After my first, fantastic Stitch Fix, I decided I wanted to order again. I figured it would be a nice little Christmas present to myself to get some new duds. 

For those of you new to Stitch Fix, you may want to check out my first Stitch Fix review here. Basically, Stitch Fix is a subscription service that will send you five clothing or accessory pieces for you to try on in the comfort of your own home and with your own clothing to pair it with. Each Fix costs $20, but that fee is credited toward whatever you decide to keep. When you've decided what you don't want, you drop it in the prepaid mailing envelope, stick it in any mailbox, and mail it back to the company. You only get charged for what you keep, and you can get Fixes as often or as infrequently as you like. AND, if someone signs up based on your referral, you get a $25 credit! Not a bad deal, huh? 

New duds! 

Unfortunately, I found my box to contain some duds, although a few were thisclose to working out. 

I think a few things went wrong here. 
1. I specifically asked for cold weather clothing. Here in the Midwest, we're freezing our behinds off. But I'm not sure how aware of winter styles those who are based San Francisco are. 
2. I specifically requested a couple of pieces: a pair of fun colored jeans and a sweater dress. I think I may have pigeonholed the stylist into sending whatever she had on hand, instead of taking the time to read the rest of my profile to see what styles, pieces, and sizes might actually look best on me. 
3. I don't think my stylist, Catherine, looked at my Pinterest fashion board (they ask for it so they can get to know your sense of style). I even had some pieces from Stitch Fix pinned there, and it would have been a sure fire way to send me something I loved (and, would therefore purchase)! 

Regardless, I still really love this concept, and I know it's been a great way to try new pieces that I never would have chosen for myself!

The first look seemed promising! 

Not a lot of color in my items, but some cute pieces! 

Steeper prices than last time... but I also had two pairs of pants and a dress (I'll address the sizes later in the post)!

Ummm, what is this print? Animal? Vegetable? Mineral?

So, upon opening the box, I wasn't thrilled with this print, but I decided to keep an open mind as I started trying things on. 

Item #1: Renee C - Dorelle 3/4 Sleeve Fit and Flare Dress, $68

I have to admit, seeing it in the pictures, this dress is growing on me. I added a little blue belt to give the waistline some more definition, because just plain, I thought the dress looked very young. I like it, and the material is super soft, but I guess I was picturing more of a chunky sweater dress I could wear with leggings, and this didn't quite fit that bill. Still, it's cute, but a bit more than I'd want to pay unless I'm really, really in love with a piece. 

Item #2 41 Hawthorn - Selfridge Cowl Neck Long Sleeve Top, $48

The styling card suggested white pants, but the pants I have are a little big here (I should have gone with some skinnies instead!). Overall, I really like this top. The neckline is beautiful, and I feel like it really elongates my short torso. It's dressy enough to wear to work, but could also transition to a night out too. I think we might have a winner! 

Item #3 Under Skies - Karel Printed Stud Detailed Blouse, $48

Then came this. I just... I don't know that I have words for this shirt.  First of all, the pattern isn't remotely classic, romantic, or glamorous, the three areas I connected to most. It's very short, so it makes my torso look even shorter. And there is a WEIRD lapel on it (note that this is not a collared shirt - it just has random lapels thrown on) that reminds me of something out of a 70s disco. It's just not me. It quickly went back into the return bag. 

Item #4 Kensie - Joce Embroidered Dot Ankle Pant, $68

I had seen these pants pop up on other blogs, and the general sentiment was that they were running big. I think Stitch Fix must have taken that advice into consideration, because they sent me a size 0. Now, I may be small, but a 0 I am not. And while they did fit, they were one meal away from not fitting. Regardless, they had a super cute pattern (the dots are actually small flowers -- so cute!). Here's where the problem came in though. If I thought they were tight in the waist, they were even tighter in... the calf! So tight, in fact, that I don't think I even had them pulled up high enough on my waistline. I've never thought of my calves as being particularly large, but in these pants, they definitely were. I took them off quickly, mostly because I was afraid I was going rip through the calves if I walked around too much. One size up, and these might have been keepers. (Although, I did notice that Macy's sells the Kensie line, so I may have to go check them out to see if they have anything comparable there!). 

Item #5 Just Black - Adora Skinny Jean, $88

I added one of my awesome tops from my last Fix to show off the Just Black jeans. While adorable, these LITERALLY fit like a second skin. I could never wear them to work (hello, behind!). Additionally, they're about three inches too long (forgive the unpainted toenails), and for $88, I really don't want to put in any extra money into making them wearable. 

