"The past does not define you, the present does." — Jillian Michaels

Halloween party day at school...I am going to need this Girls Night Out once work is done! I do love the costumes the kids wear. They are always fun! It is definitely a camera day...if I remember, because we have seen how good I have been about that.

The dog is going to be the death of me. He wants to bark and be a pain at like 4am...I have another hour, furball, let me sleep. It makes me angry and cranky. For someone trying to drink water, water, water...it makes me wants caffeine, caffeine, caffeine.

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Shred Update: Day 3

Yesterday my calves ached all day...a good, my muscles are becoming amazing ache. I got home and geared up for Day 3. It went much quicker it seemed, but I was in much more pain. I feel like it is really working though. There are front shoulder raises that maybe feel like my arms are ripping off. Ick. Day 4 today. We'll see how this plays out!

I believe in blood, sweat and tears. - Jillian Michaels

Reading Celebration Day at school! It is going to be another crazy day where my kids are off the wall. Then tomorrow are the Halloween parade and parties. Oh, I can't wait for the week to be over!

It is 5:30am and I have already made muffins today. Either this is a good sign because I am productive already...or a bad sign because I am already awake. Yeah...But they are lemon poppyseed and I am super excited about them!

The Shred: Day 2

I woke up after Day 1 and was not really that sore. A lot of people said that after day 1 they couldn't move. I didn't feel that so much. I had worked out 3 days in a row previous to this though. Then I went to Shred on day 2. Wow, I found the pain I was looking for! My legs were exhausted and I was so tired. Then I woke up this morning and my calves are aching!!! It feels so good though. The pain of working out makes me feel good due to the results I know that will follow.

"Unless You Puke, Faint or Die, Keep Going!" Jillian Michaels

Middle of the week...yay!

I'm trying to teach my students to be nicer to each other. I have set them in teams and they are working together to earn team points. They can't be rude to each other, and they have to learn how to ask someone to do something without being mean about it. This is important seeing as how some of my students have really been using some attitude with each other this year. I hope it works. These kiddos need something to help them out...

Here is my Shred update...

I have begun the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

Day 1 was last night. Last night I was surprised by how much work that was accomplished in 20 minutes. My roomie and I did this together, which made it more fun. If something hurt too bad, we just thought about our mantra "skinny, skinny, skinny"... Yeah, that's how that went. I was a sweaty, hot mess last night, but it was so good!

This morning the only thing that is really sore are my triceps. They are pretty sore compared to everything else. Ready for day 2!

Consciousness: that annoying time between naps. ~Author Unknown

Monday has come and gone and I am glad that we are now on to Tuesday. Not that Monday was a bad day, it wasn't, it was just a little tiring. Today I woke up a little more tired than yesterday, so that kinda stinks. I'm sure that I will wake up eventually and find some of that energy I have stored back.

I have worked out 3 days in a row since beginning with a good workout on Saturday. I feel really good about this, and I hope to continue it tonight. The soreness from Saturday is beginning to wear off and I can finally bend my legs! Haha! I was hurting yesterday, that's for sure!

Breakfast for dinner last night, yum! Scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, biscuits, and gravy (no gravy for me, thanks). It was yummy!

Okay, I am off to find that surge of energy to get me through today! Have a lovely Tuesday!

"Fitness - if it came in a bottle, everybody would have a great body." ~Cher

Oh, it's Saturday. It's Saturday with frost on the ground. *grumble* I was planning to sleep in this morning, but my dog had other thoughts on that. Then my husband got up and was less than quiet as he was preparing to go play golf with his friend who is staying here. So now, I am awake...the dog, of course, is asleep again. Neat.

I plan to hit the gym here at 10:30...so that makes me happy. I should grab some breakfast.

Has anyone ever done The 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels? I am thinking of purchasing it to begin next week. So, if you have done it, let me know what results you felt like you had from it!

This post is going to be short and sweet. Have a lovely weekend!

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn." ~Elizabeth Lawrence

My cat is overly affectionate lately. Right now she is curled up in my lap with her head in my face, her purr is super loud, and she is rubbing her face in mine. As cute as it is, it is beginning to drive me nuts!

Interesting day yesterday...one of my special ed students that has some serious issues, punched one of my other students in the face. They were fighting who was in the front of the line. Neat, right? The puncher was suspended for the week and the punchee had a serious nosebleed, but he was okay.

As of today, I am fighting an addiction. No, nothing serious. Just trail mix. Haha! I love it and I could really stand to stop and pick some up this morning. Mmmmm...

Any addictions for you right now?

"Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week." Spanish Proverb

It's Sunday. It's a Sunday that I am spending curled up on the couch with a blanket. The door is open and the dog is basking in the sunlight, football is playing on TV, and I can smell the Leaves candle from Bath and Body Works burning. My husband is out playing football with his friends and I am doing some lesson plans on my computer (okay, taking a brief break to shuffle through my blog!). It's not a bad Sunday. Oh, and I am still in my hoodie and yoga pants. Yep....comfort at it's finest. I still have yet to shower, and I feel way okay with that.

