Happy New Year..

I'm way over due post to the blog world!
If you ask my husband he can tell you that I've said over and over "this would be a great blog post", and then I never go home and actually write it.  Today I figured I would just write a mix of thoughts.

Scarves:
I have fallen in love with scarves!  I know some people really dislike them or are tired of seeing them, but it really makes it easy to dress up a simple sweater and top for work with a scarf.  I'm learning different ways to tie them as well. I found a great tutorial video 25 Ways to Wear a Scarf  I've been a trying out a couple of ways. Looking forward to trying out others when I go back to work.  I've also found ways to make a scarves, headbands, and more from old t-shirts. Going through my closet this weekend to see what I can find to use.

Gift  Ideas:
These are a little late now, but I've found a couple of ways to reuse extra left over wrapping paper or magazine pages to make bows for your gifts. They turn out great!  I even got a chance to teach my students how to make them out of the magazine page.  They loved it! Bow Made from Mag. Paper

Book Reading:
I just recently finished a book that I found thought provoking called Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim...   I came across this book from my mom.  It is on our United Methodist Women reading list.  I found it quite interesting about respecting others who have different beliefs than you and working together for the good of others.  Good read, and it makes me want to read other books that make me "think".

Weight Loss:
I have maintained my weight, but think that I have lost some muscle toning.  My goal is to get back on track after the holidays (we haven't had our family Christmas yet, waiting for my brother to come up in a week) Hard to exercise with work, but I need to make time!  No more excuses.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!  May you be blessed with new journeys and opportunities that come your way!

Positive List is Needed...

I haven't blogged in a long time, and I thought I could use a positive list today:

1. My husband is full time at the school now. We are very blessed to both have insurance now.
2. Won a giveaway to receive free (10 pack) of coupons inserts for a month.  Makes it really easy to get some deals!  By the way if anyone needs some coupons, let me know. I've got a TON!
3.  I've lost 16 lbs. now, and only 2.5 lbs away from my goal for my birthday in October. Not sure if I will make it, but I'm giving it a shot. The next goal will be for Christmas break.  I'm learning that short term goals keep me motivated.
4. I have a stack of free/cheap magazines to read through this weekend.
5. I helped my sister on her first trip to use coupons/price matching and had a ton of fun :)
6. Even though one of our vehicles is needing some work, we are blessed to have another one to rely on.
7. Great co-workers!
8. Kids' smiles!
9. Fall weather. I know many of you don't like the "cooler" temps. but I love this time of year. Something about the beautiful colors, temps, sweatshirts, hot cider, pumpkins, and can't forget birthday and anniversary!
10. Speaking of anniversary...lucky to have such a great husband.
11. Blessed to have such great friends near and far, and to the far away friends I want you to know I think of you often.
12. Good health report for Josh's mom :) Love you.
13. It's the weekend.
14. Cooler weather means more snuggles from my kitty.
15. Enjoying reading the bible in a year.


Hope you take some time out of your day to think of the positives in your life!

Losing and saving...

Before I forget,  "Happy Independence Day, Liberia!"

Losing....
Well as I posted a couple of weeks ago, I'm back to working on eating healthy and exercising.  As I told myself 3 years ago that this is a lifestyle change, not a fade diet.  I'm tracking my calories on sparkpeople , which makes such a difference, when you have to face the facts.  I'm keeping my calorie count around 1,300- 1,600 and watching to make sure I have enough carbs and protein. Trying to drink my 8 glasses of water today, but I've found that challenging. I've been loving working out to my Wii sports game called Your Shape, but unfortunately my sciatica has acted up again, so I've taken a break from it and sticking to some basic walking on the treadmill.  I don't want to let my back pain get out of control again.  It is very frustrating as I was seeing some really great results from doing "Your Shape", but that's how it goes.  Anyone that is interested in a Wii sport game I highly recommend it.  Jenny McCarthy can get a little annoying on it, but it sure targets all the areas and makes you sweat!
So far I've lost about 7 pounds.  I hope to keep it off and lose 1-2 pounds a week.  I've really like to have lost at least a total of 10 pounds by the time school starts.

