Tis the Season

It's right about that time where we stop and reflect on the year, how it went, what went fabulously and what could have gone better. With the ups and downs of 2014 there is plenty PLENTY to be thankful for. Here's my list of what I'm thankful for this past year:

1.) That I married my best friend, favorite chef, and the man who makes me laugh every day even when I really am not in the mood for it:

2.) I'm always thankful for these crazy pups who keep us busy, running and laughing each and every day. 

3.) My family and friends who do their job swimmingly - so much love and support all the time.

4.) yoga - keeps me calm, stretched, and strong. Also, for all of the wonderful people I am able to know through the studio.

5.) Running - who would I be without this one? I can't even imagine. Running keeps me sane, gives me goals, runs me down and then lifts me right back up! Nashville marathon here I come!

6.) My kiddos at school - even when things at work get really hard and frustrating I think about my wonderful students and it reminds me that it's all worth it.

7.)  Coffee... enough said.


8.)  A high of 66 degrees?? At the end of November? I'll take it!

9.) Teachers Pay Teachers - in particular this 2nd Grade Math Interactive Notebook - my kids are loving this.

10.) Pinterest - classroom inspiration, running motivation, recipes, holiday crafts, and everything inside my brain that has stemmed from this beautiful website.

Thanksgiving and Marathon Maybe?

A couple of weeks ago after I dropped my kids off at their respective bus lines I let out a deep breath. Not that I don't take a deep breath every day, multiple times a day, but this day in particular one of the veteran teachers in my building just looked at me with agreeing eyes and said "ya know, some years you just have to live for the breaks." 

Boy is she right. It's now Tuesday, the last school day before Thanksgiving break and I am more than ready to pack it all up, go home for a few days, and hopefully hopefully be able to muster up enough energy, positivity, and inspiration to make it until Christmas break. 

I definitely have more to do than I can really wrap my brain around right now. As my desk looks like this:

But hopefully I'll be able to tackle a few of the projects I have going over break. 

In other news...  it's been entirely too cold here too soon. I was thinking of finding a marathon to run so that I could have a goal to carry me through the year. BUT do I really want to train for a marathon on a treadmill right now?? 

We'll see I'm leaning toward a yes just because I'm thinking it could be a way to keep me sane during my first year teaching. 13-20 mile long runs sound like a much healthier place to vent/figure out some first year teacher struggles or even just regular teacher struggles than 1.) my poor/patient husband who is currently listening to it all or 2.) the Internet. Just as  well turn some frustrations into a positive? Right?? 

Now time to run, teach some yoga and start doing that whole Thanksgiving break thing! 

Relaxing Weekend

My weekend consisted of relaxing, sleeping, running, relaxing, did I say relaxing? Oh my goodness this was a much needed catch up, pajamas and pancakes kind of weekend. It was fabulous.

Friday night we made our own pizzas and handed out halloween candy! It was bliss. Every once in a while going out on a Friday night sounds appealing but for the most part a night in spent with my husband sounds like the most perfect evening. It was much needed after the busy weeks we have been having. 

When I woke up on Saturday morning we had gotten a freak cold front and the temperature dropped into the 20s! Burr. Daylight savings time plus 20 degrees. Fall is over. Winter is here.

I did decide to brave the colder temps and make it on my 9 mile run on Saturday. I'm unofficially training for a race that I may or may not sign up for in the spring. I'm debating over the Nashville marathon in April or the Cowtown marathon in March. I would want to try Nashville because we've never been there before and if you're going to run 26.2 miles it just as well been in a fun new place to explore. If I ran the Cowtown marathon I could go see my parents who would have perfectly brewed coffee, bagels, and love waiting for me on race day. Hmm to finish another marathon would be pretty darn cool but can I handle the training right now? Do I want to handle the training right now?

First year teacher trains for marathon... is that ridiculous?

Sunday was spent teaching an early morning yoga class and meeting up with the rest of the yoga staff for brunch. What did we do for the rest of Sunday? Relax.

And now we're heading into the week! This week is full of meetings after work, yoga classes to be taught and colder temps. On some bright notes I'm writing this on Monday which means that tomorrow is Tuesday! Woohoo for making it through Monday!