Austin 10/20

2 weekends ago I ran the Austin 10/20

This race was a first for me in many ways!  It was actually the first time this race has been held and was amazingly organized, the shirts were cool (I based a big part of the race on the shirts...), its was a neat concept, and for me it was my first time EVER running double digits in a race.  I never thought this would happen for me and it did.

My super cool and heavy 'weapon' medal I EARNED:)

 I dunno where I am but check out all the people

 Dying... I have no idea where we are but I'm dying

 Looking stronger:)

I came in at 1:35:12 - 5 minutes over my goal time and averaged 9:30 pace which is pretty slow for me.  I'm still learning in this process for sure - like that I'm starving immediately and goo and gels don't help - I should probably take a bar or a sandwich (seriously -- people do that - peanut butter).  I placed 608 in the Females and 1436 over - hahah awesome.  The average of women was 1:55 though so I beat that by 20 minutes and the average of men was 1:41 and I beat that:)  Fastest person... 44 minutes - seriously - what's up with your body and stamina?  Those people confuse me.
I'll be back next year for sure.

Matteo - the boy who stole my heart

My visit to DE was all too short and ended way too soon.  That boy -- well he stole my heart. He is beyond the cutest, best baby ever.  Without further adieu let's get some pictures!

Nikki and Matteo

 Sweet boy

 Kisses for Matteo

 4 generations

Wednesday... I'm glad you're over

Good lord this day was long.  It is currently 8:00 and I sat down for the first time in my apartment 20 minutes ago.  Holy... crap.

Yes school is winding down (23 more school days) but with that brings insanity.  Testing, report cards, final meetings with parents to bring them up to date just in case, summer plans with camp and tutoring and house sitting and dog sitting and nannying AND Spain, our chicks are hatching and we weren't prepared because they came early (now I have a very small send of premature things... very small), Run to the Sun is this weekend (100+ relay no big deal...), new national boards classes starting up on Saturdays for 7 hours (grrr seriously - in this beautiful weather), and holy cow so much more.  Not to complain but I would like to state for the record that 'must be nice to get summers off' means nothing to me - it pisses me off.  Not that no one else works their booties off all year long but do you do it with 20 kids that aren't even yours?  Yes, I chose this profession because I love it but don't knock it because you have NO.IDEA. what we go through all 175 days of school.  Come visit me -- I beg you -- come experience what I do each and every day and tell me we don't deserve a 2 month mental and emotional break so we can bring that same positive energy year after year to our childer.

Stepping down off of my crazy soap box now...

So today I taught (without any breaks because testing is going on which means yes you read that right... no breaks... did you get a bathroom break today?  water break? conversation break? oh... not me... get the 2 month hiatus??); then tutored for an hour a sweet little girl hyped up on chocolate, walked Mia, changed, ate a quick snack, watered the garden, headed to an hour work out in 90 degree weather (c'mon spring you're killing me already), ran to the grocery, made dinner, walked Mia, put away laundry, wondered why there was a GIANT pee stain on 1 of our decorative pillows... MIAAAAAAA....., showered and bathed Mia, walked her again, did dishes, cleaned the kitchen... POURED MYSELF A GLASS OF WINE AND SAT DOWN!

shew!! again - this might seem like I'm complaining but really it's more for me - a recap of why it took me so long to sit down and relax.... :)  I love days like today - keeps me busy and reminds me how lucky I am to have a job, friends, a place to work out, and my sweet puppy.

Thinking about next week 'linking' up with another blog of someone I have no clue who they are - I've never done this so this will be a totally new thing for me.  We'll see if I remember --- psh if it's anything like today I won't:) HAPPY HUMP DAY THANK GOD WE ARE HALF WAY THROUGH THE WEEK!

Paddleboarding!

A couple weekends ago some friends and I opted to head out paddleboarding on Town Lake.  It was 90 degrees and we were loving the weather!

Paddleboarding was a blast!  If you get the chance to try it out - you should!

My friend Chloe and I

 Courtney and Chloe on their way

 Under the bridge

 Me:)

 Paddling away

My eyes aren't good

Eek.  You know how when you order your contacts and they say '2 week contacts' and you think to yourself psh... you must be crazy if you think I'm only wearing these for 2 weeks - they were expensive as hell!!  How will they ever know?  Well... they know...

I have astigmatism in both of my eyes and TERRIBLE vision - I'm saying like negatives it's so bad.  It's hard for me to go without my contacts because my glasses have the outer edges where they aren't covered with the lens so it's weird for me.  My contacts run about $400-500 every 6 months -- yes that's right.  Ridiculous.  It is cheaper for me to go without using the insurance and go via 1800-contacts without insurance.  Nutso.

