DumboDoubleDare Racecation...Part 2

Hello loves! Finally getting around to updating all of y'all on my awesome Disney racecation.  You can find Part 1 here. After an awesome night out with my God-sisters, Friday morning was an early start.  We definetly had a head start since I was still on East Coast time.  Mama and I headed down to Chula Vista to pick up God-Mom then got on our way to Disneyland! They dropped me off at the expo...which if you haven't heard by now, it was a not so hot experience.  I'm not going to complain or whine on here...stuff needs to be changed by next year's event, and I know RunDisney is doing their best to get it done.

God-Mom & Mama

After the expo GodMom, Mama and I went over to the parks. We went to Disneyland. It was SUPER hot. We did some of the smaller rides. The ladies also got themselves those fans...you know that spray you too! Haha they were funny! We rode the train around and did a couple rides.  I made sure to go see the Iron Man exhibit.  Incase you don't know - IRON MAN GEEK! Seriously - total geek out moment there. I left early and headed back to rest. Mama and God-Mom stayed and did some other stuff.

Me, Shireen and Jamie

Saturday morning I woke up and got ready for race time! Ro wasn't going to make the 10K because she did not get her packet in time. I got ready in my sweet new Sparkle Athletic skirt and Raw Threads shirt. Obviously I was nervous about my ankle.  I did not have a goal time or some PR I wanted.  Goal was to finish out the weekend with a healthy ankle and races done.  Thank GOD for Shireen and Jamie.  I meet up with them around mile 2 and they saved me.  I totally held them up, but they were sweet enough to stay with me. By the end of the race, I had two new race friends (both from California, so totally have to get out there for a race haha). We had lots of fun talking and getting to know each other. I really enjoyed their company and help.  For not running more then two miles since before I broke my ankle and it having been six months, I was pumped. Now for the coolest part of my whole trip. I have been running for about five years now - everything from 5Ks to Full Marathons - and I've never had family at a race to cheer me on. I had actually just finished telling my new friends about how my Mama was there to support me.  As we came into the last half mile or so, we came around the corner and Mama was THERE! It honestly MADE MY WHOLE RACE!! I've had friends at races before, which is always awesome, but to actually have Mama there was awesome. We finished the race and I headed back to the hotel.  I grabbed a shower and then had some brunch with Mama & God-Mom at the hotel.  They went to the park and I watched the Buckeyes play and then a nap.

Once I woke up - I headed over to the park and hung out with the ladies. It was super hot again. We just did some shows and a ride or two.  Nothing major. (My recaps aren't uber fun huh? haha) It was a fun day, but I was scared to be on my ankle too much.  I really want to go back and have more time at the parks. After hanging out for a while, we headed back to the hotel.  One of my ex-boyfriends and favorite people in the WHOLE world lives out there so we decided to go to dinner. It was honestly amazing to see him, and that could be an understatment.  It was like time hadn't passed at all. 

Me & Tony

 Didn't skip a beat. Always interesting to be reminded of such an amazing time in your life! Him and I had such an amazing relationship. We ended up spliting due to distance, but I'm happy we can still catch up and be such good friends.  You never know what will happen ;)

It was a good dinner and relaxed night to have before the half marathon. I made plans to meet up with Ro and Shireen for the half marathon. Next up...the amazing half marathon :)

Fitness Recap + SweatyBands winner :)

Hey Loves! Happy Sunday! Can't believe it's already Sunday. Also, can't believe the school year is almost over.  I know I've said it a million times, but I am truly beyond blessed to love what I do so much! Gonna miss my kiddos this summer. Hopefully I'll see some of them - at least my basketball girls and get them doing some stuff through the summer. Some of my munchkins from OMS years and my first year in Camden I know I'll see this summer. Good teachers don't really get summers off - between summer school, planning for next year or getting yourself better - no break.  Tomorrow is our last day to report and I start at the summer camp Tuesday. I'm looking forward to the camp.  I also will be working with my Math Coach, Ms. Mollet, and Brit to get ready for next year.  We want to hit the ground running!

Last week WOD wise was great! Finally getting back to the way I want to. At least for the most part.

