New purchases!

Wow... I've done a ton of shopping these past few weeks... and really haven't spent over $25 of my own money -- gotta love those gift cards:)

I'm trying to buy a lot of things for Spain that will pack light, be comfy yet cute (c'mon... I'll be taking tons of pics so all these people telling me 'just wear tennis shoes and work out clothes' - you're nuts - this is prime time to dress as cute as possible!!), and weather appropriate also.

Below is EVERYTHING I have bought in the past few weeks - honestly I got some bangin' deals! (yep I said bangin' cause that's how pumped I am!).

These are getting taken back - they are the metallic Sperry's but I want the 'Angelfish' style and these are the 'Bluefish' - I thought I was okay with these but not so much

uh-door-uh-ble romper from Target - it's tube top and full of ruffles at the top and pockets with pleats on the waist!

Ready for this... $6 Lily Pulitzer skirt!!  Thank you Goodwill:)

needed new gold sandals - mine were being held together with hot glue...

Another Goodwill purchase - no I won't wear this in Spain but it was so cute and still had the price tags on it... $20 Target skirt but I got it for $4... never worn!

Clearance rack at Target - $11 - I love this dress!  It's comfy but awesome shape and fun design and cut:)

Lulu lemon shorts - too much money to ever spend on running shorts but I had a gift card

this picture isn't good enough - these pants are by far my favorite purchase and they're from Goodwill too!  Express pants.. editor style... dark grey and white seersucker material - fit amazingly - $9!!!!

awesome fit, cute colors (yes the one on the left is a white/gold metallic) and super thin and easy to pack - $10 each at JcPenney!

so cute Anthropologie shirt - fits great, nice and light weight - too much money for me to spend on a shirt but thank you gift cards

old navy clearance - it's wrinkly because it was in my hamper but a nice army green light weight skirt and it came with a cute light brown braided belt ... $8

awesome romper - 2 different materials - nice thin material up top and TERRY CLOTH on the bottom - it's nice, yet super casual - $20 on Anthropologie clearance online

old navy anchor pj pants - so cute - clearance

pretty cardigan - ruffles down the front, pretty fit, and lace back - Anthropologie - again more money than I would ever spend on a cardigan... thank you gc

I've been wanting a new watch... I've lived without one for 2+ years - Derrick convinced me to buy a nice one - Skagen - and I love it.  Silver mesh brand, white face, diamond like (I think they are Swarovski) dots where the numbers are and a rose gold ring on the outside

teal raincoat from REI!  Love this!  It's light weight, doesn't look like a rain coat, and a hood!  It's fits great too

This shirt looks confusing but it looks awesome on with some white skinny jeans - it's Jessica Simpson which is normally uber expensive at Macy's but... it is ALWAYS on clearance and oddly enough at Macy's if someone is on Clearance take it up to the register... normally the price is even cheaper than shown!  This showed $13 but I got it for $7!!!

and lastly... I'm bidding on these Ray Ban's on eBay - they wants $125 in stores and I cannot do that so I'm anxiously waiting and hoping I win the bid:):)  they fit awesome (tried them on in the store).

Josh Abbott

How am I still 2 weeks behind!?!?  I don't get it!

Anywho...

A couple weekends ago Derrick and I went to Lonestar Jams - an all day event of live country TEXAS country music:)  Unfortunately I had class till 3:30 and then it was sweltering... I mean hotter than hot and not a cloud in the sky, so we waited till nighttime to go see the last 2 shows - Josh Abbott and Randy Rogers.  I was sooo pumped for Josh Abbott and he definitely did not disappoint.  What an amazing show!  Below are a few pics:)

As the show was starting:)

don't mind the blurriness - I set my phone to take a picture from the front - but this is Derrick myself and his cousin Nick (clearly he had been out there for 9+ hours at this point...) - loving the show!

