Sunny Days

Finally! The sun has decided to shine and the weather is above 55 degrees! I am currently blogging from my favorite summer spot, my deck! My family was able to set it up yesterday and we enjoyed a nicely grilled steak stuffed with goat cheese :) yummy! 

I also want to share a few blessings the past week! I was able to attend one of my best friends wedding showers :) A family/friends one thrown over the past weekend and a church one thrown during the week! It was so nice to celebrate the upcoming event and I can not wait for the wedding in less than two months! 

I also got to spend time with my greek family! We had a Sigma Kappa reunion this week and was able to spend time with both my littles and my big sis :) It is funny that no matter where life may take me, no matter how long we spend apart, we are able to pick up as if nothing has changed :) I am so blessed to have all of them in my life! 

Have a blessed weekend and take time to enjoy the people around you :) 

Mint

Mint, who does not LOVE that color this spring? You can literally find it everywhere, and when the sun finally decides to shine around here, it will look great on my nicely tanned skin. 

However, the word mint now holds a whole new meaning in my life. I have downloaded the mint app, a financial help system on the iphone (possibly droid to?) that connects with your bank account, analyzes all the items you spend your money on, and sets a budget based upon what you make and what you spend. The best thing is that it is FREE! 

Maybe I am new to this and the mint app was popular like 8 months ago but I had to share it with you all!! Although it brought me to tears as I saw how much I spend on clothes and coffee and how over budget I am on those categories; it made me realize how much financial help I need! Granted I am still in college and do not make that much money, I can still be smarter with how I spend it. It is something I definitely struggle with and I really think this app will help me realize that I don't actually need that grande peppermint white mocha at Starbucks every single day :(

Wish me luck as I take on this new adventure with my mint app. I will definitely need it! 

P.S. Insanity update to come soon :) 

Sun, Rain, Floods, Snow?

There are many perks to living in Michigan; the beautiful summers on the lake, gorgeous sand dunes, historic Mackinaw Island, and the magnificent fall leaves changing colors and falling to the ground. However, there is no way to prepare and dress yourself for Spring. 

Most would think of Spring as being warm and wet, a nice spring jacket paired with the ever so adorable rain boots. (Northface womens rain jacket and Green Evedon womens rain boots)

 

In Michigan this assumption does not apply. In the past two days, I have experienced 60 degree weather, tsunami rain storms, floods, and snow. Not only do I hate the weather, but I also don't know what to wear! My wardrobe is super confused at the moment. How does one dress for this?

Yes, that is a flooded house, from the river to the main street, with snow on the roof. ugh. 

Well, as I head out for my best friends wedding shower in a few hours, I will strap on my winter gear, put on my sunglasses, pull out my kayak, and paddle down the road to her house to celebrate the upcoming nuptials :) But at least I will try to look good doing it! 

P.s. I just want to give a shout out to my newest obsession. The Gwyneth Paltrow cookbook! I highly recommend to go get it! It is AMAZING! 

Friday Letters

Dear Friday, I am so excited to see you because it means I am done with my first portion of student teaching and the college of education!!! All I have left is one last semester of student teaching in the fall and I am done! 

Dear Students, I was so sad to leave all of you on wednesday! I did appreciate the wonderful cards, the pictures, the hugs, pencils, and adoption contract you all drew up in order to adopt me :) This is definitely going to be the hardest part of teaching, saying goodbye at the end of the year. These are the little goody bags I made. Each student got a cookie, pencil, a written letter, and Takis (which are gold to them). 

Dear Rain, Please stop! This is getting ridiculous! I understand the concept of April showers bring May flowers, but I am getting nervous about the abundance of flowers this spring! Literally, we had to close down school yesterday for floods and power outages!  

Dear Erin, I am so excited for your wedding showers this weekend! I can not believe how close it is getting to the big day! Hopefully you love all the gifts you are about to receive :) See you tomorrow and Monday for the big day! 

Dear Greys, whoa! I have to tell everyone that I am a week behind on Greys anatomy, so I have not seen last nights episode yet, but the past two weeks are killing me! Dr. Baily? Why? Also, who is with me about Jackson and Keptner getting back together!?! p.s. Scandal, come back soon! 

Also, prayers to Boston and the many victims suffering from this tragedy. Have a blessed Friday. 

