norms".  We act mature and professional when we have to, but for the most part we're just looking to have the best time ever.  We're loud, we're silly, we dance like fools, and sometimes we drink a bit too much.  But when it comes down to it, we are probably the best group of friends a girl could ask for.  We support each other, we tell the truth (even if it hurts), we mend each other's broken hearts, and we never take anything for granted.  We are going to squeeze every bit of fun possible into each day of our lives, and we won't let "age" be a factor in our schedule or decisions.  I still believe that in 10 or 20 years, we'll be the loud group of crazy ladies sitting on the beach, drinking a nice cold one and telling old stories.  And guaranteed we will still be talking about boys.

I heart you, Jamie Oliver

So my friends and I are doing a Biggest Loser Competition together.  We started back in January and our weigh-in date of May 1st is coming up quick.  I've done well so far, but lately I'm getting frustrated.  Working two jobs is really taking a toll on my progress.  I'm missing classes at the gym that I love, and I'm also having to grab meals quickly which usually means fast food.  I've gained a few pounds back which is very annoying.  I know that I don't "need" to lose weight, but I can feel the depression sinking back in over that number.  I feel like a failure when I see that happening, and I especially don't want to have to admit that to other people.  Bottom line, making a lifestyle change is just that, a PERMANENT change.  It's going to take ongoing effort to make these changes stick, so I have to figure out ways to be busy and healthy at the same time.  I'm going grocery shopping today, and I found some new healthy recipes that I want to try.  I'm also gonna grab some protein bars and better snacks for when I'm stuck at work. I've become so much better about my eating habits over the last few years, and I just want that to continue.

On a related note, Jamie Oliver is my new hero.  I watched his Food Revolution on Friday night (mostly because I was too exhausted to go out) and I love his passion for helping people make proper nutrition part of their lives.  His simple, common sense approach is so refreshing....especially compared to constant adds about diets like Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig.  That is not the answer to the obesity epidemic in this country.  We need to get back to buying food that we actually recognize and can pronounce instead of all the over-processed junk we fill ourselves with.  I know I feel so much better when I eat fresh, whole foods.  I just need to keep up the motivation to buy and prepare it!  With summer coming I'm super excited for some really fresh produce from the Farmer's Market.  Yummy!

Wrinkle, Shrinkle

Ok, I have a general question for other 20-something females out there. Do you have wrinkles? I don't mean severe lines or anything, but do you have those annoying little creases in your forehead or around your eyes when you smile? I know I do, and I thought was completely normal. I actually can't remember not having little creases in my forehead. They are not super noticeable. You have to be about a foot from my face to see them. The only reason I ask is because I read this article in my Glamour magazine last night (which probably is not the most sound medium for advice) and they stated that in your 20s you should not have ANY wrinkles on your face. AT ALL. They said if you have wrinkles before you're 30 then you've been exposed to too much sun. Now I know that I have been burnt a time or 2, and I do go in the tanning bed once a week, but I have a medical reason to do so. My dermatologist recommended it for my eczema. I don't even stay in the whole time! I use sunscreen EVERY DAY and there is also SPF in my foundation. I just find it hard to believe that every woman out there under 30 is running around wrinkle free. I feel like we as a society are taking much better care of our skin than our mothers or grandmothers did. Goodness gracious, my mother was a baby oil queen, and she still only uses SPF 4 at the beach! I will continue to be devoted to sunscreen and check myself for freaky moles, but I refuse to believe that I'm "abnormal" because of a few little lines on my face. I'm pretty proud of those lines anyways. I think I got them from giving my students "the look" all the time in class. It's worked for me so far, and I will continue to use it to my advantage. ;)

Let them eat cake

If you know me at all, you know I'm very Type A. I'm organized, I make a plan, I follow set plan until it falls apart, and then I usually have a Plan B for back-up. I like to do things MY WAY, although I'm not too pushy about it. I usually have a way of making my way sound awesome. This works great as a teacher, because a classroom functions pretty well when you're detailed and organized. However, real life isn't always so perfect. No matter how organized, or detailed, or planned out I try to be, sometimes I admit I just need a little help.



Wedding planning has really showed me that. Not being from this area, I've had a tough time finding vendors within my price range (or within driving distance for that matter) and I've had to deal with people not returning phone calls or e-mails. For the most part though, it's really fallen into place, and I owe a lot of that to my fabulous Matron of Honor. I picked her for a reason because:



A. She's my "person". (If you watch Grey's Anatomy, you get the reference.)

B. She's an organized, amazing, planning person like myself.

C. She knows this area like the back of her hand.

D. She seems to always be able to point me in the right direction for everything I need.



She went with me to pick out my steal of deal wedding dress, she hooked me up with my fabulous photographer, she's planning a bridal shower that I know will be super cute, and today she led me to a possible cake baker that I'm so excited about! This lady is truly talented and she's so affordable compared to every other vendor I looked into. Steve and I looked through her portfolio on Facebook, and we found a cake we really liked. We'll make a few changes to fit our taste (and ditch that stupid topper) and I think in the end it will be absolutely perfect.