Bedroom updates

I haven't been working SUPER hard on decorating just because I feel like we are in such a small space I can get away with no curtains in the bedroom and stuff.  But we did finally get the home made headboard done:)  And I love how it turned out!

 I bought 2 groupons awhile back for print to canvas photos and they turned out awesome.  The top one with the trees is of us in Charleston for a wedding and the bottom one is us in Costa Rica last summer.  The You and Me framed picture I got the frame at Goodwill (remember that awesome find for $8 with a handmade painting that I have yet to take to the dealership... eek) and the letters I got at Hobby Lobby and painted the colors of the room ... kinda of the colors except I don't have much else flowing with it yet. 

My plan with the bedroom is because we have 2 huge long wall to wall windows to separate them into 3 smaller ones by putting 3 panels of curtains - 2 on the end and 1 down the middle.  I plan to wrap the top wood piece, which looks like a makeshift pelmet box, with my old gray curtain fabric to disguise the glossy white wood finish.  I'm on the hunt for gray chevron fabric like this:

to make the curtains.  I'd love to find it in sheets since that was the easiest thing ever for my living room curtains.  Then I have this really pretty fabric still leftover from last year - it's pale yellow with white cherry blossom branches on it - to make little throw pillows.  The bedroom will be super simple.  I also need to move onto the bathroom which will be the same color scheme - gray and yellow.  Currently we have a gray rug, teal and brown towels, and a palm tree shower curtain - classy I know.  This summer I plan to get a move on all of this!! And can't wait:)  The last room for curtains will be Derrick library and I'm stuck on what to do in there... we shall see what fabric jumps out at me.

Also in the hallway we busted out a couple shelves and bought these black storage units.  I still need to buy the canvas tubs to put in there to hide all of our overflow of things (so awesome to have all of our things 'on display').  My favorite part is I get to display more pictures of Matteo up top:)  I'm also looking forward to creating our huge wall of photos going up the steps this summer.  I'm going to be on the hunt for miscellaneous and mismatched frames and I plan to do a lot of pictures of us, places we have visited, and friends - just a hod podge of fun things to look at:)

Career Day

Career Day around our school is a little different - bigger jobs, cooler jobs, athletes, ya know that kind of thing.  I didn't have any parents signs up to present to my class this year so I was assigned someone.  Sometimes that could be a good thing, others times... not so much.  I mean they are 5 or 6 - to them a firefighters or police office is the coolest of cool... anything other than that-  not cool. 

Well we were sooo lucky and had Robert Jones in our room!  Who is that?  I had no idea but... get this... HE PLAYED FOR THE DALLAS COWBOYS!!  His kids now go to our school and he is TRULY an amazing man.  so kind, sweet hearted, funny, just amazing.  He played in 5 superbowls with them AND won all 5!!  He has 5 super bowl rings and 5 super bowl trophies and brought them for us to see and hold and touch.  So awesome.  Seriously... that ring... well there were so many diamonds I couldn't barely see straight.  The trophy was suppppper heavy.  And we got to see his helmet and gigantic jerseys too!  I felt like that was one of the greatest career days ever - not only because it was so neat to meet him but because he really loved meeting with the kids and they loved him!  Some pics below

Showing off the helmet

Holding up the trophy - he looks so huge in my rocking chair!!

Run to the Sun 2012

I'm over a week behind but I finally feel slightly caught up on my blogging - whoo hoo.  I have the rain to thank for that:)

Well, 2 weekends ago was the race that got me interested in running and motivated to get moving and add the distance.  Run to the Sun.  We had 2 teams at our school but actually ran as 1.  95 miles, beginning at 3:30PM and finishing at 6:45AM the next day.  We had a limo party bus for all of us and another VW van to follow around the actual runners and make sure they were safe.  We had 16 runners (I think... I can't count right now) and 1 biker who biked with the groups to keep them company:)

I ran the first and third legs.  It was 90+ degrees with the sun blasting on me for my first leg.  It was hard, hot, and amazing.  Cooled down for about 45 minutes and then did my 3rd leg which was flatter (a little), humid, but cloudy.  Then I was done and it was time to cheer on everyone else!

