Today I.....

...went for a run.  Week 3 of the C25K which was a 5 minute warm up, 90 second run, 90 second walk, 3 minute run, 3 minute walk, repeat the 90/90 and 3/3, then finally a 5 minute cool down.  Baby Girl went with me in the stroller.  She loves the wind in her face!

...finished a recipe project I started yesterday.  I decided to start a "blog" for all my recipes.  It's not really a blog so much as a place for me to keep all my recipes online so that I don't have to go searching for them all over the place (random cookbooks, food boxes, websites, etc).  I also figured that I couldn't lose them so easily this way! I'm not a great cook nor do I really enjoy cooking if truth be told so there isn't much and all the recipes are pretty simple.

....played with Baby Girl!  I love these summer days where I can just sit on the floor with my baby girl and just let her crawl all over me and giggle!  Oh how I love hearing her giggle!!

...got a headache and took a nap during Baby Girl's afternoon nap.  The house didn't get cleaned up (oh well!) but that nap was MUCH needed!

...remembered to log all my food!  I earned nearly 300 extra cals by running, and came in at 18 cals under my "lose 1.7 pounds a week" goal - but I didn't quite reach my water goal...unless you count the 12oz of gatoraide and the glass of chocolate milk after my run towards it ;)

Doesn't sound like too usy of a day...but I'm exhausted now so it's off to dreamland to refresh for another great day tomorrow!

Fitness Friday #1

First off...the weight ......

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...
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:::Drum roll please:::
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197!

w00t! :)


Starting weight: 200 (6/01/10)
Current weight: 197
Goal weight: 140


Last week's Goals were:
1.I have already run 2 X's this week...I will run once more. Did it! Did it! My legs are finally remembering how to run :) I did however have to have a pep talk with myself this morning before getting out of my nice, warm, cozy bed! I even had to gt up before the baby did if I wanted to get out there before the Florida summer sun made it too hot to go out.
2.I will drink at least 64oz of water daily. I *think* I did this...but.....

3.I will log EVERYTHING I eat onto my food diary (even the chocolate ice cream I ate today!) WHAM...didn't do this one :( I forgot/put off/neglected logging - which is why I'm not sure I made goal #2 or not...but I think I did. I know, I know...that's not as good as KNOWING I did...sheesh...get offa my back already! ;)
4.I will weigh myself again on Friday and report back here. Did that one...see above :)

5.I will call this "Fitness Friday." HA HA...see the title? Yep...that was an easy one! lol
OK so that was only a 1/2 week. This week is the REAL thing! No more cheater goals like numbers 4 and 5 up there...those were easy ones lol :) So, without further ado...


This week's goals:

Log my food into my food diary. I need to do this for myself to see if there are any patterns (yes, I'm a nerd like that) to be sure that I'm not only cutting my cals but to make sure that I am eating healthy foods for my body.

Run 3 X's this week (C25K week 3) and walk after dinner as often as possible. The hard part of running this week will be that I have to take the baby with me each time this week. She loves the rides and I love every minute with her...but if I'm honest with myself (and you), I don't like running with the stroller. I don't like not being able to use my arms to run. I didn't quantify how many walks because lately, it's been raining every night so it isn't possible to load up the baby and walk. If the weather permits, I will be going for a walk!

Drink 64oz of water a day. Hopefully I will KNOW I did this one because I will have done #1 :)

They look pretty similar to last week's huh? Yeah, I know. But I want to accomplish them and make them a habit...then I'll add some more to them! :)

After all,

...watch your actions, they become your habits...

Here's to having healthy habits!

Starting over again (again). The starting of Fitness Friday

A friend of mine started a blog to journal her weight loss and it has inspired me to start blogging again and focus on my own weight loss journey. (Go check out her blog and offer a word or two of encouragement)  Since 2007 I have gained 50 lbs!  YIKES!  Way too much to be healthy, so I'm starting over again (again).