Saving...
As I've posted before I'm all about finding great deals on things. Lately I've had some great luck with couponing and price matching.  I do want to say though, I'M NOT AN EXTREME COUPONER.  I think that the new show has given a bad rap to all those that coupon.  I do not go and clear out a shelf of an item because it's a great deal.The key to saving money is to only buy the things that you need or will use.  There are some great coupons and deals out there, but if you just buy the item because it is a great deal and you really don't need it...then it doesn't save you money.   Josh and I just went shopping at CVS and Walgreens to try out their deals and to get register rewards and care bucks back. I ended up with some free hair ties (after the bucks) and some great shaving gels and razors at awesome prices with the coupons and extra bucks/register rewards. It is a great deal and excited to go back and use these to buy more things that we need. We are learning how to price match at walmart and buy things with coupons.   Most our shopping trips we save between 20-40 dollars which I'm really pleased with. I've also gotten the hang of getting free samples.  It is great to get the small bottles of things to use when you travel (no offense to hotels, but the shampoo/soap doesn't cut it for me)  Before I call it a night, I just have to share about one of my deal today, as I received a credit for $20 through DollarDays and I got a large set of bic colored fine tip markers and four fine tip sharpies for 50 cents shipped. I was really excited about that as I love to use these in the classroom for grading.  Speaking of grading, school will be starting again soon.  Usual by August I'm ready to get back to a routine.  I guess that is soon approaching....

  

Fresh Start...

A couple of years ago, I made a commitment to be healthy.  I worked so hard at it and lost several pounds, and it didn't come off easily for me at all. I was in a healthy/weight loss group at church that held me accountable which was so great.  Once I started eating healthier, I didn't crave the bad foods anymore but it was a challenge.  Long story short as many things have changed in my life since then, I have gained all that weight back and more. So I start down the path once again.  Going through my closet and finding clothes that don't fit anymore is not great on the self-esteem at all. Thanks to my good friend Brenda for reminding me of sparkspeople.com  I found the website once again, which has motivated me to get on track and keep me accountable.  It is a great website that allows you to track what you eat, your workouts, recipes, and accountability groups that you can be a part of that have similar interests as you.
So I've started slowly with exercise and watching how much I eat.  Portion control is a huge thing, and forcing yourself to record everything you eat really puts the calories into prospective.
I'm slow going on the exercise part as my back only allows me to do so much  (man do I really want to go for a nice run....I hope one day I can get over it :P   )  
Thanks to swagbucks.com, I was able to get enough amazon credit to purchase a Wii. I've been walking in the morning and also doing Your Shape on the Wii.  It is great because it is low impact and you can choose to customize your workout depending on what area of your body you want to work on.  It also allows you to use weights, the ball, or bands if you want as well.  What is great is that it was cheap, and didn't cost me a lot of money to buy.  It shares progress you make and calories you burn (at least an approximation)   The only downfall is that sometimes the camera on it, doesn't always pick up my arm movements. Sometimes I feel like I'm flapping as hard as a bird and they still don't see them.  Anyway....  I would love an ideas on easy, simple recipes that are low calorie or any other low impact exercise ideas as well.  If anyone would like to join me in this journey feel free. I would love a partner or two to keep me on track. I'm hoping that by sharing it with others that this will make me stay on track and not give up after a couple of weeks. So here's to a fresh start...

Busy Summertime...

So I haven't posted on her in a very long time.  I tend to think of something to blog about, and then forget to do it when I actually have time at home.  My month of June was busy with workshops and a week long Summer Ag Institute class put on by the Farm Bureau.  I was so intrigued about all the different farms and ag related places that we visited in Bureau, Lee, and Whiteside counties.  It was very educational.  Even though I would consider myself a "farm girl' spending many days on our grandparents family farm, I kind of lost touch with what is happening in agriculture today. What I liked most about the experience was that I was back in a classroom setting for myself.  We went around visiting a lot of farms from composting, organic dairy, chickens/turkeys, beef, hogs, horses, John Deere Historic Site, etc, but we learned so much about how agriculture impacts our world. We had to complete assignments for the week, and I miss this!  There is something to be said about challenging the brain.   I miss completing classroom work. (nerd, I know :)   )   Planning on taking more classes, even if it means online, in the near future.  Hope you are challenging your brain often...  Enjoy the pics

Things that drive me crazy....

I let the little things in life drive me crazy.  I know I shouldn't "sweat the small stuff" but that is easier said than done, that's for sure.  This song by Fancesca Battistelli is perfect and fitting for me.

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use

More to come with pics about the concert Josh and I went to. It rocked!

A Day Away...

Well hello blog reading friends!  It's been awhile. What a difference a day away can make.  Spring break was needed, and I was so looking forward to having a break from school and coaching.  Josh came up with the idea to go to the American Pickers store in Le Claire, Iowa which is located just outside of the Quad Cities. I decided to go along with the idea, since it wasn't a far drive and we could make a day out of it.  I did some searching online and found a couple of things we could do in the community.

So we enjoyed sleeping in this morning and took off to head to Le Claire.  Even though it was a bit chilly, it turned out to be a beautiful sunny day. :)  We ate at a great German restaurant , Bierstube, that sits right along the Mississippi River.  We chose a booth with the window view to the river.