Fitness Recap -
Monday: CrossFit - Death by Power Clean - had some issues with ankle

Tuesday: CrossFit - Hang Snatch PR at 75#x2 - got 85#x1 but couldn't get under the bar -- the video is 65,75,85 failed twice. We also did a metcon with DB snatches and pull-ups - felt good!
Wednesday: CrossFit - Thruster x3 @100 - felt good -- metcon was 5 rounds - 6 Thrusters + 12 bar hop burpees (I just step over since now hoping with ankle yet)
Thursday: No run with my running buddy - ankle was struggling - came home ice/heat for 20 then went to CrossFit - Deadlift x3 185 - I got 195x2 - SUPER pumped almost to 200! Metcon was Christine.
Friday: OFF
Saturday: CrossFit - Back Squat - getting it back slowly 125#x5.  Felt decent.  I did Friday's metcon - 21-15-9 Push press at 75# and pull-ups.  KICKED MY BUTT!
Sunday: I'm heading to open gym for skill work!

All in all, I am super happy with this week. Still having a lot of issues with my ankle and pain...trying to be smart about it. It's really just the tendons and not the actual bone so that is def a plus! Gets frustrating though.  Hip is still having a lot of issues too - can't really even lay on that side, so I think I will be going to a hip doctor this week or next.

Last night had a date! Can you tell in the pic how excited I was?!? haha It seemed to go well.  We may go to a movie or bowling today.  Not sure, but he was nice, so we shall see what happens.  I had two last weekend - not nuts on either.  Thought one was going to be cool, but turned out not so much haha. Trying to date other people is hard.  DA is still a huge chunk of me, but at this point we aren't what's best for each other. BLAH. I just want to have a fun summer and enjoy getting better at CrossFit haha :)



HUGE congrats to Layne for winning the SweatyBands.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/55b9840/"

~xoxo
M

Playlist Thursdays + Update

Hello loves! ALMOST the weekend! I can't wait! This time year is always the hardest at school.  The kids have completely checked out and for the most part, so have a lot of teachers.  I do games and activities during this time.  We are doing a M&M activity tomorrow testing the Mars Co. theory about the percent of each color come in each bag. Should be fun - at least in my opinion.  Will be hard as with the food challenge, no M&Ms for me whomp whomp.  Yesterday marked 80 days till my favorite time of the year - OHIO STATE FOOTBALL SEASON!! I can't WAIT for this year, and to be able to go back for a game or two! I miss Ohio.  I really think in the end I want to end up in Columbus or Cinci.  I just love Ohio and feel the most at home there. But before we jump ahead to football season, we have summer summer summer timeeeee! Who doesn't love summer? The beach, pool, and fun with my friends.
DA called last night -- first time we really really talked since everything went down....I'm not sure what will ever become of us, but I will always care about him even if we aren't a "WE" ya know? Ah whatever.  It's summer, going to go out a little more and have fun.  Maybe go on some dates and see what happens! Life is meant to be lived right?!? I feel like right now, I have a lot of people who still doubt me.  Sorry for the language, but I am kind of crazy with that picture to the right.  I have a LOT of people I have to prove wrong - including when I doubt myself! This summer is BIG for me.  I'm not 100% sure I have a job yet (Bell and Mollet swear I do), I am getting my L1 this summer, I'm going to do 2xday 3xweek this summer and try and get some of my strength back AND I'm working with my friend Katie at a pool. Maybe this summer I'll also meet John Cena's type friend, or The Rock. This picture of Cena snatching makes me love him.  I have The Rock on my lock screen and Cena on my home screen right now.  Creeper status almost haha.
CrossFit is going fabulous this week - the Tripod was back together - Me, Allie and Chris. On Tuesday, we were the only three there.  I love those two!
Had my 8 week check up on the ankle yesterday - no MRI which is the best news.  Cleared to start running up to 3xweek depending on how it feels and after I get refit for shoes. Going to try and do that soon. 6 more weeks of PT and as long as by the end of that I can go up on my toes, I am set. Excited to start getting slowly more and more back each day.  Lots of icing in my summer that's for sure.