I actually started getting serious about this a few weeks ago but I didn't blog it.  Perhaps like Patty, the blog will keep me accountable.  So, for those of you who are friends of mine on Facebook and/or who see me in real life on a regular basis...let me hear about it if I don't update this too often!  For the rest of you...comment me here and send me a stern finger-shaking via e-mail!

OK, throwing all shame out the window I will face up to it.  A few weeks ago I stepped on the scale and saw a 2 in the hundred's spot!  Luckily, there were zeros in the tens and ones places, but I had officially gone into the 200's and it quite literally FREAKED ME OUT!!  I started then.

Exercise: I've started running again.  I'm doing the Couch to 5K to get me back into the swing of running and have agreed/committed to running a local 1/2 marathon in November.  I'm on week 2 and feeling great!! I plan to run 3 X's a week (at least).  I also plan to start throwing in some other non-gym, no-equipment-needed exercises such as squats, push-ups, and sit-ups for some cross training. These may be done sporadically through the day between baby pick-ups and play-times. If I can ever scrape up enough to join the gym I will start swimming again...I love swimming!!

Food:  Nothing special here...just trying to choose more healthy alternatives and put down the fat-filled, greasy, empty calories.  I will usually have a Slim Fast shake in the mornings for breakfast because it is fast and easy, but I won't really be following the full Slim Fast program (I won't be having one for lunch nor will I be having their snacks throughout the day).  More fruits and veggies, and less sugar and processed foods.

I weigh myself first thing Friday mornings before I eat or drink or do anything so hopefully that will give me the truest estimate of my real weight.  Last Friday I was down to 198! :)

This week's goals:
Yes, this week is already 1/2 way over.. but I can still make goals can't I?

So...

1. I have already run 2 X's this week...I will run once more.
2. I will drink at least 64oz of water daily.
3. I will log EVERYTHING I eat onto my food diary (even the chocolate ice cream I ate today!)
4. I will weigh myself again on Friday and report back here. 
5. I will call this "Fitness Friday."  (If you want, I'd love anyone who wants to to join me in making fitness or healthy goals each Friday.  You can post them here in the comments or on your own blog -please comment me and let me know you did so I can go read and be inspired too.  If nothing else, consider making health-related goals just on your own, even if you don't let me indulge in my voyeuristic side and get all nosey into what you are doing!)

E-mail to the House Reps, the Govenor, and anyone else who will listen!

I am a teacher in Florida.
I am a damn good teacher in Florida.

I am a damn good Exceptional Student Education teacher in Florida.

I am a damn good Exceptional Student Education teacher in a low-socioeconomic area of Florida.

I am a damn good Exceptional Student Education teacher in a low-socioeconomic area of Florida who will likely lose my job if SB 6/HB 7189 passes.

I will either lose my job or be forced to change jobs and work at a different school just so that I can survive.

I will not lose my job because of something that I will do, or not do. I will lose my job because my students are unfairly asked to do the impossible, and many are not be able to.

My students do not perform on grade level. This is why they are part of the exceptional student education program. If they could perform on grade level, they would not need the ESE program. I work hard to get my students on grade level and out of the program, but unfortunately, many will never be able to make it to that point. They start off the school year sometimes multiple years behind their classmates, struggle all year to lean basic skills that come easily for their classmates to learn, then are expected to take and pass the same test as their classmates at the end of the year. (Yes, some of them may have extra time to complete the FCAT, but not extra time to prepare for the test to make up for taking longer to learn or being behind to start with due to their disability.)