Some photos below ... then more to read:) and see
Photos below mostly taken by my friend Courtney.

6:30AM waiting for our final group to finish - yes it was cold! and we were exhausted

hanging out with a beautiful sunset in the background - you can't see it but it was there and it was perfect

although I didn't want to redo our heel click I'm so glad I did - this was tradition for each group when they finished a leg

whoo hoo 1st leg down and it felt so good! look at all the smiles - that gives you sense of how it felt:)

our 'new' group - we got motivated and wanted to run it!

heading out for my first leg

loaded up and ready to go!

en route - not sweaty, stinky, or tired... yet

My clothes packed and ready - 2 t shirts, 3 pairs of socks, yoga pants, long sleeve shirt, and a hat - yes it was all worn

my food - needed my carbs and protein however I could get it

all packed up - like going camping

after my 2nd leg --- yes I had a beer

Describing this experience is too hard to do.  How do you describe cheering for your friends running at 3am in the morning and dancing with glow sticks?  How do you describe that feeling when in the distance you see the neon colored shirts of your teammates and the bright yellow signs cheering for you that you're so close.  How do you describe the happiness of seeing a port-a-potty because you know your leg is done?  How do you understand the importance of doing the heel click - what a fun way to end you leg!  How do you describe that while out running in the extreme heat, you take a deep breath, look around, and are thankful that you can actually enjoy the sights... and enjoy running.  How do you describe the overwhelming support we received as a team - raising almost $18,000 dollars when our goal was only $10,000?

You don't describe it.  You can't.

I still think back about it and would do it all over again - today, tomorrow, and the next day.  This race was amazing and SO MUCH FUN.

Below is the video from our race -- it's too hard to describe but it gives you a little glimpse into the experience... get inspired

Randoms!

We had crazy hair day a couple weeks ago - I borrowed this from my friend and my kids FLIPPED!  They couldn't decide if it was real or not!!  So awesome - I wore a black headband with a bow with it too to make it look even more real:)  And yes, I wore it ALL day!

This is how Mia looked when I woke up for school 1 morning... lights on and she is not happy.... I feel your pain - only 3 1/2 more weeks Mia and no more 5:30AM wake ups!

Have you played this game!?! OMG best game ever!  We played it at Derrick's house over Christmas and honestly laughed for hours... I mean tears out of the eyes can't breathe still laughing about it!  You have got to buy it!

Along with cockroaches... yes in my coffee pot twice surprising me at school - GROSS - we have recently acquired ants!  I looked online and read that a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar works wonders (white vinegar is honestly the go-to for anything!).  I sprayed it on our kitchen table and down the legs of the table, on the chairs and chair legs, and kitchen counter tops and haven't seen any since!!!! AWESOME!  The smell is strong at first but it goes away within 10 minutes.

I also read to help get rid of them around your doors and outside to put coffee grounds in any areas.  I sprinkled coffee around our front and back door and patio and this is along out floor/wall seam.  We have a lot of flying ants at night by our lights and again - HAVEN'T SEEN THEM SINCE!  Just know when you visit that not dirt.... it's coffee grounds.  And it works WONDERS!

Austin is always sunny ... always.  I have decided to finally listen to all of the doctors and research and have started wearing sunscreen on my face daily.  Instead of a face lotion I put this on.  I haven't broken out yet -- and for those who know me this is a miracle - it's super soft, lightweight, not greasy AT ALL, and I put my make up right over top of it.  Not a strong smell either.  But the best part - $10 for 2 of these bottles and a travel bottle at Sam's... at WalMart for 1 bottle this size it's $8 -- ahhh another reason I love Sam's club.