So, that's Fix #2! What would you keep if you were me? I need your help deciding! 

Interested in seeing what Stitch Fix can do for you? Check out their site, and see what you think! 

A confession: I cheated

Hello, and welcome to winter break! Today marks two more glorious weeks off from work. I'm very much looking forward to some down time away from grading, recording data, and offering feedback. 

Yesterday, I went to Chicago to see my college girlfriends and have a delicious cookie exchange. About a dozen and a half cookies later, it's now Sunday evening. :) And there's a lot to look forward to this week, but that's not what this post is about. 

This post is about cheating. 

Technically, I've cheated in my Runner's World Run Streak. Twice. 

Okay, so they weren't huge cheats... but twice now, I've ended up running in my house. And I don't have a treadmill. So what that basically means is that I've ended up running in my house. In place. For ten or so minutes. 

To be fair, trying to complete a run streak in northern Indiana throughout the winter is really freaking difficult. There have been way too many days of snow, ice, sleet, and frigid cold. I've tried to get in most of my miles outside, or, when necessary, on the dreadmill, but it's been difficult to get in more than one or two miles at a time. Ugh. Not exactly what I had in mind. 

But, with only ten or so days left in the streak, I think I'm going to make it! Bring on the rest of break! 

Craft day: Making an ornament wreath

Today, I was feeling Christmas-y. I wanted to do something fun that would also be productive. So, thanks to Pinterest, my interest was piqued in the form of an ornament wreath. It looked simple enough, so I set off to the dollar store, as the tutorial assured me I could make this wreath for only $10. 

The tutorial lied. 

After a completely unsuccessful jaunt to the Dollar Tree, I settled for Meijer, as the roads were slick, and I did not want to spend the bulk of the day running around from store to store. Meijer had everything I needed, but I debated how much of everything I would need. Note: You'll need more than you think. 

Supplies, slightly after I started working.

I purchased a 16" wreath form (a smaller one would have sufficed, but they didn't have one on the shelf), two tubes of large ornaments, two boxes of medium ornaments, and a box of small ornaments. I decided on silver, blue, and purple jewel tones, because I wanted to make something that could stay up through the winter and would still look appropriate. 

So, first, I separated the bulbs from their hangers. 

Bulbs!

Hangers, which stayed off the wreath. 

After they were separated, I hot glued a row of of ornaments to the inner ring with the stems up, and then glued a row to the outer ring, also with the stems up, before turning it over and starting to put more ornaments on the front. 

This is where I ran into the next problem. After putting all of the ornaments on the wreath, it looked something like this:

Umm, not exactly the look I was going for.

So, back to Meijer I went to get another round of all of the different sized ornaments. I wanted to go today, though, because I was worried the colors I'd purchased would be out if I waited (and they were on sale!). So, I came home, and continued adding bulbs to the wreath, and when I had finished, I had this! 

Boom! Ornament wreath! 

And, on the front door! 

Overall, I'm REALLY happy with the way it turned out! I think, in hindsight, I would have picked up just one more package of smaller ornaments. And I wouldn't have used the white, sparkly ornaments (I think they look like holes in the picture, but they look really nice on the wreath!). 

My wreath cost closer to $30, but I plan to take good care of it so that I can use it year after year. Happy camper here! Dinner is in the oven, I'm about to get down to some grading, and I did a great new leg workout today for skinny jeans.

Have you ever made a fun Christmas craft and it went differently than you expected? Or just me? :)  

#RWRunStreak (the first half)

If I'm going to complete a run streak in the frigid cold of Northern Indiana's winter, I figured it's best to document it. So, here, in all its glory, my running log from Thanksgiving Day to the half way point.  

Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28): I started the run streak with one slippery mile in the subdivision with my running pals Dan and my cousin Amanda. Thank goodness for running buddies! We took it WAY slow, but got our mile in with none of us falling! Win!

November 29: One more slippery mile with Dan around the subdivision. I wanted to do more, but it was way too icy. So, instead, I ran one mile and then did 30 minutes on the elliptical, plus strength. Hoping for a great run tomorrow! 

November 30: It was perfect running weather today! Totally sunny and 42 degrees led me to a fast and fun 5K. 

December 1: Not quite as beautiful today, and seriously lacking motivation. But, got my one mile in! 

December 2: Today I woke up at 5:20 a.m. so that I could run one mile before teaching morning Jazzercise. And then I taught Jazzercise at night too. A mile and a double on a Monday required some serious motivation! 