On top of having a documented learning disability, because of the low-socioeconomic culture that my students live in, many do not have the background knowledge that is so important for learning. Imagine living only 3 miles from the beach but having never seen the ocean; having never traveled outside the neighborhood much less the town, county, or state. All they know is survival; survival that must come before education. Their parents don’t value education because they are so focused on finding work and keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table. The children often have to go days without food, stay in houses with no lights, babysit younger children, or care for the elderly. Many live in cars, or if they are lucky, a room at the Motel 8 that they must share with mom, dad, and several brothers and sisters. I have had many students in the past who have had to miss school to take care of a younger child when the parent couldn’t find childcare. One of my students this year missed nearly a week and a half because she had to take care of her aging grandmother; she is only in the 2nd grade. Many of my students are afraid of what will happen tomorrow. It is a struggle for them to just make it to school each day. It is very difficult to teach a child who is afraid, yet that is what I do on a daily basis. It is difficult for a child to make up missing days but that is what we are faced with.

Many of my students have yet another hurdle in their education. Some also have emotional and/or behavioral disorders which prevent them from learning to their full potential. With these students we as teachers must first focus on the out of control, and often highly dangerous, behaviors of the child first, and slip in academics as often as possible. Students cannot learn if they, or one of their classmates, are throwing chairs, cursing at the teachers, starting fights, or trying to run away.

With all these hurdles it is amazing that any of my students succeed. I push and encourage my students daily to do their best and to learn as much as they can. However, their best does not always match up to “regular” students. Is this their fault? NO! Is it my fault? NO! It is no one’s fault, it is only the reality of the situation.

Imagine for a minute that you were born without a leg (a learning disability). You cannot afford to buy a decent prosthetic leg and must make do with an ill-fitting crumbling hand-me-down (poverty). Now, imagine that you must run a marathon (the school year and the FCAT). Because of your leg slowing you down, you arrive at the starting line late and everyone else has already started and many are miles ahead of you (being below grade level to begin with). How do you feel? Are you terrified? Are you nervous? Do you feel inadequate when looking at the able-bodied athletes? Do you think that this is a good attitude to have to begin with? You know that your coach has done everything that he can to prepare you; you’ve done numerous drills, sprints, and endurance runs, but is it going to be enough? Let’s go a step further; any athlete knows that the home court advantage is really about having the fan’s cheering you on. Imagine that while you are running this grueling trek, your family (the most important people in your life) isn’t there to cheer you on because they have to work, don’t understand how important it is to you, or just can’t be bothered. Now imagine that your coach will lose his job if you do not finish in the top 50%. Just crossing the finish line isn’t enough, you have to excel or your coach will pay the price. How is this fair to you or your coach?

How is what this legislation is trying to do fair to our students or their teachers? (By the way, ALL finishers in an actual marathon receive a metal, even the last one to cross the finish line. The last ones across the line often receive the loudest cheers as they finish because the spectators know that these athletes have struggled the hardest and applaud thier persistance to get to the finish line. Shouldn’t we do this for our struggling students as well?)

I hear all the time that parents and taxpayers complain that teachers are doing nothing but teaching to the test because of FCAT and school grades. How does tying teacher’s pay into the test solve this problem? All I can see happening is making it worse. Teachers will thenthemselves fly into survival mode and teach to the test to insure that their students do well on this one assessment.  Good teachers will leave the profession or flee to higher performing schools leaving the low-socioeconomic schools with the “left-overs.” To me, this seems like the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

Our children are our future. Please, take a step back and take a good look at what you are doing to our future.

Basing teacher's pay on things that are completely out of their control is not the solution to a failing educational system. Yes, some things need to be fixed within the educational system, but this is not the solution. In fact, it will only cause more problems in the future.

New Year's Resolutions

Often for New Year's, people make long list of resolutions about things that they hope to change about themselves. I've found that that simply doesn't work for me. It's too much, one or two things that I really want to consentrate on are more reasonable, so I picked the top two for me...



1. Accept and ASK for help when needed. I'm bad at accepting help, and absolutely HORRIBLE at asing for help. It seems sometimes that I will watch myself drown before I ever ask for help. I am even bad sometimes at asking Hubby to help me. I expect him to help, but don't always tell him what I need help with. Then I get upset that he hasn't helped. This has to stop! Now that Little One is here, I have to realize that I simply CAN'T do it all myself.

