And so it begins....

I have begun my goal of losing my weight this year. I read the Biggest Loser book, thanks to Amy, and am in the beginning stages of their diet. It is so easy! The worst part is writing everything down, but that's minor. No biggy at all! I kicked it off with a workout with Brenda, and I can't wait to see what my results for week 1 are! I'm already feeling great!

Sunday was my last "audition" for my winter guard. Let's just say I have 16 children between 2nd and 5th grade! YIKES! It's going to be a great year! I can't wait to make our debut, I have a great group of kids! :)

I added another job to my existing 4 (Springfield Guard, Phoenix Jr's, Washington Local Schools, and Sylvania City Schools). I was asked to start working at my gym that I work out in. So I am working there when I can in their nursery. I put in 2 days last week while I was on break from school, and now I have at least 1 day this week. :) Busy busy busy busy....

Well, the Biggest Loser meatloaf is almost done cooking. I guess I should eat dinner!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

First of all, let me start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year! :) It's 2011, let's make it a good year!

This year, I have a lot of new and exciting experiences coming my way, and I can't wait! I am FINALLY going on my trip for my 21st birthday, and yes, I am going to be 24 when we actually leave for Europe. I finally get to see the Eiffel Tower in person, and HOPEFULLY I will get to see my friend from Germany. That would be amazing! I also am going to step out at a competition as a director of my own guard for the first time! :) This is a huge accomplishment for me, and I can't wait for the first show!

I also have set a lot of goals for myself. Not necessarily "New Years Resolutions", but personal goals to last the rest of my life. They are as follows:

1. Be more positive towards EVERY aspect of my life.

2. Get a job at a public school district and have my own classroom!

3. Lose my weight once and for all (I already have borrowed the Biggest Loser guide from Amy and Nate... it's beginning!)

4. Audition for a world guard.

5. Be financially stable for once in my life.

6. Get a long term subbing position for the Spring.

Here we go... saying goodbye to 2010 and hello to 2011!

Busy Bee!

Oh, man! I am so busy with everything I haven't posted in a while! Yikes! So here's the lowdown:

The trip is planned, now we just need to get our excursions planned - which we have looked at, by the way! Uncle Larry and Aunt Jody are OFFICIALLY going with us, which will make it more fun! I can't wait! :) It's my party and I'll cry if I want to! Hahaha! It will be awesome to be able to share this with them as well. Making memories, for sure!

Guard stuff is going very well - just a lot of work. I have a whole new respect for guard directors. Member packets, emergency forms, costumes, shows, equipment..... OH MY! But it's a lot of fun, and I wouldn't have it any other way! I have 2 of the best jobs in the world.

And finally, Christmas break! I LOVE IT! It has been so nice to just be booking for after the new year! I already have 3 jobs set for the first couple of weeks of school after Christmas break! Whew! It is nice to know ahead of time instead of getting those panicked 5:30AM phone calls...

Anyways, sorry this is rushed, but it's WAY past my bed time. I just had so much to do when I got back from guard that it's like I finally got a minute to write and I thought I would write! And on that note, GOOD NIGHT!

Christmas Break, Please!

I don't even work every day in the classroom and I'm ready for Christmas break... ugh. I'm just so ready for those 5:30AM phone calls to stop for a week and a half. Plus, I love the holidays! It's so nice to see family and everyone's so happy (*ahem* unless you're shopping, then everyone's in a hurry and willing to kill someone to get ahead in line or out of the parking lot). The no work thing is just kindof an added bonus.

Guard continues through break, though, but that has just become my solace. It's a great way to release some nervous or negative energy!

Not a whole lot to talk about, but the elementary guard started today, and I must say, it's great! I love it! I thought I loved teaching high school, but man oh man is elementary fun! I can't wait to see how this season pans out... it should be fun and interesting, that's for sure! :)

If I don't get on before Christmas, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas! :)

I Love My Life!

That's right, I said it! I think today was the first time I actually realized my accomplishments and how far I've come, even in the past few months.

When I was let go from WSMC, I was pretty down and out about my capabilities as a teacher. I felt beat down, and like I would never find my confidence in myself as a teacher.

Today I got a phone call from Sylvania schools wanting me to come in ASAP for a teacher that came in sick trying to make it through the day, but got sent home by the principal. I walked in, totally comfortable, and took over. Fine and dandy. The life of a substitute teacher.

But then, in lunch, I was sitting and actually carrying on a conversation about teaching with a bunch of experienced teachers. It was like I learned something in school! :) I was carrying on a legitimate conversation with teachers, as a substitute teacher! It felt good, and it made me realize that I'm not made out for private school, I belong in a public school setting. Because I care. I care about the kids and their lives at home, not just in school.

I thought about all of this while I was working out on our treadmill at home. I have found a sort of salvation in working out. I plug in my headphones for my iPod, and I take time to think while doing something good for my body. :)

Tonight I legitimately told my mom that I love my life. I do.

(By the way, we are officially 7 months and 9 days away from our trip! WAHOOOO!)

7 Months and 10 days!

Ring the alarms! We OFFICIALLY booked our trip with AAA today! I am so excited! I have a tentative itinerary (flights, arrivals, and a plan for the trip via the brochure) that tells us everything we need to know right now. It was so great to actually nail it down and *ahem* pay the bill (thanks, Daddio).

Next, we have to do some research. Or, shall I say, I need to do some research. We need to learn some of the languages. The easiest to learn will be English. Hahaha! We just need to master that accent. I'm working on it. I already know the base of French, but Italian is a bit shaky. I suppose I should work on that.

We were discussing (or I should say I was discussing) a paper chain to count down our days until the trip. Then I decided a good idea would be to have a fact on each piece of the chain. Now I'm considering vocabulary words as well.

So here we go! Only 7 months and 10 days to go until we are on the airplane and on our way! P.S. The plane ride there is 7 hours (Detroit to London - direct). However, the plane ride back (brace yourselves) is 10 1/2 hours! (Rome to Detroit - direct) Yowza!

I am closing this entry with the sightseeing adventures I am most looking forward to!

How you say....

Well, it's official. We are booking our trip to Europe! I am so excited that it's actually happening this time! :) We will go in July, and start with 3 days in London, then travel by Eurotrain under the English Channel to Paris for 3 days, then jump on a plane and spend 3 days in Rome! Yep, I will finally not only get to see the Eiffel Tower in person (not to mention Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Colliseum.... that's just the beginning!) but also take pictures in front of it! OHmyGOODNESS! I know what I will dream about tonight! Only a few more months of random pictures of Europe. Soon enough, I will have my own pictures.