December 3: Tonight, I literally had fifteen minutes from when I got home from school until I had to leave for a pot luck dinner. I threw on running clothes and ran the fastest mile I possibly could around the neighborhood. I finished in 7:46, which I think is my fastest mile to date. Mini accomplishments rock! 

December 4: Early morning run before work. 

December 5 and 6: Both of these runs were a quick one mile on the treadmill before my Jazzercise classes. It's amazing how much more energy I have for my classes, though, when I've run a little bit beforehand! 

December 7: Will forever be known as the day I ran one mile with a tummy stuffed full of Chinese food. I'd be lying if I said it was a good idea to do this. But I wasn't willing to risk letting the streak go, so running with a full stomach had to happen! Will be trying HARD to avoid this in the future. :D

December 8: One more cold one outside this morning... but tomorrow looks like freezing icy rain, so it could get dicey. 

December 9: A quick mile on my parents' dreadmill. Too cold! Too dark! (Commence whining!) 

December 10: We got an early release from school due to a water main break, so I got in a quick mile in the cold (19 degrees) and sun (bonus!)!

December 11: A mile before morning Jazzercise. (Are you noticing a pattern here? I can barely get myself to run past a mile!)

December 12: Taught Jazzercise, then ran a mile. I was exhausted during Jazz -- maybe that one mile run has really been waking me up! I've had great classes lately! Note: I have only run more than one mile one time. Run Streak is on, but I certainly don't seem to be going above and beyond, now do I?

2014 Fitness Focus: Strengthening (i.e. I want Michelle Obama's arms)

The past... several years, I've had a major emphasis on cardio. In 2005, I started Jazzercising five or six days a week, and that continued until I started running in 2009. Then I cut back to three or four Jazzercise classes a week and a few runs mixed in there too. But lately, I've sort of just... stopped... seeing any great changes in my body. I'm still doing a ton of cardio, but I'm noticing that since hitting 30, things are changing, and not necessarily the way I'd like them to. 

Enter strength training. 

Helllllo, strength training! So lovely to see you! My Fitness Focus for 2014 is going to be on strength training. I'll still make time for Jazzercise (of course, because it will always be my first exercise love) and running (Day 11 of #RWRunStreak and still going!), but I think it's time to try something different. I'm kind of over cardio at this point, and need something fresh and new. 

Additionally, let's just be honest, I want to have Michelle Obama arms for the wedding. 

Get it, girl. 

What bride doesn't want to look totally cut at her wedding? This one certainly does, so that's the goal. Between my normal cardio, some weights at home, a few butt kickings at barre, and the help of my favorite trainer Janet, I have a feeling it's going to be a great year with a lot of muscle burning awesomeness! 

For now, a few of my favorite workouts I've been doing off of Pinterest. I like that I can do that at home when I have time, and typically with just a set of dumbbells (I don't have a bosu or exercise ball, so I just modify those exercises into something I can do with what I have!).

Pop Sugar Five Minute Arms Workout will kick the beejeezus out of your arms if your weights are heavy enough! 

Women's Health Total Body Workout is a great overall body toner. I've only done two rounds of it at a time so far, and that's been more than enough! 

Victoria's Secret Ab Workout I mean... it's a given that this is going to hurt. And it's also a given that I will never have the abs of a VS model. But that's okay. 

The Katniss Everdeen Workout I haven't done this workout yet, but it's got to rock, because it's Katniss Everdeen! 

Not haunted (a lesson on making lemonade out of lemons)

So, for whatever reason, yesterday was a really off day for me. I felt like I was tripping over my words all day. I didn't feel like my lessons went well at all. And I felt like I was running from one activity to the next to the next without ever really coming up for air. But it was also one of those great reminders that sometimes you have to make lemonade out of lemons. For example, yesterday was day six of my Runners World Run Streak. I seriously didn't know if I was going to have time to get even one mile in. So, when I got home from work at 5:40 and before I left at 6 p.m. to go to a pot luck with some of my favorite ladies, I knew I'd have to do it then. So, I ran as fast as I possibly could and 7 minutes and 46 seconds later, I was done. Boom! #RWRunStreak continues! 

Today was much, much better for so many reasons. But my favorite ones came after school when many LPHS students took part in a little lip syncing in my room. So great to see so many students having so much fun! 

