Move It or Lose It

And....then it's Monday. Just like that.

This Monday is a little more exciting because as we SPEAK, I will be venturing to visit my good friend and roommate from college/partner in crime/bridesmaid for the day.

And holy cow inservices start THIS WEEK. That means, school is in session. Where did summer go?! Thankfully the kids don't start until the 16th. Whew.

In other news I am going to try to make Mondays the day I hold myself accountable for all that I have done in relation to fitness/food the week before.

If you are annoyed of fitness/health posts, I am truly sorry you can close your eyes on Mondays, but it is going to help hold me accountable for what I've been doing. And do you think I want to look like a loser on Monday saying errrr, I did nothing but lay around and eat potato chips? Yeah, that would not be fun.

Here is what went down last week:

*Before and after each workout is 5-10 minutes of stretching

Monday: 15 min. warm up // Circuit Workout (3X each: 10 push-ups, 20 sit ups, 25 squats, 20 lunges, 10 jumping jacks, and 60 second wall sit) // Chest & Shoulders

Tuesday: Off (Aka. Got hit by a van)

Wednesday:15 min. warm up // Circuit Workout // 10 min. cool down

Thursday: Ran for 1.6 miles...whomp, whomp, whomp

Friday: 20 min. on treadmill // Hamstrings, Calves, and Biceps // 5 min cool down

Saturday:  Ran 2.4 miles // Abs (10 V-Ups, 20 Burpees, 30 Scissors, 40 Oblique twists, 50 Mountain Climbers, and 60 bicycles)

Sunday: Off

True Life:

- Putting veggies for the week in baggies has saved my life
- Hard boiled eggs are the BEST fast breakfast, ever
- Amazeballs are pretty darn awesome
- Hell No Yes, H2O

Back in the swing of things

Well school mode is definitely in full swing and my brain is on organization and curriculum overload. Woweee.

Whoever said teachers have "all summer off" must have misread the schedule.

Just like mine, but not my picture. I wish I knew where this came from!

I am also happy to say I am out of the weird funk I was in last week. Could have been "that time", but I was just all out of sorts and had very little energy all week. Thankfully, it has returned and I am sore as shiznits today.

Today at the store I realized a few things...

First off, does anyone even use those little tie things anyway? I mean that would make my 50 hour long store trip, about a week long. Who's got time for that?

Secondly, why is being healthy so dang expensive?! I get why, but it still makes no sense to me America. Get with it.

Lastly, watch out for maroon vans. They will whack the backside of your car when you are least expecting it. And I really do apologize that you had yours kids and your food in the car, but my car is broken and my groceries are getting just as hot. I am thankful you were nice though. Thank you Lord for that.

In other news, I tried a couple of recipes last night that I am excited to try again tomorrow to make sure they are fool proof (update: gotta switch some things up, will post when I get it good enough that I want about 10 more. haha)

 And I still can't believe that I've been on this  health and fitness journey for about two months now. Longest ever and I can't help but be proud of myself for that. (check out my facebook page if you want to follow my journey -aka motivate me to get my bootay in gear!)

This was just to display my awesome new shirt. #dontwishforit #workforit

And now I'm going to go enjoy some thunderstorms!

8.23.13

Easiest teacher toolbox, ever

So of course when something hits pinterest, it is like a virus.

That is exactly what the "teacher toolbox" has become. I have no idea who started it, but they are a genius. I could see these little boxes being useful for WAY MORE than teacher supplies. However, they are the perfect solution to a very crowded desk.

This can be found in the tool organization section at Lowes or Home Depot (I'm sure other stores like those as well).

Side Note: Yes, some are crooked but that will be fixed when I put the clear tape on. Also, some don't have labels. That is because I need to wait until I get into the classroom to see what else I can put in there!

Um, excuse me Piper. Attention hog.

 Another side note: They come in blue. Like a really manly looking blue. And I just wasn't down for that. I have this weird thing with colors and I just couldn't do it. Therefore, I painted that bad boy white. So if you are wondering why this looks different, that is why. And let me tell you, it made me about 10x more happy. Oh the little things.

Anyway, that it neither here nor there...you don't have to do that part.

When I was browsing other teacher's toolboxes, I noticed they went to A LOT of work making them look really cute while making a whole spreadsheet (typed that spreadshit first, and that is exactly how I feel about spreadsheets) of labels exactly the right size for each spot.

Me? Girl doesn't have time for all that. I am still in my lazy summer mood and just didn't have the energy to go to all that effort. Mine may not be as fancy, but it is much quicker and I love it...so I guess that is all that counts.

So what did I do to make it not look like a boring white box?

Well I did what any normal person would do. I would look in my purse to find all of the shades of turquoise paint chips I had hijacked from Lowes and use those instead. I mean, who doesn't do that?

All I did was stick them in the tray, fold it over to see where I needed cut it off, and snip snip...it was ready to go. There was enough left over to use for the little drawers so it worked out perfectly.

NOTE: I did glue them in there with stick glue just for now. When I get back to school, I will take them on the back with clear tape to ensure they stay. But the glue keeps them there for the time being.

As for the labels, I used my handy dandy label maker - (that I am slightly in love with AND on sale) and they fit perfectly on the top of the drawer. If you don't have one, well you need one, but you can always put a label on the paint chip or heck even just write it.