It was a good weekend. We went out to a corn maze to celebrate our roomie's birthday. We went at night, so we took flashlights. So fun! So cold though...brrr...but awesome. It was also SUPER muddy due to the rainstorms from the week. I should have taken photos! *grumble* My camera was definitely in my car though.

This upcoming week is going to kick my butt, so today I need to enjoy the relaxation I am getting to have. Monday and Tuesday are normal. Wednesday I am at work late at a board meeting, Thursday I have parent/teacher conferences from 1-7pm, and a workday from 8-11 on Friday. Blah....

Here's to hoping this week goes quickly and smoothly!

I've been lucky, I'll be lucky again." Bette Davis

I logged on and saw that I won a giveaway! My luck has been amazing lately. I have a great pillow from ShabbyNest sitting on my bench by the front door and now I am winning a wonderful book from Lions, and Tigers, and Boys, Oh My! I will have to tell you about it once I read it and then possibly pass it on when I am done with it. I feel like I need to return the favors of giveaways!

I wish I had had my camera yesterday when I went to the Dollar Tree. I went in to buy my student teacher some things from the Teacher Tree area in the store. I went to the checkout counter and I stood there waiting for the cashier. As always, I perused the little shopping area by the register. There were chapstick, calling cards, pregnancy tests, hand sanitizer....wait! Pregnancy tests?! By the register?! As in, "well, I could use some chapstick...oh! and a pregnancy test." That isn't one of those last minute buys, right? Hmm...interesting.

It appears it will be another drizzly day...I am so tired of the dreary weather. I usually love fall, but it is hard to enjoy it when the weather is already so cold and it is so icky outside. Hopefully there will be some days to enjoy soon.

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress." Fredrick Douglass

The project of the week is painting our kitchen table set black. We have a table and bench and then 2 chairs that don't go with it. Painted black, it all goes together! Yay! I will post pictures after we finish the final coat and sealer. Our friend found this stuff at Home Depot called Gripper (in the paint section). It prevents you from having to sand everything down. You put it down as a primer and then paint over it. It was amazing! I will use it on everything because I HATE sanding. Ick.

This is my student teacher's final week. I will miss having a second set of hands in my classroom, but I am ready to have my classroom back. I miss being in control of what is going on in my room. This Friday I am going to throw her a little going away party though. It'll be fun!

I am currently reading the book series that TrueBlood was created after. The books are really good and I would suggest them to anyone that has been enjoying the Twilight series or any other vampire stories that are out there. The books are similar to Twilight, but more adult oriented. They are by Charlaine Harris. Book one is Dead Until Dark, and there are 10 in the series.

"The best smell in the world is the man you love." Jennifer Aniston

Bath & Body Works has something called a Scent Bug. You push the silver part and it pops out where there is a pad inside. On the pad you put the scented oils and then you push it back in. You click the button and fans begin spreading the wonderful smells throughout the room. It's like a candle warmer without the fire. I know this could be a great thing for homes with small children or people that forget to blow out the flame. It runs on batteries. I love mine!

It is now coming out in awesome colors! Not shown are red and lime green. Yep, I want these two - definitely.

Okay, that is my plug for the day. Have a gorgeous Wednesday!

"Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower." Albert Camus

Fall is upon us, and I have to say, it makes me uber happy. You know I am serious due to the fact I just used the word "uber". Yep. Anywhoo...I love fall. I love fall because...

• it smells good (The candles at Bath & Body Works are PERFECT, and my roomie works there so I get a great selection!)
• cold weather food begins making an appearance (Hello, chili!)
• Blankets on the couch
• Fuzzy socks
• Sweatshirts
• Football
• Halloween and fall decorations
• my drive to work is beautiful!

I know there are more reasons I love fall, but those are definitely the top reasons right there. Now, the negative thing about fall is that winter follows it. Me, I am not a big fan of winter. I like the decorations that accompany the season, but I dislike the cold and snow. Ick. So for today, I will focus on the rain I hear outside, the cinnamon I smell inside, and the warm feeling that fall gives me today.

"Life is one long process of getting tired." Samuel Butler

As I write this, my eyelids are drooping. I am exhausted. Oh, it's 5:41am. Yes, A.M., meaning morning. I feel like I toss and turn at night. I don't understand how I feel this exhausted when I go to bed at a decent time. I am worried because...

...third grade field trip to go ice skating and to a nature center. Ice skating with about 35 kids. Thankfully we have a lot of parents and teachers going, but it does make for a long day. Going to the nature center could be a problem...since there is rain pouring down outside! Part of the nature center will be inside, but I think the trails are out for today. *sad face*

What a week...thank goodness it is Thursday. I need some sleep this weekend!