Tonight, on my car ride home with carpool buddy Nick, he was telling a story. And while I normally hate interrupting stories, something caught my eye, and I had to do a double take. And then interrupt Nick to ask if he saw what I saw. He didn't see it. So tonight, I made Dan drive back with me so I could be sure I saw what I saw. And there it was. A For Sale sign that read:

Not Haunted.

And that's when it hit me that even when it seems like there's nothing else to offer, there's always some lemonade in there somewhere, in every single situation. At least this house isn't haunted! 

Why I'm planning on streaking

Okay, sickos, now before you go saying to yourself, "Wait, WHAT is she doing?!" this idea came from Runner's World Magazine. So, if you were looking for something slightly more salacious, you can go look around elsewhere!

So, for weeks now, I've been having a REALLY hard time motivating myself to run. I've gotten out... maybe once. I don't know if it's been the weather or the fact that things have been insanely busy lately or what but I've just had very little motivation to lace up the sneakers and put one foot in front of the other... especially since I'm still peeved that there's even snow on the ground at this point! 

I was flipping through my most recent Runner's World recently, when I stumbled upon this article about the 2013 Holiday Running Streak. The basic premise is that every day from Thanksgiving Day to New Year's Day, you have to run one mile. Just one mile. Every day. And the more I thought about it, the more I decided this is something I need to do for a number of reasons. 

1. I have zero motivation to run. 

2. This might help with said motivation. 

3. If I can't find seven and a half (HA) to eleven minutes a day to go for a run, I have a problem. 

4. This IS the shortest period between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve that we'll ever have, so if I'm going to take advantage of this, now is the time! 

5. This is a way for me to meet a goal that doesn't have to be about half marathon training (because, let's face it, until after the wedding, there's about zero time to train for a half marathon). 

As of Thursday, I'll be running at least one mile daily until we reach 2014. Whether I do it inside or outside, one mile a day or more. Keep reminding me of this, and I'll make sure to post my progress here. 

Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Enjoy the BEST HOLIDAY EVER with family, food, friends, and football. Those are my favorite f words, after all! 

Today I'm grateful for: 

1. A 5-day break from work to recharge my batteries

2. Fun surprises in the mail

3. A house that is mouse-free (knock on wood!)

4. The Thanksgiving Day newspaper and all the glorious Black Friday ads

5. Every single book on my bookshelf 

The week in review

This has been a week. Let's review the bad: 

On Monday, Dan and I discovered that we had some furry creatures living in the house. After a minor (read: not so minor) panic attack on my end, we (read: Dan) caught one mouse the first night, two mice the second, and zero ever since. I'm still entirely on edge, and any time I hear a noise, I start banging around the house so none of them will come near me. Neat. So, that was fairly trying. 

On Wednesdays, I teach Jazzercise before school. The class ends at 6:30 a.m., and I have 45 minutes to get ready and get to school. So, after taking my four minute shower this Wednesday, I realized that I had forgotten a very important garment that one needs for work. Since it would have been impossible to get home and back in time, I called in reinforcements. Thank goodness my coworker Ashley was able to help me out. 

Yesterday, my grandpa fell at his retirement him. He fell again last night while my mom was there, so she was able to somewhat catch him and break his fall. But then late last night, he fell again, and so early this morning, he was admitted to the hospital. We went to see him tonight after work, and he's bruised and more disoriented than usual. It makes me sad to see him like this, but I'm glad he's in good care. 

But, it's not all bad. Let's talk about the good too: 

On Monday, our new trimester started. I have wonderful students and am yet again reminded how lucky I am to do what I do. I have an amazing job. And I LOVE going to work every single day. I don't know how many people can say that about their jobs. I love what I do, and I love the people I get to work with, both adults and children. 

On Tuesday, I took a workout class from my friend Tabitha with my friends Erica and Johnna. It was so much fun to try something new (Body Combat) and to punch and kick some things! 

On Wednesday, Dan, my parents, and I got to go to our tasting for the food we'll serve at our wedding. We had an amazing time, and we ate a TON of delicious food. It was honestly scrumptious, and although I'm probably biased, I think we have a completely kick butt menu for our wedding. I can't wait to marry the man of my dreams (who I'm super thankful for since he obliterated the mouse problem at the house!)! 

On Thursday, I taught a really tough Jazzercise class to a group of great ladies. I love our program and think it's body and life changing. I'm proud of what we do, and I'm thrilled that I've met so many wonderful people because of it. 