I will be returning to work soon and this has to continue there too. I had a co-worker my first year teaching who was supposed to be my mentor. The problem was, I never asked him for anything so he never knew what I needed help with. He didn't know what I needed and I didn't know what I didn't know. It made for some disasterous paperwork I'm sure. His biggest advice then was that I needed to ask for help, I didn't listen. That was 10 years ago! Better late than never I suppose.

• The Plan: Simply put, acknowledge when I am starting to get in over my head...or even when I just could use a little help... and decide on the best person who could help and ask. Also, accecpt whatever help is offered when it is offered so that I can focus my energies where they need to be.

2. Get back in shape to run another marathon in 2011. Yes, I know that getting in shape is the #1 resolution each year, but this is a bit more focused and narrowed down. Yes, I want to get in shape and look better for my self esteem, but more importantly, I want to get back into running with Team in Training and raising money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of my dad and brother. So far I've raised nearly $10,000 during the 4 seasons I completed with them, I'd like to continue and raise even more! Why wait until 2011 to train for another marathon? Simple...training for a full is a big commitment. Long Saturday runs, numerous shorter weekly runs as well as cross training days, watching everything you put in your mouth, etc. etc. etc. My primary focus this year is my daughter. I don't want to focus more on my running than on her. With breastfeeding, it is difficult to be gone for hours at a time without nursing or pumping so I will wait until next year when I'm not nursing anymore to do another full.

• The Plan: To start with, I'm going to be redoing the C25K...also known as the Couch to 5K plan. I have an app on my iPhone that allows me to play any playlist on my iPod that I want to run to, but will give me a tone to know when to run and when to walk based on what day I'm on. There are several local 5Ks and 10Ks that I want to sign up for. Once I'm up to running 3 miles without dieing again, I plan to use the Jeff Galloway method of 4:1's to train for a 1/2 marathon. I want to run the Nike Women's Virtual 1/2 Marathon in October, and a local 1/2 in November. At that point I should be in fine position to train for a full marathon starting in 2011.
  

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There were a few resolutions I considered but decided against for one reason or another:

*Continue to breastfeed at least through next summer (10 months old). I decided not to use this one because I know it is a cop-out resolution as it is something that I am going to do for as long as I can anyway. Breastmilk is the best thing for my daughter so I know that I will do this for her without having to make a resolution. (The reason I chose 10 months - or more specifically through next summer- is so that I don't have to pump next year at work. Hopefully at the point that next school year starts, I will have enough stored milk that I can nurse when I get home, use the frozen, and supplement with more solid foods and/or formula... that's the plan right now anyway)

*Lose the baby weight. I figured this one was kind of redundant with the goal that I chose so I dismissed it. If I get in good enough shape to run a marathon again, then I won't need to worry so much about the baby fat!

Oh 2009, you have been very good to me!

This past year has been a great year for me, from running another marathon to having a baby! Here is my year in review:

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January- I completed the Disney Marathon for the second time. This time, Hubby was actually in the country to see me finish.

February- SURPRISE!!! I'm pregnant!

March- My baby sister got married and I was Maid (Matron) of Honor.

April- We got to see our baby for the first time in an ultrasound but we couldn't yet tell what the gender was.

May- We found out that our baby was going to be a girl, and I cut and donated my hair to Locks of Love.

June- Hubby and I spent our 5th anniversary in my favorite city - St. Augustine...

and our beautiful niece, Ariella, was born.

July- I lost someone very important to me. I miss you, Grandma!

and we took a few family maternity pictures.
August- I officially turn in the final assignment for my M.Ed in Reading Instruction and Curriculum.

September- Chris finished painting our Classic Winnie the Pooh nursery.

October- My beautiful daughter was born 10/12/09 at 12:35pm.

November- I turned another year older and had a great Thanksgiving with friends.

December- My Sweet Pea's first Christmas. She may not remember it, but we'll never forget it!

