Back at this

So....clearly I've been slacking :)

Life is GREAT! Got into my dream district. Teaching 4th which has been a little bit of an adjustment, but my kiddos are amazing!!

New apartment! New stuff. Ready for Dec 1st and starting some changes!! :)

New School

So far - my new school is AMAZING!! I love my new staff and the actual school building is like a castle! Smart board in the room , computers in every room -- it's amazing!! However, I am really missing my OMS family and kids! I am looking forward to the day I get to go over and see them!! I'm not 100%settled, but I will hopefully be soon!!

Other then that, down a pant size - and LOVING it!! Been a rough gym week but only because I am moving Saturday and have had like a million things to get done! With that being said - I am off for now - just wanted to send a shout out! Toodles!

Besos -- M

Brown Bag :)

So last full day off before starting for Camden City!! Again - insert me STILL freaking out here!! So thankful for this opportunity and to move into the next chapter of my life.  Went to the doctor this morning for just a standard physical for Camden - took them an hour and half before then even saw me -- I was starting to get frustrated but then I remembered I should be thankful they got me in! Have to go back Friday to get my TB test read.

After the doctor - just kind of have been trying to get things done while enjoying my day! Went to Panera for lunch - haven't been there since Tennessee, and it was SOOO good.  Didn't log my point till just now when I got home - and note to self - the Sierra Turkey is like 24 points - uh yea...no thanks! Glad I only had half!! I am hoping between watching my calories in general with "MyFitnessPal" app on the iPhone and online PLUS the ever amazing Weight Watchers, that I am making a move in the right direction!! Plus, I've got back into my gym routine so that's ALWAYS a plus!!

Also, tomorrow starts my Brown-Bag Challenge! This is through the Food Network - Healthy Eats' -- Brown-bag-challenge --> check it out!!!

Achilles update - finally went to the ortho yesterday - he was MISERABLE and basically told me to suck it up.  Wanted to give me a cortisone shot -- and got frustrated with me when I said no. Yea - once the PT is over, I am def going to a new doctor! But he didn't tell me to stop running or biking - so back we go! I guess I am just going to have to push through the pain for now!

Ok - well fingers crossed for tomorrow! Nervous is an understatement!! That is all for today -- off to pack and work on getting ready to get out of the Apt and into the new one!!!

Toodles

M

NEW CHAPTER!

So here we are...Last week was officially my first year in Jersey!! First but def not last!! I am getting more and more adjusted to Jersey as it goes.  Very different from Tennessee, but nowhere will every top Knoxville. In two weeks I will be moving into my NEW apartment - SOLO! I am VERY excited to be back living on my own.  Mom and I were concerned with how I (more we actually since there was noway I was going to pay for it) was going to be able to afford an apartment solo.  However as of Friday, I accepted a position with Camden (insert me FREAKING out here)!! I am SOOO excited to be taking on a position in my dream district!

Getting back into my gym and WW routine!! I have 25 pounds go! I am joining the Brown-Bag Challenge from Food Network's Healthy Eats blog! SO excited!

Also, Ashley has turned me onto an AMAZING blog - skinnytaste.com! Check it out!! It is one of my FAVORITE blogs!

All for today! Toodles <3

Next up is....

Yes, I'm still slacking but I am trying. Sitting at my new Fleet Feet rightnow and it's nasty out so we are slow. It is one of those gray rainy days when you should be snuggled up with your favorite person and just enjoying the time and presences of the other. One of those days just lay and listen to the rain. Since I don't have a favorite person (and had to work ha) I am sitting here waiting to serve someone with my amazing show fitting skills :)

Life is good. Stressful but good. Looking like I will be at OMS again next year which is fine except the financial part. But I love what I do an know that there must be a reason HE is keeping me where I am. I just hope one day I figure it out. Been a trying summer between all the applying and interviews. If you know me you know how hard it is for me to do something with out major plans. I am a planner and like schedules and lists. Haha yes maybe it makes me a slight control freak, but I'm ok with that.

Moving is happening - and even though I have moved a TON in my life - I still suck at packing and HATE moving lol. Think I finally found a place and am hoping to go put my money down tomorrow. Looking forward to living by myself again. And the kitchen on this place ROCKS and I am hoping to have lots of dinner parties again like we use to do in the TN place :) That is all for today and I will update you this week on the new place. Snuggle up to the ones you love! Till next time - peace, love and hugs

...SummaSummaSummer Time...

Ahhh...what a summer it has been. Yes, I know I said I would get better and I haven't, but at the same time I am not sure anyone even reads this now-a-days :)

School got out mid June and I headed south. Did Knoxville for a week to see the friends and share in Paul & Sarah's special day. The wedding was great and it was really nice to see everyone. Much needed. Funny how people from everywhere else just seem to get me, yet here in Jersey I feel like a freak. But that's for another day ;) After Knoxville, Mom, Jon, Michele (LittleBit in tow), Austin and I headed down to Tybee Island & Savannah for some much needed family time. I can honestly say, at the risk of hurting my mom's feelings, that I did miss my Dad at times BUT I understand that this is one of my two families now and the other is when it's Dad and all of us. Austin was way more fun this go around at the beach - he LOVED the water and even got his first boogie board! Jon and I got to talk alot, especially on our amazing bike ride since someone forgot his wallet :) Michele and I got a lot of SIL time in too - she is honestly the best and I really don't know what I'd do without her advice and input on things!