Excuses Excuses

I have been slacking, and making every excuse in the book for the lack of working out I did this past week. I was busy, I had a wedding shower (which was so fun by the way!), it is my last week of student teaching, I have projects to finish, papers to write, and bad weather. I used every excuse from the book  this past weekend. 

It was no wonder I felt bloated and just blah all day today. I was not about to work out though! I even text my sister after teaching all day and told her I would not be home till 7 and not to wait to work out because I would be to tired after work. 

Luckily, I work with kids all day, and they never seize to amaze me. Three of my students in my after school program put everything in perspective for me. These three individuals are over weight but are extremely motivated to participate in a mile race our after school program is holding next month. Last week we started training for the mile race and these three worked their behinds off. They put in more work than all the other 30 kids who run for a living (aka who play soccer or basketball on a daily basis). Anyway, these three could barely finish a half mile last week! I was so proud of them for the effort they put in, but honestly I did not have the highest of hopes for them today. 

So as I gathered the group of 35 students together at the starting line, and blew my whistle to begin the race, I didn't pay much attention to these three who staggered behind at a slow and steady pace. Which was a bummer for me because these three blew me away! All three of them finished a full mile today! I could see the joy in their faces as they finished their last lap! One girl was almost in tears and she told me she could not wait to tell her mom what she just accomplished!

 It was such an amazing experience to watch three individuals who could barely do a half mile last week do a full mile only a week later. They were so thrilled they went around and told everyone of their accomplishments at dinner time!

These three made me realize that everyone deserves to be believed in. These three individuals worked harder than anyone else, and although they didn't get the fastest time, they accomplished so much more, they finished. This event means more to them than anyone and I can't wait to see what they do the next few weeks up to the race day.

Hey, if these kids can do it, so can you and I :) 

TGIF

What a busy week! Sorry for not posting anything since last friday, but this first week back since spring break has been CRAZY! I am finishing up my first portion of my student teaching wednesday, finish about 1000000 projects, and heading to some fabulous wedding showers! Although it is super busy, I really have nothing to complain about :) 

Insanity Results for week 2: Down 3lbs!!!!! I haven't measured myself yet but the 3lbs enough to call for a celebration! 

Here is my letter link up for friday :)

Dear College Life, I am currently spending the day/last night out at my college with a friend. I have done nothing except sleep and eat crappy food! Although I miss the lifestyle you gave me, I do not miss the lbs I put on! I completely understand why people gain so much weight at college! There is nothing to eat out here that isn't fast-food or greasy! Dear Bekah, I am so excited for your shower tomorrow! I have not seen you in a few months since your move to Chicago, but I am thrilled we get to spend a few hours together tomorrow celebrating the wedding that is quickly approaching! Dear Weather, you are cruel. so cruel. all you do is provide me with cold temps and rain. I honestly don't think the sun has shined in the mitten since last week! These dark, gloomy, rainy days are starting to affect my mood. Dear Scandal, my mind is still blown from last weeks episode! The fact that I have to wait three weeks to watch you is killing me. Seriously, does this show ever slow down? So many twists and turns and this time, I really can't predict what is going to happen. Props to you for getting my hooked. 

P.S. Happy National Sibs day that happened earlier this week. Don't know what I would do with out my two little sisters! 

Happy Friday!

Spring!!

Happy Friday everyone!

Insanity results for the week (drum roll please):

After week one I have lost: 1 inch in my bust, 1/2 inch in my waist, and an 1 1/2 in my hips, and a 1 1/2 lbs! One week down, 8 more to go! 

Dear Friday, I am actually sad to see you. It means spring break is over and back to the grind come Monday :( It really hasn't been that much of break seeing as I have three HUGE projects due in two weeks, but its still better then sitting in lectures all week. 

Dear 6th grade students, Only 6 more days left with you!!! I am seriously so sad. Having the all boys class for most of the day (except when I get the all girls class for an hour, and the other mixed gender class for another hour of social studies) makes me realize how much I will miss your stinky sixth grade boy smell, your "funny" pranks, your great stories about your family, friends, and crazy things you did over the weekend, and all your great gifts and pictures you give me on a daily basis :( I seriously might cry when I leave, and I know you will all laugh at me :/ 

Dear Girls Night, I just have to give a shout out to my wonderful friends and family that I have. Tuesday night we had our great family friends over for a girls night with moms, sisters, and friends. It was so fun! Wednesday night I always hang out with one of my greatest friends, Erin, to drink wine, eat food, and catch up on Greys Anatomy, Scandal, and Nashville. I just have to say how much I appreciate your friendship :)  And shout out to your wedding day in less than 3 months!! 