So I've always used m contacts for double the time... and lately I feel like it may be even longer.  When they hurt - I take them out.  I know I know - it's terrible.  But honestly - it's like the last thing I want to spend my money on... until 2 Fridays ago.

I went to my eye Dr for annual exam - I at least keep up with that.  I have this fear of something being wrong with my eyes because they are so bad and they are stretched so tight from the astigmatism I'm petrified of scratches or something that forces me into wearing my glasses for months (or years).  It was a new Dr. and he was awesome.  Young, great, easy to talk to - it was a good experience.  The last thing I asked him before he did his final test was... can you really tell how frequently I change my contacts?  His response... let's see.

He does his last test and says - let's take a picture of this.  And then he shows me the damage I have done to my eyes.  And taught me soooo much about my eyes and contacts.

Here's what I learned and this is why I have no vowed to wear my glasses more, contacts less, and change every 2 weeks no matter what.  Remember - this is what I got out of our convo - I'm by no means a Dr. so if this isn't all true just go with me - it convinced me and that's all I needed know

• contacts have little holes in them that allow air in because your eyes need air 
• after 2 weeks (on my lenses, some are longer some shorter) the holes are covered
• your eyes still need air and they are pretty much gasping for air so the blood vessels in the back of your eyes start creeping into your corneas
• your corneas should not have any blood vessels in them
• my corneas have a lot of blood vessels starting to creep in - some are longer than others showing this has gone on for an extended period of time
• if I wanted Lasik right now - couldn't get it
• it IS repairable ... his guess is if I continue with contacts every 2 weeks as frequently as I wear them it will take 3 YEARS to correct!
• if I wore glasses every day it would take a year

So... my solution is contacts 2 weeks - glasses 1 week.  I feel like that is a good compromise.  I'm curious - if I put in my contacts but wear them every other day does that extend the time?  Like is the 2 weeks only for the actual 14 days they are IN your eyes?  Hmmm

I'm serious about correcting this.  So -- $800-1000 a year -- here I come.

Randoms part 2:)

Yup... it's my favorite kind of blog!

Mmmm - bought my first cantalope last weekend and it is DELICIOUS! I always get nervous especially when it's the beginning of the season but mmm mmmm oh how I've missed the summertime fruits... or as Derrick - the boy who HATES AND I MEAN HATES CANTALOPE - calls it the poor persons fruit because it's so cheap and it's all his mom bought growing up

How awesome are these!?! yes those are jalapeno cheddar crackers... IN THE SHAPE OF TEXAS!!

I made dinner the other night with just a bunch of random stuff I had bought and didn't want to go to waste - summer sausage, zucchini, squash, red and green pepper, sauteed in a little butter and then tossed with pasta. It lasted me 4 DAYS! Lunch and dinner some of the days - yummy, cheap, healthy and looks pretty:)

Have you tried these? Clearly you can see I tore the back open BEFORE taking a picture because I love them so much! Beanitos - so yummy and they were in my race pack from this past weekend :)

How yummy do these look? I had a coupon for them and I was in need of some new creamer for school - I can't wait!

Derrick loves crawfish boils and it's crawfish season - so we have ventured out twice for them. This was his joking with them before anyone gets all hot and bothered about his 'incorrect' way of eating them - don't worry... he's cajun - he knows what to do

His pounds upon pounds of crawfish that he ate all by himself:)

Have you tried or seen these? (clearly this is my food/snack blog today) - they are REALLY good and I don't usually go for the prepacked stuff but I buy them for Derrick on his trips. He likes them for breakfast or a quick snack - pretty cheap only 1.50 for 5 bags. You don't get a ton but he says it's a good breakfast that with a yogurt or something - they also come in granny smith

okay seriously what's with me and the food? These are sooo yummy!! They're like the veggie straws only sweeter! 38 sticks only 130 calories! They are DELICIOUS!

Yep.. I saw this last Thursday. AND FELL IN LOVE. By far my favorite show! yep I'm even saying it beat out Lion King - not because of the costumes but because this is my all time favorite movie and even though it was a little different it was still amazing

And after the show I REALLY wanted to buy this but the line was too long - seriously I would've spend the $20 they wanted just to have it (found it online for only $15.50 if anyone is looking for a birthday present... I would love this!) via

Randoms

I do love the random posts... it gets a lot out quickly and easier:)

How cute are these? One of my students brought them for me last week - Monkey Mints!?! Remember... my class is the monkeys

Derrick got inspired and decided to make a garden one day. This might not look like a ton of hard work/money but it was -- I should've taken a before picture. Let's just say before it was old rotted wooden planks, sand, and tons of stones.