Speaking of Sam's club - these chips are the best!  And they come in a HUGE bag.  We eat chips and salsa daily and this is the best deal for us!  $4.50 for this giant bag!

Oh. my. god.  You wanna talk about heaven in the freezer... this is it.  The brand is from our local grocery store but if you can find this flavor... grab it. you won't regret it (or you might if you eat the whole thing in 1 sitting like I almost did....)

Pretty flowers Derrick sent me last week ... interesting way to arrange them - I liked it.  They went horizontal as opposed to vertical.

Running break

I still cannot believe that last year at this time I had just started running - and was up to maybe 2 miles and was so proud of myself.  Now I can do 10 miles, on a random day, and feel great!  But with that came knee pain, losing a toe nail, blister, disgusting feet, broken out skin, and so much more.  It also though got me SO toned in all the places I wanted to be (thank you hills -- I love you!) and gave me an even bigger circle of friends and activities in Austin to participate in.  That being said -- I'm taking a small break from it.  I'm still planning on running but the heat is terrible especially right now with school still in session I can't get up and run in the morning before school... not enough time.  And by 3:30/4pm when I get home it's in the 90's and although I can run in that - I can't run much more than 5 miles without feeling sick and even then it's not the most fun run :)

So this summer I still plan to keep up with running - maybe a shorter run with hills and a longer run but that's about it.  I've been looking into taking classes over the summer and my sister got me hooked on hte P90X 10 minute work out - holy cow... don't knock it till you try it.  No joke - I was sore for 3 days after 1 of them!!!!! 10 minutes.. seriously... I was less sore after running 10 miles!!

Barre classes are getting huge out here.  I'm taking my first class tomorrow morning (took a personal day ahhhh).  From what I've gathered and heard it's like yoga ballet - standing up at the ballet barre.  It's a lot of stretching, toning, and I've heard it's hard!!  I'll give a full report after my first one.  I am by no means in any way a dancer... I'm told regularly by people I'm super awkward so ballet will definitely not be my finest strength but I'm excited to try something new... in the A/C when it's 100+ degrees outside! 

I also have a HUGE love for Zumba!!  Seriously - so much fun and I am dripping sweat after an hour of that. 

Below is a picture of my disgusting left foot.... it's been like this for about 2 months.  People tell me losing toe nails is your admission into running -- it happens... all the moisture and pounding of the toes just kind of flakes away your toe nails.  I dunno if this is true but it made me proud to sport a missing toe nail.  After long runs, like my 10.5 mile run last week, it turns blue/black and is bruised.  I'm planning on going to the Dr. for it just to make sure there aren't any major issues.  But beware.... it's pretty nasty:)  Clearly it's my middle toe -- and yes that is a ginormous (again real word  trust me I teach Kindergarten we use that word daily) blister on my 2nd toe.  It's popped but just not going away -- I clearly need a pedicure... gross.  Don't judge.

Chick time!

Last Monday I got to school and was in for a real treat!  Our chicks were not set to hatch until that Wednesday but we had some premature chickies:)  ONe of my kids saw a little crack in 1 of our eggs in the morning and to our surprise, when we returned from lunch we had a chick!!  We named his Fudge because he was black.

At the end of the day we had 2 more with little cracks in them and we eagerly anticipated some hatching over night!  I hung up chick garland I found in a clearance bin for Easter for a 'sign' that our chicks had hatched - like they do when they have a baby outside your hospital room.  I also put up an index card with a number on it to let the kids know how many we had before school even started:)

When I walked in the next morning I couldn't believe it!  2 more had hatched!  AND 1 more was on its way out.  This is truly an awesome sight to see if you have never seen a chick hatch.  You find yourself cheering!  I was hoping he would hold off for an hour for the kids to see but no such luck -- he hatched about 20 minutes later for me to see:)  We ended our class chick count with 4-  Fudge and Cocoa were our dark ones and Peep and Fluffy were our yellow ones.  Below are some cute pics:)