My mom always tells me that "things fall into place when it's truly meant to be". I hate to admit this when it happens, but darn it, my mother was right.

Caught "the bug"

I can not even remember the last time I felt this sick. Everything is coming out of me (at both ends, sorry to say) and I'm weak, feverish, and miserable. I stayed home from school yesterday and called off from BBW. They were pretty rude on the phone, which I expected, but who cares. They DO NOT want me dealing with customers in the state I'm in. I did go back to school today, mainly because it's Friday and all I do is give quizzes. My students were very sweet to me, mostly because I heard they had the most awful and ridiculous substitute ever. She apparently spent most of the day on the computer or texting on her phone, and she cut apart the work that my students were supposed to do. They are 9 & 10 years old! You can't just leave them to their own devices. My one little boy came up to me scared to death today and said, "I'm really sorry, but I didn't get to finish my timeline activity. The substitute cut off the part I was supposed to cut and paste, and I didn't know what else to do. I'm so sorry." I felt so bad I just wanted to hug him, but I didn't because I was afraid I might puke on him. This is the main reason why I hate getting sick. It sucks to feel crappy, but I also hate missing school because when I return to my classroom it's like all hell broke loose. There were papers everywhere, she assigned the wrong homework, and the other teachers kept coming in to tell me horror stories. Thank goodness I'm back at home where I can relax for the night and get some rest.

Steve is out of town for the weekend for his big fantasy baseball draft (which still makes me think of that scene in Knocked Up...lol) so I plan to do what I usually do when he's gone. I rent the movies he doesn't want to see, and I usually get some sushi. I'm passing on the sushi for now, but hopefully by tomorrow or Sunday I'll feel up to it. I rented "Precious", which I heard is amazing...and "500 Days of Summer" which just intrigues me. Here's to a night all to myself... :)

Sweet Summer

The weather today is making me seriously itch for summer.  I can't wait until it's 85 degrees and I'm sweating next to the ocean, a pool, or even a cold glass of iced tea in my backyard.  I took my students out for recess today and I just wanted to lay down in the grass.  I refrained because I have new dress pants and shoes on today, but I miss being a kid in moments like that.  I'm contemplating running outside today, although I planned to go to the gym.  I haven't been in FOREVER because my second job at Bath & Body Works took over my life.  Luckily I only work two nights this week though.  I'm going to quickly make some copies, and then get my behind out of here.  Having grilled salmon and couscous for dinner.....yummy!! 

Side note:  The Daily Press featured a front page article about sagging pants at Kecoughtan High School.  I agree that needs to stop, but is that really the most important news to report in Hampton Roads today?  Apparently. 

The Bashing Continues

So I spent some time yesterday and today reading over the new healthcare bill and some blogs about it.  It disgusts me how people respond to each other online.  You can tell that mostly ignorant and uneducated (and probably unemployed) people spend their day commenting on these articles, but their use of profanity and name-calling instead of actual facts or viewpoints is astounding.  I seriously think that some of my students could make a more mature and convincing argument.

Here's a tip America:

Before you start bashing Obama, Congress, the United States, or your fellow Americans, why not learn to put together a complete sentence that does not include slang, racial slurs, or "f*@k you" repeatedly.  Then maybe I will listen to a word you have to say.

Then again, no, I will still think you are an idiot.

Morning cup of coffee

I would love to say that I started this blog because I have an unbelievable amount of creative thoughts that I want to share with the world.  Truth is, my life is mundane and I'm really just looking to escape for a few minutes into a dream where I feel or seem important.  I always watch those movies like "The Devil Wears Prada" and I want to be one of those high powered women who effortlessly walks in designer heels carrying a cup of coffee and a Louis Vitton, looking all-knowing as she smirks behind her oversized sunglasses.  Instead, I sit at my desk in my fourth grade classroom where I'm just a simple teacher.  I sip my iced coffee, stare out the window, and cringe at the number of papers I should be grading.  I put the emphasis on "should".  Instead, I will savor this moment of peace while my students are out of the room, and I will close my eyes and pretend that I am sitting in a corner office as a book editor, perusing through manuscripts and having someone bring me my lunch.  

Aw, to dream...