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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Fall Photo Dump.

I've never really been a fan of the hot weather.  And as we all know, this summer was brutal.  The best part about a brutal summer?  It sure makes fall seem extra awesome.  I've been doing my best to soak it all in for as long as it lasts. 
Where I'm living now, I see hot air balloons all of the time.  This one looks far away, but I could see the people inside from this close! I've always wondered what it would be like to ride it up a balloon on a crisp fall morning. I'd be paranoid a strong gust of wind would tip that basket right over though.... 

 Fall = soup.  Has anyone else see these Andy Worhol inspired Campbell's soup cans?  I'm sure everyone in Target thought I was nutso for taking pictures of soup cans, but it's the little things.  I just want to rip off all those labels and.... yeah, I haven't gotten that far.  Love 'em, though.

We took our niece to the Cider Mill last weekend, and although she didn't have the best time, we sure loved the donuts and cider slush.  I want to find an apple orchard to visit, but I haven't heard of any around here.  Anyone?


After 500 miles (what the what?@!) in my trusty Christmas present shoes from J, I got myself some new kicks.  I've been researching like crazy trying to find the best-rated, most-liked, most-colorful, best-priced, longest-lasting..... etc. shoes EVER.  J thinks I'm crazy.  I overthink things like this to the nth degree and always end up going with my first choice anyways.  I just have to make absolutely sure that there is no other better option out there.  These are the same shoe I had before, but the updated version, which is slightly more colorful.  I was refitted and went up 1/2 a size.  So far, so good.  



First race of the season, a 10K.  I hadn't been training as much as I had hoped due to massive amounts of life changes, but I'm pretty proud of my finish! The course was great, and the weather was great.  I was so glad J came with me and met me at the end of the race.  Loved it.

It hadn't rained in like 3 months, then it decided to rain for 5 minutes on my drive home from work.  This happend.  HUH?! I was so confused on what to do, I just laughed and kept going.  

A new-found trail that makes my day everytime I'm on it.  

Boom! I know I've been talking about running a lot lately on this blog, but I'm loving training for the 1/2 marathon.  I NEVER thought I would say that. It has seriously relaxed me and been the best de-stresser I could have wished for during this crazy transition in life.  I whipped this out a week ago.

The next day, Monday, I got my first cold of the school year.  I'm surprised it hadn't happened earlier.  This weekend is looking to be a good one- good times catching up with my bestie last night, and a long run with her this morning as well (she's like a beast-- pregnant and running a 1/2!)- tonight a date night, and tomorrow the football game with some great friends I haven't seen in a while. 

Hope your weekend is a great one!
-m

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

An Update *27 things before 27*



1. Take one (at least!) picture each day. 
2. Watch a movie my husband loves that I've never seen.  i.e. Star Wars, Harry Potter... 
3. Declutter my email inbox.
4. More date nights.
5. Write a letter. or two.
6. Make something from scratch for a week.
7. Clean out the garage.
8. Keep up the blog.
9. Go on a road trip with J. scheduled.
10. Read 5 books. 2 down.
11. Bake a layered cake.
12. Eat from my garden.
13. Deep clean the entire house.
14. Run a 1/2 marathon. scheduled.
15. Run a marathon.  (dream big, right?)
16. Write and follow a more specific budget.
17. Random acts of kindess.
18. Reunion with my college sorority friends. mostly....
19. Cook at home for two weeks straight.
20. Drink 10 or less Diet Coke's. 0 so far!
21. Write in a journal.
22. Give compliments each day.
23. Make my bed for 2 weeks straight. 
24. Run 500 miles. in the works.
25. Go computer free for 5 days. (that sounds impossible!)
26. Give more charity.
27. Say thank you more often.

Well, I have some work to do, but it's good to check in.  A few things marked off the list, and some others in the works.  I've got about 7 months left!

-m

Monday, September 3, 2012

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes.

Sometimes it's hard for me to find a reason to put all my life mumbo jumbo out there in blog land.  I sort of feel like I'm talking to myself.  At the same time, even if it is just me writing to myself, I hope that in some way, either through the act of writing it out in words, or perhaps going back someday and re-reading my thoughts, that it will all make sense.  Or maybe someone out there really does read this, and maybe it will useful for them, too. Who knows! Anyway, enough la de da about why I write this, and on to the meat and potatoes. :)

I like lists.  For some reason, it's easier to write a list, than to form sentences that turn into paragraphs. I've hinted that life around here has been a little crazy, so here's a list of some changes goin on in this place.  Rollin' with the punches, peeps.

1. Quit job.   It's probably been the most difficult decision I've ever made.  I left a job that I loved more than a job, for an opportunity to be closer to my family and for more opportunities for J to find a long-term, more permanent position.  I am so so so thankful for my time at my old school, and I miss it so much. I never thought it'd be so hard to leave!

2.  New Job. Yep, new school, new kiddos, new colleagues and bosses. I'm teaching 7th grade now, and I must say, I love these kids!!!! I taught 8th grade in the past, and although it's not much different, I enjoy how these babies (they're so little!) eat up my cheesy tactics to get their attention.  My new colleagues have been so so helpful, and I already feel like a part of the new school.  It's completely overwhelming starting over with a new curriculum, people, community, school, etc. but I like the challenge in a way.


3. Selling house. Ugh.  This comes with the new job.  I also love love loved our "new" house.  Unfortunately we only got to live there for a little over one year, and here we are moving again.  I will miss our first place.  We've loved making it our home, and it's hard to say goodbye to that place, too.  Not to mention, um, how do you sell a house? Yeah... we're working on that, too. Oy.

4. Moving cities. J and I moved back to my "home town", although my family does not live there anymore.  We've always known we'd move back "home" to be closer to our families, but this came about quicker than we both imagined.  I'm so excited to be closer to my nieces and new nephew on the way, and to be able to see some friends that I haven't gotten to see much of in the past few years.  We'll be doing less driving, which will be nice, but we're definitely going to be visiting friends in both places often!


5. Living with parents. Mmhmmmmm. Like I said before, so thankful for this.  Don't know how we'd do it without them!  They're so nice to put up with us, our dog, and oh yeah, all our stuff :) Thanks guys!

Growing up is hard.  Harder than grown-ups ever let young people know about.  I feel great about our life in transition, but I'm definitely feeling like a grown-up with all these big decisions.  I'm doing my best to stay optomistic, and to realize how lucky we are for all of these opportunities. 

-m 




Sunday, September 2, 2012

Hello, September.


Whoa.  I guess it's been a while since I've posted here!  I'm not quite sure where to start, as these past few weeks-- well months, have been quite overwhelming, crazy, roller-coaster-y, you get the picture.  So we'll start with "What I'm Loving Lately". :)



:: Obsessing over...
New work clothes- mostly from Target.  
:: Working on... 
Preparing for the 1/2 marathon I signed up for.  YIKES that's coming up sooner than I'm ready for.  I need to get my booty in gear and start racking up the miles.  Tomorrow, yes, tomorrow, I will run FAR. 

:: Thinking about...
Life... Change... Big things, people.

:: Anticipating...
Fall weather! I'm ready to wear a sweatshirt and sit by the fire.  Any day now!

:: Listening to...
Silence.  It's beautiful on this 3-day weekend.

:: Munching on... 
 Coffee and toast.  It's like home.  Makes sense, no? 

:: Thankful for...
My parents.  They are seriously the most generous, gracious, patient people out there.  I don't know how they do it, but I hope I can be at least half as good of parents as they are to me to my own children some day!

Whew.  Much more updates to come :) 
-m