dream on

It's Monday morning. The weather outside is so spectacular that I am actually sitting on my back porch with a cup of delicious hazelnut coffee and this Mac in my Lap. This is complete bliss. Honestly this weekend has been kinda crazy that it's nice that I can literally just sit out here, blog and enjoy the wind. So lets see...nothing happened on Friday really except hanging out with Nick and Christine but Saturday was pretty fun. I had to work in the morning but right after that Christine and I went to On the Boarder for a super expensive but ridiculously fun lunch. Let me tell you, they keep serving beer in bigger cups. FYI. We talked about a lot of awesome things and just enjoyed each other's company. Yesterday, I ran 3 miles in my best time yet! Cassie had mentioned to me that she was doing the Cooper Bridge Run and it sounds so exciting but I don't know if I'm quite ready for that just yet. I do want to find a run that I am passionate about and I want to keep pushing myself. I've noticed that one of my favorite things to do is compete against myself. Not in a bad way, but always try to top myself off. It keeps me on my toes for new challenges and honestly, everything I've ever attempted to do and succeeded makes me feel great. This is why I am also very confused as to what to do for lent. WHAT SHOULD I GIVE UP?! Last year, a few of you will remember that I gave up caffeine, cussing and facebook. I gave up caffeine because it did not help with my dysautonomia at all. I gave up cussing cause I did it a hell of a lot. Facebook I just always give up because it is easy and acually a lot of fun. I always strive to give up something that I've noticed I do too much or for the wrong reasons. I want to give up meat, but I honestly don't really want to do that. I am totally for vegetarians and I envy them for what they do because it is a wonderful thing but I haven't felt the calling to become one or anything along those lines. I do eat tons of organic things as often as I can but maybe I can try, instead of give up, bring on a new habit? It takes 21 days to break a habit. Maybe I can start eating more vegetables because all of you know how horrible of a relationship I have with veggies. I love salads but there's just something about eating vegetables that I do not enjoy. I wish I could enjoy them more. I also thought about giving up texting but that's usually the only way I communicate with certain people and I don't wanna cut them out of my life for lent so that's not going to work either I don' think. A friend of mine was telling me that she's giving up complaining for lent. It sounds unrealistic but I seem to fancy the idea. Another idea I have is to not buy anything for myself all of lent. That means no shopping sprees at Target or anything. No new seasons or songs from itunes. No new running shorts or anything! Minus the essentials like shampoo or tampons. F'real. I also thought about not going out to eat, but then where would Showmars fall in that? Sometimes I work a full shift, and that's the only food around...would Caribou count? Yoforia certainly would... Then Eli's birthday is coming up, we always go out for his birthday. This is where all of you come in. This year I am asking for your help. Betty last year was the one that said that maybe cussing could be what I gave up and it was a great idea. You guys know me better than I like to admit. So please, tell me what you think!!

PS: Harry Potter has been amazing. I am half way done with the last book!!!

Bandaids.

So, Cassie, I stole this quote off your blog for 3 reasons. 1- I always have loved Marcus Aurelius (no one can say that his name is not super fun to say), 2- There are many things that I've realized the entire world takes for granted, sometimes the ultra simple things and 3- because it's wonderful as are you!

After having been nudged by someone to post on my blog...I guess today is the perfect day to do so. You know that dream when like you want to be a famous singer,athlete or person and you always envision yourself coming out on stage or the field or onto the street and having everyone so excited to see you and want to hug you and love you? I've realized that I never have to be famous. I have felt like a rockstar so many times before and tonight just made me realizethat I have actually felt that way before. I know that as you're reading this you're already thinking that this idea must have been brought up thanks to my kids. You're right. Tonight was multicultural night at Matthews Elementary and despite the fact that only one of my students was performing, I pretty much knew I was going to be there. One of my girls from India was doing this traditional Indian dance and let me just tell you...I was so proud. She came dressed in her amazing traditional dress and jewelry and even though she was nervous she hit it out of the park. The dance was fabulous!!!! I actually texted Kathryn a bit ago making sure that I was not crazy because I honestly felt like my child was up there. I was a happy beaming parent. The best part was that after her performance 3 more of my students who were there each individually went up to her to tell her how great of a job she did. I couldn't believe how proud they were of her and how impressed they were. It's so funny to me how they each care so much about each other. I never really thought about it, but honestly when you are part of a class...you feel this camaraderie towards one another. Hell, we all become this huge giant family. (MISS YOU CASSIE!!!) I really think it's beautiful how each of them is going to remember that forever. It was a beautiful thing to see. An excellent poster-boy for diversity and equality among elementary students. None of them cared that they were all a different race, that some had glasses and that one of them had red hair. Didn't even seem to phase them, all that did phase them was how proud they were of their fellow classmate. Gah. Ok, sorry I get carriedaway on certain topics. IE: education, diversity, recycling and heath. So yeah tonight was nice. Check out my name in Japanese!