32 life lessons

In honor of my 32nd birthday...here are 32 life lessons that I have learned:

1. Get over it... not everything is worth fighting over. Choose your battles carefully. Stressing over little things that aren't worth it only takes up time and energy in your life that are better spent on happier things.
2. Stand up and be heard... some things ARE worth fighting for! Never give up on those things you believe most in.
3. A child is God's way of trying to show us just how much He loves us; how much He sacrificed for us when he gave his only son.
4. Having a daughter that is a total Daddy's girl is paybacks for being a total Daddy's girl.
5. Choosing to make no decision is still making a decision to have others decide for you.
6. Only you have control over you and your actions. No one else controls you or can make your choices for you.
7. Traveling is the best way to learn/teach tolerance of others. The further from "home" the better!
8. Guardian angles DO exist... but that doesn't mean you have to take unnecessary risks. Help them out a little, their job is hard enough as it is!
9. No matter how big a mistake, family is still family. Love the person, hate the choices that have been made...but always love the person.
10. ALWAYS pack more in the diaper/race/overnight bag than you think you will ever need.
11. A good book and a bubble bath is the best way to relax after a long day.
12. Having blessings in your life is the biggest blessing of all.
13. Family is important, but sometimes having friends that are like family is even more important.
14. Always have a camera handy!
15. He who dies with the most stuff...is still dead. It isn't as important to leave 'things' behind for those you love, but instead leave memories behind that they will fondly remember and characteristics they will aspire to live up to. Kindness. Generosity. Love. Integrity.
16. Practice what you preach. "Do as I say, not as I do" just doesn't cut it. Be the example for others to live by.
17. The laundry will be there tomorrow, but you will never get this moment with your child back.
18. It's never to late to go back to church.
19. Laugh as often as you can...even if no one else is laughing with you!
20. Never lie to the doctor.
21. Tell your grandmother you love her every day.
22. Never let them see you get upset. Don't let them know where your buttons are!
23. Everyone has a strength, even if it is hard to find - Genghis Khan was an incredible horseman and Hitler was a great speaker.
24. Everyone also has weaknesses. Einstein failed 3rd grade math. No one is perfect no matter how much they may pretend to be.
25. Hit the save button often.
26. Experience is the best way to learn.
27. Learn to laugh at yourself.
28. Sounds are always louder when you are by yourself in the dark.
29. Finishing a marathong (or something you never thought you could) is an increadible rush.
30. Never pass up the chance to watch The Princess Bride (or your favorite movie).
31. Helping others is the greatest gift you could ever give to yourself.
32. 32 is not nearly as old as I used to think it was!

Happy Thanksgiving

First and foremost, I am so very thankful that I have so much to be thankful for this year!!

• I am thankful for my beautiful daughter. :)
• I am thankful for my wonderful husband who is helping me to raise our beautiful daughter (and who realizes that I need some out-of-the-house-me-time once in a while!). I am thankful that he is home for the holidays again this year and not deployed to some far-away country.
• I am thankful that my husband was able to keep his job when so many of his co-workers were being laid off a few weeks before our daughter was born.
• I am thankful that we are financially able for me to take a little while extra off work to take care of my daughter even though it means about a month without pay.
• I am thankful that all of my family is healthy this holiday season. No one is on chemo or radiation.
• I am thankful that I have amazing friends who help to pick me up when I'm sad/frustrated/overwhelmed.
• I am thankful that my doctor finally cleared me to run again!!! :)
• I am thankful for the great news that my cousins were able to adopt a second child and that a co-worker of mine is also approved to adopt a daughter. Both are very wanted children and will be blessed to have such awesome parents.
• I am thankful for a church family where I feel comfortable and like I have been there my whole life, even though it's been less than half a year that I've been going.
• I am thankful to have a nice home and comfortable furnishings.

Last year's list

Word Verification - cycle

I just post a comment on a friend's blog and, as usual, was asked to type in a word verification to certify that I am indeed a human being.