Today, I got to visit my grandpa, a man with one of the most interesting history's I know. Even seeing him in a weakened state, he's still my grandpa. I got to visit with my mom too, and she is easily the strongest woman I know. What a great role model for me, even now as a 30-year-old. And I got to have a delicious and relaxing meal with Dan. 

So, all in all, a trying but wonderful week. I'm very much looking forward to a relaxing weekend with friends and family. Because it's far better to focus on the positive and not the negative! :) 

P.S. I wore my chevron print shirt from Stitch Fix today and got a TON of compliments on it! A little pair of trouser jeans and a 3/4 length sleeve gray cardigan were a perfect combination. I can't wait to get my next Fix! 

My first Stitch Fix review (and why I'll be ordering again)

Okay, so, about a month ago, one of the bloggers I follow posted a great blog about her first experience with Stitch Fix. I'd heard of the company but didn't know much about it until I read her blog. 

The concept is new and different and something I just HAD to try! Basically, you sign up on through their website (stitchfix.com) by filling out an in-depth fashion profile. It will ask you the basic questions of what sizes you wear in clothing, what colors and patterns you prefer, and a budget range, and go as far as showing you a variety of outfits and having you rank them based on what you like in each collection. It will also ask you for your Twitter handle (follow me @angelasaoud) and if you have a Pinterest board where you pin clothing and fashion ideas. 

After you've filled out your profile, you can sign up for a Fix as often or as infrequently as you like. A Fix consists of five different pieces of clothing/accessories for you to try on in the comfort of your own home. You have three days to keep the pieces and decide what you want to keep, and then you send the rest back in a prepaid envelope. 

Each Fix costs $20, but, here's my favorite part -- that fee gets applied to anything you decide to keep! And, if you decide to keep your entire Fix, you get 25% off the complete total. 

The other favorite part is that if you refer a friend, and she orders her own Stitch Fix after completing her profile, you get a $25 referral credit. If you want to sign up, and use this link, that would be fabulous! (And then, you can pass along your referral link to your friends and get their referral credit!)  

So, after doing some Googling, and reading some other blogs about Stitch Fix, I knew I wanted to try it for a number of reasons. If you know me at all, you know I tend to get in style ruts (what's that? a pair of slacks, a long tank top, and a sweater every single day of work?). And, again if you know me at all, you will also know that I still own clothing I wore in college (it still fits, and what if I neeeeeeed it some day?!). I've been working on purging, but I think it would be easier to pare down if I knew there were new, awesome clothing options waiting for me. 

I'd been waiting not so patiently for about three weeks for my first fix, and I can officially say I am in LOVE. 

LOVE, people. 

My Fix came in the mail yesterday. I was so excited to open it, and there was even a cute little holiday gift package waiting inside (with some great recipes and a $50 voucher to nakedwines.com!).

Pretty little package! 

Directions and a surprise! 

I had previously looked online, and knew I was expecting a necklace, a dress, a sweater, and two tops. Before I saw the clothes, I was picturing something that would match the Indiana winter... lots of grays, blacks, and whites. But I was pleasantly surprised when inside I saw this: 

Awesome outfit and styling ideas! 

Lots of color! 

I knew I wanted to try everything on immediately, so I didn't do a whole lot with my own styling here. Let me remind you I am not a fashionista, and I am not a fashion model. Also, my professional photographer (Dan) took these pictures while laying down on the bed. 

Item #1: Mak Jaclynn 3/4 Sleeve Button-Up Cardigan, $38

I loved this sweater on first sight. You can't really tell from this totally professional (read: TERRIBLE) photo, but the color is an emerald green, and it really made my eyes stand out. This is right on with my normal style. But I decided not to get it. Why? It's about one accidental drying away from being too small. I think if it was slightly bigger, this would have been a no-brainer, but this was just a little risky for me. 

Item #2:Under Skies Ellyse Faux Leather Detail Jacquard Top, $48

When I submitted my Fix, I'd asked for something sparkly for the holidays. THIS TOTALLY DELIVERED! The top is white and gold with a faux leather detail along the bottom, the sleeves, and the neckline. There are also two fun gold zipper details on the sides of the seams. The shirt is lined, and feels super luxurious. As soon as I tried it on, my first thought was that I need a fun pair of cranberry pants to wear it with. Holiday top for sure! I'm pretty sure this is a keeper. 

Item #3: Fiancee Wilam Zig-Zag Print Top, $44

I also told my stylist that I LOVE chevron. It's an integral part of my wardrobe, my home decor, even my bed sheets. And when I saw this little number, I was in LOVE! It's a super fun pattern, and I love that I could wear it under a sweater, a blazer, and with pants or a skirt. So. Much. Fun. Plus, the designer is a label named Fiancee... and since I'm a fiancee... I mean, I have to, right?