Now my Playlist Thursdays -- I need to do this more regularly. I love music and doing this. Theme is songs you want at the end of the marathon (or for me just a mile run as I recover haha). Pick me up songs is what I call them.
Same format.
Something Old: Songs that are at least 5 years old. (I know that isn’t too long to be considered old, but music turnover happens quickly.)
Something Current: Songs that have been released within the past year.
Something to Consider: This is the wild card category. Feel free to list any song: old, current, guilty pleasure, underground, whatever

Something Old
Artist: Missy Elliott
Title: Work It
Side Note: This song still makes me want to dance.  My students and I have music on Fridays - they don't know this song except "yea, it's old Ms. Love , my mom listens to it" hahaha
Quotable: “Love the way my ass go bum-bump-bum-bump-bump/Keep your eyes on my bum-bump-bum-bump-bump/And think you can handle this badonk-a-donk-donk"

Something Current
Artist: Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Wayne
Title: High School
Side Note: I LOVE this song. 
Quotable: “Anyway, I felt him, helped him,  Put him on lock, seat-belt him, Took him out to Belgium, welcome"

Something to Consider
Artist: Robin Thicke ft. TI & Pharrell
Title: Blurred Lines
Side Note: I LOVE this song. This makes me want to move all the time. 
Quotable: “OK now he was close, tried to domesticate you But you're an animal, baby it's in your nature Just let me liberate you"

I love music! So fun! That's all for today :)
~xoxo
M

PS Don't forget about my SweatyBands Giveaway!!

LOVE My Job & DA ;)

Hello Loves! First things first - I have lots of AWESOME information sent to me today. I needed it. I know that sometimes people do thankless jobs, and I know that being a teacher is one of those jobs.  However, I have to say a couple things -- first, I LOVE my job, like majorly love my job. Second, I love my administration, they are great. Third, I have fabulous coworkers who support each other and the main goal of making our children smarter and better prepared for life. Even on the days I may complain about something with my job - remember that happens to everyone and I'm allowed those days. But never forget how much I really do love my job -- getting to teach is a blessing and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Now with all this awesome stuff going on in my professional life, you'd think that I'd have everything else together. But I don't. I'm semi-single.  My heart is attached to DA who is 3,000 miles away. I love him, and have for, geez, 7 years. We've been up and down and all around. He's my other half - he gets me. He may frustrate the absolutle hell out of me some days, but mostly he makes me smile and puts up with me. We are working to figure out if it is time to finally walk away or figure out what is next for us.
I'm not ready to move to LA and he is doing to well out there to move here.
I know some people don't lik"us", but until I can figure out what I want and he figures out what he wants, it will continue to be like this.  I have to figure it out for myself and I need him to figure out how to take treat me better, even while we are apart.  He's learning - we're learning together. We shall see what happens. But I just wanted it out there -- ya'll can make your own decision.  I'll keep you posted.
However -- if this man was only available ;) And yes, I stole this from his twitter :)

How was your Monday?
Did you get good news too?
Do you love The Rock as much as me? :)

~xoxo
M

PS did you see my awesome Sunday?

What A Week + 30Day Paleo Challenge

Good morning loves!! Hope ya'll are having a fabulous week! It has been a busy, busy week.  I am really, really missing DA.  Distance sucks and I'm over it.  Even harder when everyone is in your ear and putting things in your head and you're an over thinker.  BLAH -- oh well.  Hopefully everything works out, but I am not sure. We have to agree to be bigger and better then everyone -- one Team. Ok -- that's all on that today -- Look at this awesome shot from this morning! God is SO GOOD! And I LOVE sunshine - needed this this morning :)   

 So this week has been good. BUSY but good.  I feel like I have a lot to say and nothing to say all at the same time haha.  Random. I've decided this week that I have a LOT to work on.  Getting more focused in my CrossFit training (strength and skills), getting better at getting my runs in and fueling my body better. I've come a long way and I know that.  60#s is gone -- I've lost a small child at this point.  I feel the best I have felt since high school -- and in all actuality, I feel better then I did then. I've lost my main focus and I need to get back to it.  Since the holidays, my eating has been sub par and I know I need to get it back in check.  I've gotten to comfortable in my WODs, quit running and told myself I could eat what I want.  Taking the two weeks off of CrossFit then starting back up jumped my body into a small weight loss - enough to put me at my lowest weight yet, but then I slipped. I'm getting it back.  NO MATTER WHAT!!

This happened this week -- Shannon from Badass Fitness hosted a 12 hour plank challenge.  SO since I spent my day at school, I got some of my kiddos involved.  Fitness is a good mental break and planks can help everyone. They really enjoyed it and we had fun with it.  They know about my CrossFit obsession and running.  They always want to go with me.  I enjoy getting to share my passions with them, and it was fun to get them involved. 