Usually, these things are random letters or made up words that make me giggle as I imagine what the meaning of this crazy word would be.

However, this particular time, I got a real word: CYCLE. Well that's no fun. I know what cycle means. When I was training for my Olympic Triathlon, I did a bunch of cycling (much to the dismay of my rear-end!).

But it did get me thinking about that time of constant cycling on the open road. Sometimes it was really peaceful as we often rode near on a road near the river with little traffic. However, many times it was stressful as many drivers didn't pay attention to us, didn't care, or just didn't realize that we did in fact have a right to the road as well.

A bicycle is a vehicle...just like a car, truck, or motorcycle. We have to follow the rules of the roads like riding on the right hand side and obeying traffic signs. If we are considered a vehicle, then we should be treated as a vehicle. Meaning, if you want to pass us, just like you would a little old grandma who is out for a Sunday drive, you wait until the oncoming traffic is clear then you move over into the other lane and pass. Don't try to squeeze between us and the oncoming traffic. If you hit us, you are definitely in the better position to walk away!

Most bikers are courteous and ride as close to the edge of the road as possible knowing that at top speeds a car will easily be going faster. Cycle "packs" have their own rules too. The last rider will notice a car first usually and will yell "Car Back!" which will be repeated all the way up the line to insure that everyone knows there is a car coming hat is more than likely going to try to pass (similarly, the first person will yell "Car Front!" which will get passed back when there is a car coming towards them.) This allows all the bikers to be ready for the bigger vehicle to pass by 1)being aware and 2) moving over even further if there is room.

Amazingly enough, there was a news piece on about a group of cyclist in a nearby county that is trying to get something done about enforcing traffic laws concerning cycles and cyclist... if nothing else, to make the public aware. Too many cyclists have been forced off the road, hit, or otherwise hurt by careless drivers.

Please pay attention to who is on the road with you as you drive. Cyclists are out there, and even with a helmet on, they are much more vulnerable than you are in your vehicle.


Comment on this post please, and let me know what your word verification is. What do you think it means and what does it make you think of?

Monday Menu Planning

I haven't done this in a while, so I'll see how it works....

I can't even remember the last time I cooked to be honest. Lately, my wonderful hubby has put his grill to good use, as well as his wallet and taken me out to eat. However, I think it is time I get back in there and try again. So here we go...

Monday: Happy Labor Day! Hubby is going to grill (again)...and I still need to go grocery shopping!

Tuesday: Tater Tot casserole

Wednesday: Pizza Pinwheels (probably with turkey pepperoni and various veggies)

Thursday: CORN (Clean Out the Refrigerator Night) - I have a Dr.'s appointment which always runs late so this night will be up in the air! Probably left over casserole from Tuesday and/or something frozen that hubby can grill on his day off :)

Friday: Quick and Easy Ranch Chicken, not sure what veggie to go with it yet but probably either corn or green beans - my favorites. This is a new recipe for me. The girls at work are giving me a shower after school so I hope this really is quick and easy! It looks like it is.

Saturday: Childbirth Class from 9:30am to 5:30 pm- Dinner out afterwards or something easy like sandwiches or leftover casserole (if there's any left!)

Sunday: Baby Shower/BBQ at my friend Alexis's house! I'm sure there will be lots of goodies left over!


Since I have to go grocery shopping... let's see what I'll need:
Tater Tot Casserole - I already have green beans so I'll just need tater tots, hamburger meat, and onions
Pizza Pinwheels - I have tomato sauce and I thought I had pizza crust but it looks expired, so I'll need Pillsbury thin crust pizza dough, turkey pepperoni, green peppers, and motz cheese (I'll use some of the left over onions from the TT casserole too)
Ranch Chicken - I already have seasoned salt, breadcrumbs, and parm cheese, so I'll just need 6 skinless chicken thighs, a new bottle of Ranch dressing (I have some but I don't think it's enough - and I'll need some later anyway), and cornmeal.

Go check out what Org Junkie and her followers are having this week!