..:dad:..

So, there was THEEE moment.  No, not the moment that Rachael told me to join twitter.... no not that...

You know, that weird moment that your dad comments about how he likes your new blog? Then proceeds to ask if you are going to write about him...That moment.

See, I have a rather unique dad. My dad, an old time rock and roller (if you count the organ and accordion as a rock instrument) who still likes to throw a good jam out session onto his steering wheel WHILE aimlessly throwing his spit around as he head bangs. That's my pops. The guy who will know more about what your friends are up to then you do. The guy who has a much cooler social life than I. The guy who could probably talk to a brick wall longer than anyone else and the guy who loves being the only man at Zumba with my mom. He's a crazy one.


I would tell you my dad and I tend to be one in the same. Is that embarrassing? I think it may actually be... oh well

Being the baby of 3, decently older brothers, allowed me to get to meet my parents at different times in their lives. I like to think I brought out the spunk in them and lightened them up a bit...;)

However, in all seriousness I have a great dad. He coached my soccer team, came to show choir events, watched my musicals and even painted my bedroom pink. He kinda rocks. 


The best part is. I accidently married a man just like him. So life, will continue to be a crazy adventure with my two favorite guys. I have to say, I think I am kinda lucky :) 

There you have it daddio, a blog post all for you.

..:house shopping:..

Let me share with you a secret. I am obsessed with Rugs USA. I kid you not. I found them online and I am just giddy over the selection that they have. I urge anyone in the need of Rugs, to check them out. I ordered a few...#sorryhubs

oh no, and now that I look at it again, I am not so sure i love it... shooot. i digress

Anyway, we found a couch, I mean, it is a pretty awesome couch if i do say so myself! It can be found here. Along with another rug we found on super sale and isn't online.

So now, we have an entryway rug, a family room rug, a sofa and.... the hunt continues. I have been all over Pinterest for a neat master bedroom idea... so far, I have a few inspirations.

but what I am most excited about is the laundry room, is that weird? I want it to look like this and forgive me, but I don't know exactly where the pin is from! 

Let's hope this house deal is for real! If not, we are going to be adding lots to our storage unit, soon! 

Next up, paint colors!

..:weekend:..

Linking up! With Rachael
woah, this weekend feels like it never happened!

Friday night the hubs took a small break for some early appetizers and when we came home, I headed to our neighbor's house for a welcome home dinner. Perfect night, out on the patio with a few bottles of wine! It have been unreasonably chilly up here in Ohio the past few weeks so it felt like a fall night complete with a bonfire. By the time I came home, hubs was done studying and we started a new season of survivor #coolkids #wedonthavecable #thankshuluplus

Saturday I explored target... again and pat catans, plus the dollar store. It was a busy day ;). I also was able to get a run in! It was a perfect day to run through our park system. We also drove by our house! It was still standing and still a beut :)!!!

Sunday, we spent all day helping my parents clean, paint and fix up the garage. It was a huge project but it is starting to look great. I also helped my mom refinish a few old cabinets and add sweet doors on them. I will have a before and after once I find cute hardware. The only downside of this refinishing, it the permanent spray paint and stain that is not stuck all over my hands/nail/feet/legs/clothes. 

Now that I look back, this weekend was not very eventful. However, it seemed as though it was. #whoops 

The hubs leaves today to head down to the state capital to take his test. For the next three days, send some good thoughts our way. I know he is ready and will do great!

I hope everyone else had a great weekend!

..:FRIDAY!:..

Today I am sharing my favorites and linking up with Amanda from Meet@the Barre

My favorite 'clean eat' snack:

i love me some veggies right from the garden! so yummy!

My *new* favorite past time dying my hair:

that would be my oldest nephew and his approval of the dye process ;)

My favorite quote and if you follow me on instagram, you saw this last week. It is by a teacher that I love to follow, you can find her blog, here:

My favorite (proud) moment, the hubs graduating:

After 3 long distance years, we were finally able to join our address! ha! it's the small things :)

My favorite funny picture from our wedding:

We aren't sure you smashed first, but the other one gave it right back :)

..:target:..

This week is crazy, as is every week. My brother, his wife, their 3 boys have all come to stay at my parents while they are also between houses. That makes 9 of us living like the Brady Bunch. Hubs is busy studying..still, yes I know, its lame, but it is almost all over!! I have been trying to study for my reading endorsement test (taking it today) and also, trying to enjoy the end of summer rut that comes when you realize you haven't done all you needed too! We are anxiously still awaiting the house closing and trying to plan a trip for when hubs is done with the test.