Item #4: Mystree Harrison Polka Dot Sleeveless Dress, $68

I'll say this: I actually like this dress more in the picture than I did on. The top makes my already short torso look short, and the skirt makes my hips a little hippier than I'd like them to look. When I looked at the first picture, I thought, okay, it's actually pretty cute! But then I saw the second picture and reminded myself that the rouching on the top sits awkwardly and gave me a really odd stomach pouch. Not a fan. Plus, it was just a liiiiiitle too short to wear to work, so, I've talked myself out of this one. 

Item #5: Bay to Baubles Lane Delicate Clear Crystals Necklace, $32

I mean. Just no. I'm sure on someone else, this would be adorable, but on me, it doesn't sit right. And it REALLY reminds me of a necklace I wore to prom in high school. I've always been picky about jewelry, and I don't think this is flattering on me. So. No. 

The total cost of all the clothes is $230. If I were going to keep all of them, I would only pay $177.50 (and I've already paid the $20 fee, so that will be applied to the order whether I keep all five things or only one). 

I'm pretty sure I'm keeping shirts #2 and #3. What do you think? I have until Wednesday to drop the non-keepers back in the mail. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the experience. There are some changes I'm going to make in my profile though. I've decided to receive no more accessories -- clothing only. I'm too picky with my accessories (and truly, I don't wear them that often, so I tend to spend a small amount of money on them). Plus, I think there's a greater chance of me getting a Fix I love with all clothing pieces in it.  I'm also going to modify my profile a bit. I'd originally said I didn't like showing off my cleavage (which, let's be real, I don't), but everything I got sat very high up on the neck. I really like the pieces I got, but I'm not opposed to having a little bit of skin showing in the next Fix. 

I'm already trying to decide when to order my next Fix. Trying to decide if you should order a fix? Follow this link to Stitch Fix and schedule your first Fix! And then let me know what you get and if you love it as much as I do! 

The day I met a hero

As an undergraduate education student at Saint Mary's, I absolutely loved reading The Freedom Writers Diary with my education group. The words that teacher Erin Gruwell's students wrote resonated with so many of us who wanted to become teachers. For me, it was a powerful reminder that we often don't know what goes on in the lives of our students. And it also reminded me that our students need a chance to express themselves. 

Today, I got to meet Erin Gruwell. IN THE FLESH. AND WE HUGGED! 

There is nothing cooler than meeting someone you admire so much. With the exception of my fantastic teachers and professors (of which there are many), there aren't a lot of well-known role models in the education field. Gruwell is someone I aspire to be like. I want my students to feel in my classroom the way her students did in hers. 

Erin Gruwell!

Afterward, she signed copies of our books, and we got to speak to her for a few minutes. I told her what an inspiration she was to me, and she told me she was just an English teacher, just like me. I think I love her even more now! Serious gratitude for meeting her today! 

Today I am grateful for:
1. Meeting Erin Gruwell
2. Lunch with my mom, my coworker Judi, and her daughter Sarah
3. A garage to park in (I love not scraping a car in the morning!)
4. Air-popped popcorn
5. A built in workout buddy in Dan (I couldn't ask for a better partner!)

Wedding Wednesday: Why our checklist is the devil

The longer we go through the wedding planning process, the more I'm learning about numbers. Naturally, there are those big, scary numbers (like, the fact that HALF the reception bill was due over the weekend, or the scary number that my fabulous florist Polly showed me and my mom last night), but beyond that, there are a whole lot more numbers. Like, when I log in to our gift registry, and it tells me daily how many days we have until the wedding (as of today, 178). 

Then then, there's the devil checklist, otherwise known as TheKnot.com. Now, I'm not knocking The Knot. They have a great checklist (even if some of it is obsolete or repetitive). But I get mildly panicked when I log in only to find that we're overdue... on, like, twelve different things. According to their checklist, we're supposed to have our entire honeymoon booked (plane tickets, hotels, and itinerary), finalized our invitation wording (oh, and ordered the invites), and taken care of our menu and ceremony music. 

Umm, yes, we've done none of that so far. 

While I'm normally a giant fan of checklists, I'll be the first to admit that this one stresses me out a little bit. There are some things we just can't do yet, for various reasons, but seeing that little red clock or gray exclamation mark next to the item on the list makes me nuts! Ugh! 

