Wednesday, March 21, 2012

American Idol/Zumba & Spring Break


American Idol is on while I’m looking at Facebook and Pinterest.  I’m trying to keep my eyes open while I multi-task!  I really like American Idol because it’s one of those shows that you don’t have to watch too closely!!! 



 There are a lot of great singers and I have to say that none of them are bad and many of them are awesome!!!  I always seem to like one of the off-the-wall singers that will never win.  I’ve done it again………………………I really like………………….HeeJun Han !

He’s cute, funny and obviously talented.  I’m also really impressed with Colton Dixon, who I’m pretty sure is from around Nashville. 




 He is great too!!!  Again, they are all very good, so I’m glad I’m not in charge of picking a winner!!







Spring Break is coming up next week, and I can’t wait!!  School just keeps getting crazier and crazier! 




 I won’t get into that right now, but the break can’t come soon enough.  I look forward to chilling out, plus my friend and I are going to spend a few  days in one of my favorite places………………………………………




Asheville, NC!!  The last time I was there last fall, Nick and I stayed at a boutique hotel right in downtown called Hotel Indigo.  It was very convenient to be close to downtown and the hotel was cool and unique.






More news:  I have signed up to get certified as a Zumba instructor. I  polled the teachers at my school to see if they would be interested




in a class at Jackson.  I got a tremendous response.  I figured if I only charged $2 a class, I would not only make a few extra bucks, but I could a few extra workouts done right after school.



If you are wondering why Zumba is great, then check out this video.  You have lots of fun and burn tons of calories while doing it!!!

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Here's another one:



 
Keep checking back, I may have some posts from Asheville.  I'm even hoping to hike at Chimney Rock, NC!!!



Happy Spring!!!

Monday, March 12, 2012

How about some reality??? The Bachelor







I am sitting here enjoying a little bit of unreality TV, as in that great show, "The Bachelor". Isn't it funny how watching some "reality" TV can take you away from your day to day, hum drum, often stressful life and job. Our hometown hero Kacie B. (she graduated with my older son!) was sent home after the hometown dates. Evidently our lovable bachelor Ben couldn't see himself with a girl like Kacie who has a family with "traditional" southern values. Wake up Ben!!!



Do you want someone like Courtney who bared her rear on national TV? And.....all of the other girls could't stand her.....doesn't that say something???I'm watching this tonight knowing that the spoiler blogs have said from day one that he picks Courney in the end. So, between knowing that and feeling that it's obvious Ben is "in Lust" with Courtney,
Model???????????? For what???? JCPenny????? Not offense JCPenny!



 I know how this will all end up. The thing I'm most interested in is finding out what Ben has to say after seeing this season unfold. Will he wake up and smell the coffee???? Oh well, it's just TV!!!

I've begun the Spring Break count down, only 9 more days to go!!! March is way too early to go to the beach, so I'm planning on spending a few days in one of my favorite places. (Sadly, not Ireland.....I WISH!!!)
me in Ireland


I will be spending a few days in Asheville, NC. I will try to take lots of pictures and share them!!!






You have stuck by me through my wellness and weight loss journey. I'm happy to say that I'd lost 2.2 lbs. at WW last Saturday!!!

HIP-HIP-HOORAY!!!!!!




That was nice considering that I was supposedly up 2 pounds at school and up .8 lbs. last Saturday at WW. It has been a long journey that began way back before Christmas. I will not quit!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm within 1.4 of being free!!!  I can promise that I'm faithfully following my plan and working out 6+hours a week!!! 



Here's something random..................Don't you just love this commercial?????
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I DO!!!

The Bachelor is almost over..............................Don't do it Ben!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, don't forget to click on the ads in my blog!  I've earned over $60 on ads in a little more than a year!!  Keep it up friends!!



Tuesday, March 6, 2012

March 2 & God Answers Even When We Don't Ask


 March 2, what is it???







March 2nd is the birthday of the one and only Dr. Seuss.  People of a certain age (like me) learned to sound out and read the rhyming and nonsense words in such Dr. Seuss classics as, Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, One Fish, Two Fish,  Red Fish, Blue Fish, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Horton Hears a Who, or any of other 60 books he wrote. In the education world, Dr. Seuss’s birthday has become Read Across America Day.  Classrooms spend the day or a whole week celebrating Dr. Seuss and his wonderful books.






The story goes that Dr. Seuss was bet that he couldn't write a book with only 50 words.  He succeeded, he wrote this much loved favorite!!!