Of course, we couldn't eat at this restaurant without some German flare.  I just couldn't order a cheeseburger here. So we ordered a great bratwurst.  I had German potato salad and onion rings with mine.  It was great! We hope to return some time, and sit out on the patio area, when it is a bit warmer. :)   

Then we drove to the Welcome Center to check out a map of the community to find some things to do. We decided to go to the American Pickers store called Antique Archeology.  We finally found the place tucked back and went to pull in the parking lot and it was closed off with cones and a had written sign that said filming. :( bummer...so this is as close as we got to it.  (looks like we will have to visit again to check it out and the German restaurant again...oh darn...ha ha )

We went window shopping in some really neat stores in the downtown area. Then we went to a new distillery that recently opened up in the last year or so.  They had free tours, so we thought we would check it out.  It was actually really neat, as they use local corn and grain to make their gin, vodka, and bourbon. They also give back to the farmers the left overs from the grain that they don't need after the product is made. It also had a great view on the river as well.

We finished up by doing some window shopping in the Quad Cities and went home.  It's amazing though even though the day wasn't quite what we expected and all we spent money on was food and gas, it turned out to be a great day away.  Just what the doctored order!  I feel revived and renewed. Looking forward to the rest of the week.

Filling the Void...

As I was walking on the treadmill and looking out the window, my mind began to wander.  Since the weather is beginning to warm up just a bit, and I can see that spring is on the horizon, I begin to think about going out for a run.  Problem is that I haven't been able to do that because of my back surgery.  I know that people after back surgery return back to their normal life, but I still have a flair up with my sciatic nerve, every so often, so I don't think it is a good idea to push the boundaries.  I really don't feel like going back in for another surgery.  

I know many of you may think what a great excuse....right???  You have an excuse not to run now, but this doesn't make me feel good inside at all.  As crazy as this sounds, I LOVE RUNNING!  There I said it!  Ever since I started to run the mile in Jr. High track because "no one else would do the event." I have become a lover of running.  There is something about the idea of working hard, sweating, a goal in mind, burning calories, and feeling free. It was always my time to work out things going on in my mind and clear it.  It was a huge stress relief for me, and it made me feel good about myself.  I've always wanted to complete at least a half marathon in my lifetime. Now 10 pounds heavier (or more, I haven't jumped on the scale lately) since my surgery over a year ago. I don't feel good about myself.  I'm missing that part of me, and walking just isn't cutting it. So I am in search of something in my life that will fill that void that I'm missing from running.  I hope someday I can find it, but until then, my plan is to enjoy the search and wait to see what I will discover.  

Does anyone out there have something in their life that really just makes them feel great, and without it, it would be hard???

The red ones last...

So as I was grading papers and chose a snack to enjoy last night, I went of course to a pack of fruit snacks. As I opened the package I started my usual routine. Laying all the fruit snacks out in my hands and then sorting them out by color. I first eat them in order to even out the number of each color. Then I eat them by color choice, yellow ones first and red ones last. Josh of course laughs at me when I do these things. It occurred to me that I guess my brain does work in funny ways more often then I realized.

My house if you ever saw it on a day to day basis is not neat and tidy, nor do I claim it to be that way to people, but I do have my things organized. I love to file things, sort in piles, and organize things. If a stack of DVDs were in front of me, I would probably organize them by title. I find it challenging to put things into alphabetical order and feel so accomplished when I do.

So world...does anyone else sort out their fruit snacks, candy treats, etc. and save the best color for last??? Or do you just randomly grab them out of the package and eat them.

Childhood Fun... in a new way?!?

So I enjoy earning swagbucks. You can check it out on the side of my blog. But through their facebook page, I came across a fun website over the weekend called Santa Claw. Real Art Design company decided to create the largest claw machine ever. It is huge! You remember the claw machines as a kid you might have played with all the toys inside that you just had to try and win (most of the time, not win :P ) What is so great about this claw machine is that you get to play the game from home, and it is located to Dayton, Ohio. I decided to give it a shot and play over the weekend. Of course the line is extremely long to play, so I just left the window open all day on my computer until it was my turn. So 7 hours later, I played the claw machine, located about 6-7 hours from me. So with my fearless husband's help, I won! IT is just a big green bouncing type ball. They will be shipping it to me for free in the next few weeks. Of course, the prizes aren't anything spectacular. But they have other types crazy/silly prizes as well. It really didn't matter to me what I won, just had a great time with the experience. Then it hit me. What a small world.

It made me think about how virtual the world is really becoming. Is all this technology really helping society or hurting society? I see people consumed by their cell phones to the point that they don't even realize that people are around them. I see a lack of communication between people now, because they only know how to do it through texting/typing. Then I see the advancement in medicine with technology, or the fact that now I can connect with friends across the world from the comforts of my home. My mind tends to go back and forth with it. I think a lot of it depends on the user. I think a lot of it depends on the type of technology as well. What are your thoughts?