So naturally speaking today, I went to Target and T.J Maxx because #whynot?

Target never disappoints, am I right? I kid you not, I  can be having the worst day and then just walk in that place and have a whole new look on life. But, of course, I went in to grab a baby gift for a friend and then that stinkin dollar spot found me! I needed to buy it all... but lets not be confused, I also bought it all on Monday, too... #shooot

exhibit 1 (sorry if you already follow me on the insta you have already seen my purchases, and if you haven't then *shameless plug to go do it* thank you in advance                 
-------------------> clearly, all that washi tape... needed it. Chalk markers are for sure a must have and no one can even resist those cute little gift tags! I just need a project now because all of those things and the not pictured chalk paint and magnetic paint were clearly impulse buys. 

 Also, Tuesday, my favorite teacher friends and I headed to IKEA in PA! It was a great girls day and I am super pumped about the purchase of my wine racks. I got those cute spice racks, too for the books. You know, the one everyone has done on pinterest, but I choose to photograph the wine #whoops.

More importantly, I am reminded how lucky I am to work with such wonderful woman. These girls are my favorite gal pals. Its friends like these that make me a little itty bitty excited for school to start back up. 

Tell me I am not alone, everyone else MUST get sucked in from the Target curse, too... right?!

Have a great day :)

..:transfomation:...

Earlier, I posted about my hard year with food. 

I am going to share with you my awkward bathing suit picture #yourewelcome. 

I am actually pretty stinkin proud of this picture. It shows a good representation of me and while I don't look AS fit as the girl with the hat on anymore (silly honeymoon, masters, long distance marriage and too many sweets) I have found a healthy balance for myself and am still very confident.

About a year and a half ago, I started really becoming interested in my health and what was going into my body. I contacted a facebook friend of mine who kept posting about Advocare. I was desperate and willing to try anything. 

Turns out, 40lbs later, it was just what I needed. I learned a lot about myself and what my body needed to run on. AKA not the 2 bags of peanut m&m's but instead veggies and protein. The motivation of my wedding and the fact I was carting around too much extra weight to feel comfortable in my own skin was a good kick in the rear.

Have any of you ever tried Advocare? What's your favorite products? Let me know if I can help you!
www.advocare.com/130212720

..:i teach:..

Today, my teacher girls and I are headed to Ikea! I am so excited and have a laundry list of things I want for my classroom. Probably will have to hide all the goodies until school starts as we are going to be *hopefully* moving soon! I wanted to take a moment to talk about my 'job' it seems silly but as the school year get closer, I (don't you dare tell anyone else this!) am a tad excited to get back into my classroom. Something about a new school year makes me still giddy!

I teach. I am a teacher, a friend, a student, a 'mother figure'. I wrangle 20+ kids on a daily basis under the age of 6. I dance, I sing, I clap, I cry, I skip, I hop, I say things I never thought I would *see: don't pee on the walls, that's not chocolate milk on the floor*... at least not until I had my own kids, but above all else, I teach.

I teach little munchkins how to find their name and locker on the first day of school. I peel kids away from parents while they both cry. I make phone calls and send emails everyday. I walk into my job thinking I have the best job in the whole world and can leave feeling like I never want to come back. 

It's all part of the same beast. 



KINDERGARTEN

You can't explain teaching to someone that's not in this profession. Much like every other job in the world, no one really understands everything that goes into my little four wall, box of a room and most of you would vomit to know what really happens in that classroom bathroom!!!

I get called Mom, Grandma, Teacher, etc. on a daily basis and getting married in the middle of a school year... I mean what was I thinking lol, they had no idea who I was! 

I have been teaching 3 years now. I love the stories, the kids, the growth, my school and my friends. I work with the best people around, and that makes all the difference.

You see, I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was an itty-bitty-3-year-old. I stood up at preschool graduation and thought it was my show to run #truth. I announced to everyone that I wanted to be a teacher, like my mom. Teaching is hard. I would be lying if I told you anything different. It tests your limits but then I sit and think of any other job I could have and I realize, there is not any place different I would rather be. I am a teacher.

If you can read this. Thank your favorite teacher, they would love to hear from you...