But enough complaining. 

Today, I'm grateful for: 

1. A positive report from the doctor's office (all is well in my Rheumatoid Arthritis world!)! 

2. A super productive snow day yesterday! 

3. Any show on TLC AND my friend Dr. Phil 

4. Pinterest. How did we plan anything before it? 

5. A warm up on its way (I'm not ready for this winter stuff!)

Six months from today

I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again, but this year is absolutely FLYING. On Friday, we will finish our first trimester of school. That means the school year is 1/3 over, people! I don't know where time is going, but pretty soon it will be Thanksgiving (aka THE BEST HOLIDAY EVER), and then Christmas, and then 2014. Wowza. 

So, today, I'm reflecting back and looking forward. Tomorrow will mark six months since Dan sang me a song and asked me to be his wife. I will never forget that moment or how I felt in it. And six months from today marks our wedding day. WE'RE GETTING MARRIED IN SIX MONTHS! I know just how quickly the last six months have gone, and I can only imagine that the next six months will follow suit. We have so much to be excited about in 2014! 

Today I'm grateful for: 
1. The amazing class discussions we had this week on Industrialism, Feminism, Abolitionism, and tolerance in general. I LOVE my students.
2. Brunch with two of my very best friends. 
3. The to-go cup of coffee from the waitress at American Pancake House today. 
4. The warm sun on a cool day. 
5. Celebrating so many birthdays this weekend. I love a good celebration! 

In good health

This morning started off with a trip to my fabulous rheumatologist. I've been seeing her for the past six or seven years, once I transitioned from my doctor at Riley. But let's back up a bit. 

For those of you who don't know, I was diagnosed with Systemic Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 17. Although it's had a place in my life over the years, on the whole, I've been very healthy (read: very lucky). I had a four year period where I was on some pretty heavy duty meds, but I've been pretty able to live my life normally. 

So, today I went to see the doc for a number of reasons. 

1. I was due to see her in August. Whoops. 
2. I needed refills on my medication. Whoops. 
3. I've been chronically losing my voice since school started. Awkward. 
4. I've had a serious case of itchy legs for, about, five months. Also awkward. 

I told the doc all about my struggles, and she did a little examination and found that I have a wee-bit-o swelling in my hands. So, what I thought was going to be a 15 minute appointment turned into an hour (including two needle pokes and eight different hand and wrist x-rays). It's been awhile since I've been a pin cushion (when I was being diagnosed, I stopped counting vials after 200... not an exaggeration). 

Today reminded me how grateful I am for my good health. I'm certainly not in perfect health. But I have good health. And because I have good health, I have a great life. I'm active and able to do hardcore workouts, and I'm so incredibly lucky for that. 

So many times, we take our health for granted. I'm glad today reminded me that I'm healthy. And fingers crossed that I'll hear good things from the doctor. 

Today I'm grateful for:
1. Good health (!!!)
2. A DELICIOUS homemade dinner of chicken and veggie risotto, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and Moscato (not homemade, but still yummy)
3. My parents and their 38 year marriage (they are my marriage role models)
4. The holidays
5. Supportive, loving, kind co-workers (you are my lifesavers!) 

A Sunday to be thankful for

Dan and I got up early this morning and went for a run. There's nothing like getting an extra hour of sleep and STILL starting the day early! It was nice to get a crisp run in before breakfast, and get started with our day early on. 

We had a very Netflix oriented Sunday while we worked on our marriage preparation booklets. It has been really interesting to work on our books and compare our answers, and it's brought up a lot of good questions for us to answer to ourselves and each other. I'm really enjoying the process of marriage prep, and I think it's what's keeping me calm throughout the actual wedding planning part! 

Tonight I finally cleaned out our pumpkin and roasted the pumpkin seeds. What is it that makes pumpkin seeds so delicious? Well, probably the fact that I drowned them in butter and salt, but there might be something more to it too. :) 

Today I am grateful for:
1. An extra hour of sleep
2. Pumpkin seeds
3. A clean home and full fridge to start the week with 
4. A fun week of lessons ahead with my kiddos
5. Leftovers (which, as a kid, I hated, and now as an adult, I adore!)

A November challenge

Years ago, my fitness inspiration, Janet, challenged many of her gym-goers to eat completely clean for the month of November (with, the exception, of course, of that gluttonous day we like to call Thanksgiving). Although it was definitely a challenge for me, I LOVED the changes that were made to my body, and loved the way I felt. But, eating clean became more difficult, and slowly many of those processed foods made their way back into my life (Diet Coke, I'm looking at you). I still try to eat well, but there are times where I completely and utterly fail. 