Anyway, that is how I whipped out the teacher toolbox in a matter of minutes.

And now I am so happy, happy, happy.

Since last year

HAHA! I don't think I was excited, at all.

It is hard to imagine that this time last year we were finalizing all of the wedding details. It consumed our summer and every ounce of our thoughts.

That was one of my favorite and most nerve-racking times of my life. 

Planning one of the biggest days of my life with my mom by my side were some of the best memories and moments I've had to date. Those moments I will never forget nor take for granted.

The night before the rehearsal I remember so vividly looking at Jeff at our reception hall while I hugged him looking around the room at an almost completely decorated space. Our space. For us. 

I remember us just smiling at each other and just kind of knowing that we were both so proud. Proud of where we were. What was going to happen. Where we would be going. It was a frozen moment for me. One I will just never forget. We were so entirely happy. 

We were surrounded by family who was working their behinds off to make our day special. Friends who were coming in from all over the US. It was just a surreal feeling.

I just wish I could go back to those days before the wedding and our wedding itself. I wish I could capture each of those moments and hold them tight. So tight.

I just can't believe our anniversary is just a few weeks away. I simply cannot even believe it has almost been a year since I took on a new last name. And I am also a little upset that this summer is much more mild than last summer. At least our wedding date had a record for something!

It's crazy to see how we've changed, grown, and stuck by each other's sides through all that life threw at us this first year. 

And it's hard to believe that I love that guy now even more than I did on that day. Even if he does wear about a closet a day, which means 500 loads of laundry a day. ;)

Husband approved BBQ chicken quinoa salad

Coming to you is a husband approved meal that is good for ol' belly. A healthy alternative that we have on the regular.

When I cooked this for the very first time it was even facebook worthy from Jeff. Patting myself on the back for that.

The original recipe can be found here. I adapted it a little but only because I forgot onions at the store (every single time I have cooked it). Not that I actually even like onions, but I was going to try it out with them. Even though I probably would have been in the kitchen 15 hours chopping them until they were microscopic.

I feel kind of funny posting her recipe on my blog since I really didn't change much, so if you would like the recipe, click on that little linky and there you have it! Pure goodness, and bbqness, and yumminess and all.

Jeff has literally said (every single time), "Dang, that's good!" So if I were you, I'd get the recipe and get to cooking. Like, yesterday.

My Plate vs. His

And let me tell you, there are leftovers for days! Score!

The letter that told my future

Growing up, I attended a Catholic school for nine years. Those were hands down the best years of my life growing up. The years before I turned into a moody know-it-all teenager. :)

Many memories from those years I hold very close to my heart. I still occasionally keep in contact with my teachers from then, and am still inspired by their teaching on the daily. My very best friends are still the ones I met in preschool and kindergarden. Four of them were in my wedding. 

I found something very special to me the other day. My mom gave this note to me a year or so ago because she thought I'd like to keep it. This note is from 3rd grade, as you will see, and what it has written on it has me laughing inside. 

How could such a little mind predict the future? Funny out it all worked out that way.

Anyway, here is the letter I wrote. And don't mind me, I obviously don't know the difference between "b" and "d". No big deal. 

Somebody stop me

...because I have the school supply fever.

The other day, more like a week ago I guess, I walked into the dreaded Walmart and saw something that made me shudder and smile all at the same time.

The school supplies were getting put out. Row by row, isle by isle, cluttering the entire front of Walmart.

Can it be that soon until school starts? I had an instant panic attack thinking of all of the things school related I had planned to do this summer and put on the waist side because I was too busy having fun and relaxing.

Then I did what any teacher or school supply obsessed person does, I went in. And went out with folders in every color and dry erase pouches in every color. And then I walked out before I did something crazy.

Of course I had to go to Target as well. Holy guacamole, that dollar spot. I had to tell myself to walk away, just walk away.

So now I am motivated to start rocking out some school crafts and ready to get our new curriculum on Tuesday. Well, ready isn't exactly the word I'm looking for. But I'll take stocking up on school supplies I probably don't need over actually having to start waking up at 5:45.

Who else is a school supply/office supply lover?

Wedding Reception

How could I forget to post pictures of our wedding reception?! I have no idea. 

Our wedding reception was hands down the best party I have ever been to in my life. I guess it probably should be, but I had so much dang fun that night that I pretty much miss that moment every single day.

What could get better than partying with every single person in your life that you care about? I mean, c'mon. The drinks never stopped flowing and neither did my dance moves. 

We literally were on the dance floor the entire night. Gosh it was just so much fun. We even hit up the DJ for a little extra time because we just weren't ready yet.

When it finally did come time to close down the house, everyone was exhausted, a lot tipsy, and they all went out...while we traveled two hours away to a hotel in a limo. 

One thing I will also never forget about the reception was the moment we stepped out to leave the building. You see, last August 4 was literally the hottest day of the entire YEAR. We had no had rain in for.ev.er. It was like a dang drought, no joke. 

And the moment we stepped outside, (I'm sure you can predict what happened next), it started raining! It was pretty cool I must say. I think God was sweating from all his partying too :)

It's crazy how the days draw closer to our anniversary I am just missing it all so dang much. Some of the very best days of my life. Holding them in my pocket forever.