If I can motivated them in anyway I can I will!  Motivation is not something that last.  It is something we have to focus on daily.  I have to remember that on the days I just don't want to do anything that I am pushing forward for a reason.  I have a LOT of stuff I want to do and to get my goals, I have to keep up my hard work and push through the days I don't want to do anything.  Like yesterday, I wanted to go home and go to bed.  Just slept the afternoon/evening away, but I had OLY class and wasn't going to miss hanging out with my Valentine :) Had a good session -- Drop snatch 6x3, 4x2 then 2 Clean pulls + Power cleanx6 then high snatch pulls 6x3.

OH and guess what, guess what?!? Karli (my bloggy/twitter/CrossFit buddy) and I both need a reset.  A get re-focused on our eating habits and help blast our goals.  Welcome to our PALEO ZONE :) She was trying the Whole30 for a while but we both just have trouble with the commitment.  So, we got to talking and we are going to do a 30-day Paleo challenge together.  We both need someone to help hold us accountable. No cheats meals - no "this isn't that bad" excuses.  The only thing I am allowing in 2 days of drinks allowed (because I already signed up for a Pub Crawl with my Jerz crew and AC w/T & Laur). I am SUPER excited to do this.  I need someone to hold me accountable for what I am doing and to check in on me.

I know some people are still figuring out what it is, but if you want to do a 30Day challenge -- jump on board with us! Starts Monday (the 18th) and will go till March 20th.  I promise you will feel better then you have in a long time. 

This image pretty much sums up what you need to know.  There are different levels of Paleo (paleo, primal, etc.) But you do what is best for you.  It's not an expensive lifestyle.  It's a conscious choice to do something that will be beneficial to your life and your body.

PS I started with the #nogirlypushups this week -- 2 days in so far.  Looking forward to see what I get to.  I know I have a lot of work with my push ups. Oh and I signed up to do the Tough Mudder with my CrossFit Aspire crew!! AHHHHHH I swear, I can be talked into almost anything haha!

Also - my girls made it to the playoffs.  First year with a girls team.  They have done well. I am proud of them.  We lost our game, but I am SO proud to be one of their coaches.  <3>

Happy Friday loves!

~xoxo
M

Love, Pumpkins & Bows

Love...seems to be a lot of questions in my life lately about my lack of a love life.  Is it sad that at 28 I really don't mind talking about the lack of a guy in my life? I really don't mine being single.  This is the first time I've ever been FULLY single and I am ok with it! I've enjoyed it.  Do I wish I had someone to share everything with or come home to every night? Sure - sometimes I really think how much more fun stuff could be, but I refuse to settle!! I found the picture on the left this week and I loved it!! Totally makes me realize I am doing what I should :)

Saturday morning I also went back to CrossFit Aspire! I know it was only a few days, but after being completely bed stuck in a hospital for two days then forced to do nothing to more, it was JUST what I needed.  I couldn't do the workout all the way, but Justin helped me to modify some stuff and on I went!! We Push pressed for sets of 5 - I got 85 (with 95 for 4)! So, since I was feeling so good, Mom had originally wanted me to wait till Monday to pick up the girls, but I called to see if I could pick them up. Brian helped me run some errands - Target and AC Moore (yay craft time). Thanks to his help I got almost everything I needed done!! AND Brian and I watched the Buckeyes play - it was a AMAZING win over Purdue!! GO BUCKS :)


Saturday night was pumpkin carving fun with A.Mullen. & Danielle! Right when they got there, LD cuddled herself right up to Danielle! haha Our pumpkins came out pretty sweet - I was really happy with mine!! Bobby came and joined us too!! Was good to see him - it has been a while! Him, Erin & I are overdue on dinner and drinks :)

My Pumpkin :)

 

Sunday was Dollface's and I annual trip to the outlets - this time Amanda & Allysa joined us! I had some money set aside for clothes so that was awesome! Got some really sweet new skirts and slacks.  Also noticed this awesome bruise in the fitting room - I'm guessing from the bar and push pressing haha. I found these awesome flats at Steve Madden so Dollface and I both got them:)

That's all for now.  It was really nice to be back at school today. I am feeling loads better still - was exhausted by the end of the day, but I think that was to be expected. I don't really like being away from the kids and the routine.  Now, I am trying to get back on my CrossFit and healthy eating routine and add in my running stuff too.  Only 13 weeks till the Disney Full Marathon!!!

How was your weekend :)

~xoxo
M