Awesome, huh? Here's an update on my life as of now and the important things coming up ahead: Katie gets to beast her half marathon in EFFINGDISNEYWORLD this weekend, Kathryn is coming home next weekend, I see my kids next week as well, Chris has started working at Showmars now, I am officially tutoring 2 middle schoolers now and 4th graders, I'm looking into 5K runs in Charlotte to train for, and I cannot wait for an amazing summer in Boone. Life hasn't been perfect, or as close to what I had planned but hey, it's going. I do have a nasty giant blister on my big toe but hey, just a battle scar.

Enjoy the present- inspired by Corey Dodd.

P.Y.T

What a nice weekend. Like I said before, it was so nice to see my babies. But the weather has really put me in such a good mood. Luckily I enjoyed a wonderful Valentine's day with a number of important people that I absolutely love. Not only did I do that but I really realized how many people I did love. I also thought more about what things I love. Here are some things that I love:

1.Books, Movies and Music

2. Mountains

3. ASU/ School (and everything that comes with it-the office supplies, teachers, students and yes even tests and hw)

4. Running

5. My family

6. My friends

7. Pictures

8. Dancing

9. Gatorade

10. Children

Now, remember, this is completely broad and short. Yet these things are the first 10 that popped in my head. Such happy things! I could also say things like coffee, Lady GaGa, saying goodnight, and service work but then I would totally keep naming things forever ever. There are many things that make me happy and many people that I love. That's what Valentine's day really is, right? Or is it getting pulled over by cops? MacBooks? BBQ pizza? Either way, everthing that came with it was perfect. Sprinkled with wonderful phone calls as well!

I must give amazing photo credits to Cassie for this awesome picture. I was looking through her blog and was very touched by this. It kinda summed up my day Sunday as I was just taking a walk in such wonderful weather.

We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.

Colossus. Marooned.

I am so sorry. Life has been a bit on the heavy and straightforward side lately and I have not really had time to think clearly. I usually do not blog unless I am feeling very motivated, happy or just simply inspired. For some reason that had not been happening lately. I went to Boone a few weekends ago and a good friend of mine told me that I need to update my blog and that I don't necessarily have to solely do it when I'm "happy". I think that recently with certain people I have been a lot more open and have exposed a lot of my feelings which I know is something that I frequently talk about because I need to tell myself when I do it--honestly I really like it, I think. Anyway, my weekend trip to Boone was such a spoonful of sugar for my life. Not only was the trip itself worth it, but the Starbucks and Run for Your Life trip with Katie in the beautiful weather before it was wonderful. I am kinda excited for spring. I am very upset that this winter hasn't been much of a winter really, but with my favorite season being fall...spring is a very close second. I love the smell of spring sports, the perfect breeze along with the excitement of brewing up fun summer plans, seeing nature in bloom and some pretty important days.

I don't really want to get into detail about the tough decisions and obstacles that January and February have already brought but I do want to talk about the silver linings. Boone like I said was wonderful. Seeing so many of my good friends and my best friends all in a matter of a few hours is always unbeatable. I got my favorite Boone foods, Boone activities and Boone weather all in one trip. Lunch and dinner with Corey and Kathryn (thank you so much for keeping me in line, you two), Hookah, Beer Pong and games with everyone, girl talk with Kim and a wonderful walk and breakfast with Cassie and Maya. Bliss.

Not too long ago, Nick turned 24 and we all went to the bowling alley to celebrate after work. It was awesome, who doesn't drink and enjoy a good extreme bowling night? What my favorite part about that was seeing one of my 3rd graders at the bowling alley. I honestly miss those kids like no other and I am assuming that things really do happen for a reason because after that I kept seeing either my CT or more of my students around town. After having enough of these coincidences my CT decided to just make me come to the Valentine's Day party that my kids were having. Needless to say I was jumping off the walls ecstatic to see them, I made them goodie bags and was ready to be tackled to the ground again. I saw them today and it just gave me so much more energy to keep going. Oh boy. I'm not even talking about being happy because of what I got for Valentine's Day, it's the things that these kids say and do that make me smile more than I thought I possibly could. I honestly love those kids and miss them so much. I know it sounds lame and weird but it's totally true. Like Chris had said, I guess some kids were bound to have crushes on you and want to know all about your life but I never thought I'd hear one of them tell me that they wish they were my kids. After much chocolate, "i love you's", hugs, Charlie Brown, hot potato, and musical chairs I had to say see you later again. Just please check out all the things I got today (best valentine's day ever):

You are unrepeatable. There is a magic about you that is all your own...