This November, Janet has a new challenge for us. It focuses on doing a TON of planks throughout the month, and she's also posting daily tips on her Facebook page. If you want to partake too, use the calendar below, OR, follow Janet on Facebook (Janet Nevills). Today's challenge was to hold a plank for as long as we could. I made it about a minute and a half with solid form, but I know it will improve over the next few weeks! (I'm also thinking it would have been better to do the plank BEFORE my morning run. Lesson learned!)

Today I am grateful for: 
1. Coffee and conversation with my dad this morning. We don't get to do that much, and I SO enjoyed it. 
2. Freshly laundered sheets (is there anything better?!)
3. A meal with our good friends Samantha and Rob tonight
4. Runners, especially our LPHS students who placed SO WELL at state today
5. The power of prayer

A month of gratitude

November is easily my favorite month of the year. The leaves are still changing. The weather is still decent. The best holiday ever falls in this month (Thanksgiving, how I love thee). And the whole month is about gratitude. 

So many times in life, we get so caught up in what's going wrong. We think about the problems at work, at home, with our friends, with our family. Sometimes, it's so easy to focus on what's going wrong instead of what's going right. 

But what if we stop for a second and think about everything that's good in life? What if we start making a list of all the awesome things we have to be grateful for instead? Even if it's only a few things every day, I think your list would be incredibly long by the end of the month. 

My goal is to add a few things to my list every day this month. Today I am thankful for:

1. My loving fiance, who has been so helpful and supportive of me
2. Students who are motivated and dedicated to their school work
3. Netflix. I adore it. 
4. Sweet potato chips. Delish. 
5. People who smile at others. 

A recapitulation of the past few weeks

Oh bother. Where have I been? Well, I have no good excuse... except that it's been busy! We had company in town last weekend, and we were off to Philadelphia this weekend, so it's been a busy few weeks of loved ones and traveling. 

Last weekend was our annual Saint Mary's tailgate reunion. SUCH a fun time being with my college friends, enjoying some football, and relaxing in sweats while we watched the ND game at home. On Sunday, the ladies left, and my mom and I headed to the Century Bride Expo at Century Center. This was my first bridal expo as an actual bride. I've been at them plenty of times with friends or for Jazzercise demos, so it was fun to actually be there to see if there were any services we still needed. My favorite part, though, was that RANDY FENOLI from Say Yes to the Dress and Randy to the Rescue was there and gave a presentation! Seriously, he's the best! You can tell what you see on TV is the real Randy, and he truly just wants all brides to see their beauty. I tweeted at him before his presentation, and during it, he mentioned me, and called me his BFF! Love him! 

Randy Fenoli, my new BFF

This past week was a lot of prepping to get ready for our trip to Reading and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I still hadn't met Dan's grammy, and we wanted to make sure I did so before the wedding. We left on Wednesday after school, and stopped overnight in Ohio before making the rest of the journey. I hadn't been to Pennsylvania in years, and as soon as we got there, my ears started popping, and my Pennsylvania question accent came back. It's a Pennsylvania thing! 

While we were there, I got to meet grammy and Dan's cousin Vanessa, her husband, Dan, and their baby, Aurora. We also got to visit with Dan's family who had been out here in August, which was so nice! The Putts are a great group of people. Lots of laughter, lots of love, and lots of delicious food. We pretty much ate our faces off. Fabulous. 

Dan and me at the Yuengling Brewery

On Saturday, Dan and I took a side trip to Philadelphia. I had never been before, and there's so much awesome history there, I couldn't resist being that close. We just finished studying Deism in my Junior Honors English class, so walking in the same places as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry was pretty amazing. We got to see the Liberty Bell, The U.S. Mint, Benjamin Franklin's grave, Independence Hall, the site of the original presidents' house (underground, and recently discovered), and the home of Betsy Ross. On our way out of town, there was one more place I wanted to stop and it turned out to be SO INCREDIBLY COOL! We went to Edgar Allan Poe's home (he lived there when he wrote The Raven and The Black Cat) and got to see all the rooms. AMAZING! 

The Liberty Bell

I am a literary geek and I don't care. I freakin' loved this place. 

Two champs!

Seriously wonderful trip. Now we're gearing up for a very busy week. Between work, meetings, Jazzercise, Halloween, and errands, there will be a lot happening. Bring it on!