How cute is this birth announcement? Oh ya know... just my nephew

Ever been to Froyoyo? Heaven. I'm loving this soft serve add all the toppings you want kinda places:)

Mom and I bought this for Nikki's first Mother's Day. I loved it and knew it was perfect for her from the second I saw it. It's from James Avery which I had never heard of prior to moving to TX but it's huge out here!

Went paddleboarding the other day (pics to come) and afterwards we were all in for a summer treat since it was 90 outside and we were in our bathing suits. Mmmm lemonade snocones make my day!

For a fun opening unit on plants my whole class got to bring in anything they wanted to plant. They had a BLAST. They did the weeding, digging, adding new soil, watered - and now it's their responsibility. They are truly loving it although I'd have to say... it's not very organized and many things are dying they are still so proud!

Derrick surprised me with flowers the other day because 'they looked like spring' - I love it.

Do you have a vac seal? You might say we are a little obsessed but it is truly awesome. Especially for meat! And ours has this awesome marinating capability that can marinate something in 20 minutes v. 3 hours! SO AWESOME!

No more freezer burn!

How lucky I am

Beware... this might be a little sappy:)

5 years ago I was graduating college, single, and so excited to move to Charlotte. I moved there, went out with a lot of guys, and wondered if I was just a little too much for guys:) Some people say I'm a bit much... as in a little crazy, a little goofy, a bit emotional, and pretty much wanting someone to take care of me :) Who would've thought I'd find that person!?! 4 years later still so happy:) So glad it never worked out with anyone else:)

Derrick and I have been together for 4 years -- 4 amazing years. We have survived a possible job loss for him, a miserable teaching career for me, getting a dog, moving across the country, house hunting and then it falling through, losing my job, getting it back, moving in together, and going on vacation to: ski in Deep Creek, 7 day cruise to Cozumel, Cayman Islands, and Ochos Rios, Florida, Bimini, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, San Francisco, New York City, New Orleans, Charleston, and soon to be Spain:)

He is so wonderful to me. I have meltdowns often.... too often... and he understands and knows when its just my stress or emotions 'lashing' out. He gets that cooking isn't my thing and it is his -- drinking wine is my thing:) He understands when I need help around the apartment. He knows when I've taken things too far and puts me back in my place. He gets when I grab baby clothes off the rack and walk them around the store saying 'isn't this so cute!?!'. He says I'm crazy when I say it's okay to have a baby out of wedlock - everyone's doing it these days (don't worry mom... I was just joking), he loves to sleep in but gets that on vacation - the one time most people want to sleep in I want to get up SUPER early for breakfast and to enjoy the day immediately!

So when people say 'aren't you worried he's not ready to get married' - my answer is... no. Why would I be worried? We have an amazing relationship. We get each other. Last year at this time I didn't 'get him' as much as I do now. And probably a year from now I'll say the same. You continue to learn so much about each other as the years go on, and for us making us stronger.

So yea.... I am so lucky to have him. He does so much for me.

Oh that boy... :)

Spain - HERE WE COME!

So this past weekend Derrick and I were supposed to heard to Maui together for his friend's wedding. At the days got closer I got more stressed out. I wanted to go SO badly and the flights were wide open (first class too!) but my National Board paper was due, I had another class to go, a race to run, and sub plans to write. It was all too much for 2 1/2 days of Maui. So Derrick said I could plan our summer trip since I couldn't go to Maui and I was so bummed.

Low and behold I decided on... SPAIN! I'm so excited! The plan right now is :

#1 - practice my Rosetta Stone to hopefully get my Spanish back and really be able to understand where we are and what's going on
#2 - leave on June 16 from Newark, NJ and fly into Barcelona on the 17th in the morning. We would stay until the 25th (ish) depending on flights and Derrick's vacation time.
#3 - we plan to spend a few days in Barcelona, then Valencia, Toledo, Madrid and maybe Segovia which I heard from a classmate from Spain that this is a must - it's where she is from and full of amazing history.
#4 - I have a friend staying in our apartment for almost 2 weeks to watch Mia so I will fly back into Newark, NJ and then go straight to DE for the week and then be there for Matteo's baptism July 1.

Just a look into what we will be seeing based on google images:)

Barcelona:
Valencia:


Toledo:


Segovia:

Madrid:


Next on the list of things to do:

Figure out if this is where we want to go
How are we getting around? ( car, train, public transportation?)
Where to stay
I wanted to surprise Derrick with a soccer game while we are there because he is a HUGE soccer fan so I'm looking into that.
Continue with Rosetta Stone - I have a TON more to go! Like I'll be cutting it to the wire... but I'm loving it
Figure out what I need to buy for my vacation clothes:)
And read these books!:

Derrick bought me the Frommer's one as a surprise while I was in DE for Easter and the other one I borrowed from our Spanish teacher at school:)

Yay! I am SUPER EXCITED!