My school had achievement testing scheduled during the week of Dr. Seuss’ birthday.  I teach second and we don’t have to take the achievement test, but the whole school stops during testing and we are all affected. Since our whole schedule was changing anyway, it made sense to do some special things, so I decided to do a special unit on Dr. Seuss stories. 
Dr. Seuss Roll and Cover Game

goldfish patterns





Number words Concentration









So between changes in our schedule, (no planning for two days and reduced planning on the rest of the week) and extreme changes in weather condition, we had a crazy week.  Read Across America was Friday, and if you listened to the weather it sounded like the end of the world.  I went out Friday so our students could have some extra recess.  The wind was ridiculously strong and soon after that we learned that at we were dismissing school early because of the weather system headed our way.




  After the long crazy week, I was not sad to hear this news.  All of the students had safely left by 2:00 pm, and I home.  The skies were clear, but I had to clutch my steering wheel with both hands to keep my car on the road.  We actually didn’t even have any bad weather at my house, and I was very happy we were spared.  I watched the radar and by 4:40, I could tell everything was clear to the west of us, so I headed to my usual Friday night classes of Zumba and Zumba Toning.

Tornadoes won't scare us!!!


Saturday morning I was back up .8 lbs.!!!!  Arrrrrrrghhhhh!!!!!!!  Saturday afternoon I went to a Zumba Master Class.  The instructor is a big name in the Zumba world.  He has choreographed several songs on the Zumba DVDs and he not only appears on the videos, but his likeness is used on the Zumba Wii Fit!!!  He was awesome and inspiring because he not only led us in a great class, but he took the time to talk to us and share his story with us!






GOD ANSWERS EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T ASK!!!!

I booked Taylor and my tickets for Honduras a couple of months ago.  I obsessively visited several sights so that I could find the best deal.  I ended up purchasing the tickets at two different sites.  It was a little complicated because we are traveling down together and I’m staying through the second trip, but he’s coming back after the first trip.  I was checking on our tickets and realized that I had made a mistake on Taylor’s return date. 





 I called the airline and found out that it was going to cost about $200 to change the tickets.  It couldn’t be helped, I had to pay the price and change it.  Several days later, someone had church (who has supported my mission trip in the past) handed me something.  I looked to see what it was and you will not believe this, but……………………………IT WAS $200!!!!!!!!!!!!!THANK YOU GOD FOR ANSWERING, EVEN WHEN I DON’T ASK!!!!!!!!!!!



My older son is helicopter mechanic and he hasn’t found a job since he finished his year contract in Afghanistan.  He has a phone interview on Thursday.  I ask for prayers in his behalf that his interview will go well and he will get this job.  If he gets the job it will be overseas, but in a much safer place than Afghanistan.


It's March and you know what that means.....................................................









St. Patrick's Day!!!! I've been thinking a lot about Ireland lately!!!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

What's Up/How I've Done it!!!


I will try to keep this short and sweet…..Since before Thanksgiving, I’ve been on a quest to lose some extra pounds that have crept on.  I’m going to let you know in a nutshell, how I have been successful.  Not only have I been going back to WW, but also my school is doing a Biggest Loser competition. 





The SECRET TO MY SUCCESS:

1.        I’ve been doing WW a long time, but I didn’t start really seeing results till I started tracking faithfully with my IPhone APP


(I also discovered a second add-on to this app.  It's an app that you use to scan the bar code of any food and it will tell you the WW points value.  IT'S!! TOO COOL)




2.     I’m working out 4-6 hours a week doing Zumba, Zumba Toning, Body Pump and Dance It Out.  The trick is finding something you love, and then it’s not hard!!!  It’s my time for ME!!!










3.      One of the reasons I think I’m able to kick up my workouts (I’ve been working out for years.) to 6 hours a week is Zija XM+ Energy Mix.  I’ve become a distributor, so that I can get a discount and share this wonderful product with others.  Google Moringa to find out more about this wonder plant.







(Click on this link to learn more about Moringa which is used in Zija products.  I first learned about Moringa in Honduras.  At least one missionary is growing it to help with providing nutrition for the poor.

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4.     They say that people who don’t get enough sleep can’t lose weight.  Zija is also helping me lose weight.  They have a tablet that is also made with Moringa, which has greatly helped the quality of my sleep.
According to my school’s weight loss challenge; I’ve lost a little over 7 pounds.  I will weigh Saturday at WW, I was down 5 pounds as of last week, and so, we’ll see.  Wish me Luck!!!


School Update:  Our school is doing achievement testing, and although second grade doesn’t take schedules for testing.  Between that, and this crazy weather, and some off the wall kids, it’s been crazy!!
HAPPY LEAP DAY!!!!!