Dear Spring, You are here!!!!!!!!! I literally could jump with excitement because I am assuming that this cold weather is gone for ever! (well until next November). I can't wait to wear shorts, short sleeve shirts, and run outside with out wearing winter gear that weighs 1000000 pounds. 

Dear my Sigma Kappa Littles, I can't believe your are going alumni this weekend! I feel like it was yesterday that I was hiding from you while you were hunting me down to claim me as your big (both of you, just a year apart). Time seriously flies by, but I just want you both to know that I am so proud of the young women you have become and I am so glad I got to share the experience of Sigma Kappa with you both by my side :) P.S. I will always be your big sis, its a lifelong commitment, so you can't get rid of me :) 

 

 
 

Have a great weekend all! 

I Can't Believe...its April!

I can't believe that it is already April! Time has flown by this year, I sure hope it slows down when summer starts! It will be a busy summer with lots of weddings to attend, summer school to teach, and beaches to relax at (I can't be all work and no fun!) 

I can't believe I am doing Insanity work out.....again. I am literally DYING! But I feel so much better after:) I honestly forgot how hard it was until I tried to get out of bed this morning and physically could not lift my legs or arms. Try putting on mascara with your arms shaking from the pain of lifting them to eye level haha (its a bad make up day today). Luckily for me, I have my sister to do the workout with so we can hold each other accountable:) 

I can't believe Michigan made it to the Final Four!!! Trey Burke's three to tie the game against Kansas almost gave me a heart attack! I <3 him...and I have to give a shout out to Stauskas for his 6/6 threes v Florida! 

I can't believe the weather is finally changing! I need summer weather! Mostly so I can start wearing my sundresses. Here is my latest purchase via Marshalls. It is a mint green sundress with pockets, so comfy! 

I can't believe I am giving up sugar and only allowing myself to eat it once a week. My sister brought up this challenge and I can already tell it will be so hard! Candy and cookies are definitely my weakness. Thank goodness for the amazing strawberry shortcake I had at girls night last night, but looks like I am done with sweets for the week :/

Have a happy Wednesday! 

Easter and the Final Four

What a great Easter weekend!! It amazes me every year how quickly I forget the importance of the holiday. I don't mean that I literally forget the meaning of the holiday, but it just blows me away that a sinner like me was saved by the grace of GOD. 

I watched the Passion of the Christ for the first time this year and balled my eyes out. If you have yet to watch it, I recommend you do because it put into perspective the suffering of Jesus endured just to save the sinners of this world :) 

Here is a pic of my family from Easter Sunday brunch. Sorry its a little blurry!

I got a great new maxi dress to wear for the occasion, very similar to the one my sister has on :) Nothing like matching outfits! 

I also had a great time watching Michigan head to the final four!!!! I went from last place in my bracket to 13th! (out of 26). Just when I thought I had lost all hope to win this years bracket tournament Michigan pulls through for me :) Along with Louisville, but I am all about the maize and blue! 

For the Sweet 16 games my family went all out and grilled outside for the first time since last fall!! The weather this weekend finally felt like spring :) We had wings, grilled mussels, chips, salsa, cheese, crackers, stuffed olives, and my homemade fruit salsa with cinnamon chips for dessert. 

The fruit salsa is great because its a healthy dessert and tastes amazing. Dice up any fruit you want, (I chose strawberries, kiwi, oranges, apples, and grapes), add 1 1/2 tsp of sugar and a little lemon juice, and you have the salsa! For the chips, I cut up corn tortillas (since I have a gluten allergy, but you can use flour), sprayed them with a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil, added a little cinnamon sugar to the top, and baked them in the oven at 375 till brown. 

Also, first day of Insanity workout! I will update you all later with results! Anyone going on the workout journey with me? Like I said, it doesn't have to be insanity, anything is great! 

Hope everyone had a blessed Easter weekend, and a wonderful week this week! I sure will, I am FINALLY on spring break :) 

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