We just found out that the LilBit is a GIRL!!! I can't wait to have a niece, but don't think anyone will ever steal my Tank's love - he's my BABY!

Jersey is going great - more drama then I am use to, but I've decided to kind of look at it as a learning experience. They are truly amazing friends! Been looking for new jobs, still have my one from OSU offered, but obviously if you know what's going on, it is not really the best option for me. I have sent out a ton of resumes and applications, so we shall see what comes of it!

Running is going great as well as the weight loss! Started a new program - BCx. I will have to make a post later will all the numbers and stuff from that. Should be cool to see the changes. SUPER intense, but I am loving it and the way I feel on it. Down 2#s more this week, so clearly something is working for me!

That is all for now! Enjoy the day :)

...It's a birthday gift...

Wow - again - sorry on the slack - had someone mention to me that my blog sucks since I never update it! My bad :)

Philly is good! Still loving my job but unfortunatly stuck between a rock and a hard place. They money is bad...and with my masters degree I should be making a ton more so I am looking for other options, but working in Jersey/Philly is like trying to win the lottery. OMS/SI has offered my position back to me next year, but as of right now I am just playing it by ear.

Students Run Philly Style (SRPS) is going great! Made cuts last week so now its down to the kids that really want to be there and can somewhat push themselves. As for my running, I've been doing great! Back up to 6 miles and having no achilles issues. We did this hop things at practice on Tuesday with the kids - flamingo hops - totally killed my achilles. It has honestly not hurt this bad since last May/June =(

Birthday this year was good - very weird to not have my normal crew that gets together, but 12.5 hours is hard, and I totally understand. Lauren from undergrad lives in Philly so she came out and that was great!! The girl I met on the MS ride last year came - her name is Ro and I LOVE her!! Her and I have become pretty close and it's so nice to have someone who is in to the training and crazy triathlon/marathon lifestyle with me! Another new face in the pic is Ms. Fanning. She teaches 8th grade at OMS/SI and is quickly becoming a long time friend!! Also has some of my Jersey loves - Ash & Kyle of course, Butrica, Alicia, Bobby and Danielle - here are some pics --






Was a good birthday!! Little bit of drama - caused some major issues for Butrica & I, but it is what it is! At this point in my life, I can't do it anymore. I won't fight for people and I won't be shitted on. We all know if I wanted to be shitted on I would just call a certain person ;)

Let's see - Mom & Dad are both doing great! I think it is good for them this whole divorce thing. I feel like it is still not real to me, but I haven't seen any of them since March. That visit was hard - going to Mom's apt and then the house. And stuff at the house was just not the same. I cried. A lot. Dad and I went to lunch and I cried a lot more. But I know it is for the best, but still hard. And as much as I hate being alone, it pains me to think my parents are alone, even though neither one of them mind.

I miss my FFKnoxville family - I miss having people to run/bike/swim with any time. I miss the family of FFK group! Jersey is great - I do love it, and I know it will get better. I think it can be a little hard when you go from having such a HUGE and AMAZING support system around you. But my Jersey loves know - I'd be lost without them - drama and all haha <3

I suck

WOW - so I got really good at writing - just not putting any of it up here. Well I am in New Jersey still - got a duplex and am living with my Aunt Tracey. I absolutely LOVE my place. Adjusting to life up here has been hard. Things are really different and people are really different. Plus I finally was at a point in Knoxville where I really had a STRONG support system around me and a group of people who really got me for me.

I've started making friends here - mostly now there are ones I have meet through my cousin Kyle, but they have become some of the best. Amanda (aka Wifey) and Butrica (aka Boo) are the main two people I hang with outside of Kyle & Ashley. Its crazy how I went from being the baby of my group to the oldest by a long shot. Its really hard to flip that roll - and I have annoyed them by saying "you're 22", but they are 22 and it is just such a different point in life. My older friends get what I mean and understand and they don't, but for now, it is what it is!

Family is good - BIG changes. Mom has filed for divorce so we are all trying to figure out how to adjust to that. I think for me, it is a good thing that I am 12.5 hours away. I think if I was sitll living in Knoxville with them that I would be having a harder time because I would be around it. Mom moved out and got an apartment. I currently have her dog (yes we found a dog around Christmas - a little Boston that mom has named Little Dog aka LD). Things are ok - I go home in March and I really think that is when it will finally all hit me. When I go 'home' but can't actually go 'home'.

So the last post - yea - the boy is done. Not really sure why or what happened - he just kind of up and disappeared one day. So clearly it was for the best b/c we all know that I can't do the whole NON communication thing. haha

7th grade is going great - I love my students and my job. I also have started part time at the Fleet Feet here in Marlton. I love it. Nice to be around that environment again. I have been asked to help coach the "Students Run Philly Style" program at school as well as this springs NoBo at FF. I'm excited to be running again, but really need to start running now to get ready for it haha!

Ok - thats all for now!

M