Turning over an old leaf, again...

So, I am bragging a bit.... but not just to boast. More to hold me accountable.
I went to the gym this morning at 5am and feel FANTASTIC!! Not only did I get a workout in already, but now... all day long, I feel healthy instead of sluggish. Icing on the cake? Now I don't have to go later!! :) I do love to exercise, and need it as a release each day.... but I am having a hard time sticking to a routine lately. My plan is to continue each work day to get to the gym at 5am. I plan to do an hour of cardio Monday, Wednesday, and Friday... and then on Tuesday and Thursday I will do 35 minutes of cardio and then do weights. On the weekends I want to do different, outdoorsy type activities... hiking, walking to breakfast!!, etc.

Enjoy your weekend, and here's to old leaves turned over yet again!!

I am so lucky!

I went to McCray's in Lawrenceville last night with Kari, Monica, and Laura. It was a blast! I love that we (and usually, Patti, too) get together once a month for dinner to catch up and chat! It always makes my day! I love it! We try new restaurants and just enjoy each other's company. Well, those girls surprised me with the most thoughtful early birthday treat! I received a box of D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S chocolate covered strawberries and apples... WOW, they are amazing! It made my evening that we got together, not to mention they thought to remember my birthday!! This is just another example of the fact that I am blessed with such phenomenal friends!

Today, I am a bit sleepy from all the excitement this week~ you know I am usually in bed before my students~ I am thinking a nice, lazy, quiet evening with my hubby would be what the doctor ordered.... of course, we will indulge in chocolate covered fruit! :)

Today

I am looking forward to today. I am working a normal teaching day, but then going to do the shift at The Teacher's Pad, which is a store co-owned by my two friends. Then, I have the HOA meeting tonight. I like these meetings because it makes me feel more of a part of the community and it answered a lot of questions I had previously.... (such as, Why do they STILL park on the street?)

I feel good. I did the bike at the gym yesterday afternoon for about 35 minutes. Not terribly long, but I felt like I got a great workout. Because of my foot, it was the first time in a long time I left the gym feeling that way... I have missed it and now am looking forward to tomorrow's work out! I am positive with my foot healing, that I will be able to make up for the months that I have not been exercising and that I will be where I want to be soon! I am anxious for my doc to say I can run... then the marathon training will begin! Hopefully he will say that on March 6, YAY!
As for now... the bike and walking will have to do. :)

Sweet Night Out With Erik

My sweet husband took me on a date this past Thursday, it was wonderful! First, we ran into Barnes and Noble and grabbed the next book club book, The Next Thing On My List. Next, we got his hair cut, and finally ended up at Bella Vita in Buford. OMG, we stumbled across one of my new favorite restaurants, it was absolutely delicious!! The owner was an Executive Chef in Buckhead at Chops... now he makes all the dishes here from scratch... and let me tell you, they are PHENOMENAL!!! It is attached to a wine shop that has tastings and specialize in unique labels! Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area and into new, awesome places to eat! I can not wait to go back... hint, hint!!

Weekend of Fun

This weekend, like the past week or two, was jam packed.... but in a good way! I had such a great time! Here is us in a nutshell this weekend:

Saturday, I woke up (first day "boot free") and Erik and I cleaned up the house. Then when he went to work, I met Diana for brunch at Mimi's Cafe! YUM! I was sooo great to catch up with her, and who can resist Mimi's muffins, delicious! Then, I went to my first 3 year old birthday party! I can not believe Nathan is already 3! WOW! It was so cute and filled with lots of hugs and laughing... and best of all, I got to play The Price is Right on the Wii!! Such fun! After that party, Erik and I went over to the Kennedy's for a delicious calzone dinner! YUM!! We got to make our own, it really was creative and fun... a great visit! Can you believe all of that fit into Saturday?

Sunday, we woke up and took Grace for a walk at the Gwinnett Environmental Center, it was the perfect day for it! There were awesome trails through the woods and it was cool and breezy, I loved it! After the walk/hike, we went home and got ready to meet Katie and Dave for lunch! It has been a few weeks since we have gotten to see them, and I was loving that we got to this weekend! After lunch, the four of us went bowling! It was fun, I had not been bowling in a long time... I bowled better the first game, but still had a blast! Then we went home and vegged... yes, I admit it, I was in bed at 8 last night, it was wonderful! :)

We have been action packed, lately... all in good ways, but definitely on the go! It doesn't look like it is slowing down any time soon! This week, I have a board meeting, a shift at The Teacher's Pad, and dinner with the Holt ladies at McCray's in Lawrenceville. I can not wait!

Catching up by way of rambling.....

Well, I keep waiting for something exciting to happen so I can blog about it... and then realized I was simply living my life, and it was exactly the type things that I should write about... So here are a few things that are going on in the little bubble that I live in...

1. I get my boot cast off in two days, I am so excited I may through a party! :)
2. I am hopeful to be able to run again in a week or so...keep your fingers crossed the doctor says I can!
3. I signed up for the Chicago Marathon in October, I will run it with my brother. It will be one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I look so forward to the training and to the feeling of accomplishment when we cross the finish line together!
4. I will be 30 in about two weeks. What a crazy thing!
5. One of my girl friends just told me she is pregnant... I can not wait for the next months to follow and live vicariously through her... What an exciting time for her!
6. I am throwing a bridal shower for my cousin in April, and can not wait!! My parents are coming into town for it, should be lots of fun!
7. I realized that I am one of those people who thrives in warmer weather and sort of hibernates in the cold... I do not like to admit it, but I am. I am so ready for spring break and summer vacation... I am ready to be tan and rested and healthier.... I think I am more active in the warmer weather and need it to warm up before none of my pants fit!!
8. I am on the HOA Board of the neighborhood and have met two fantastic girls that live in my cul-de-sac, how lucky is that?? One of them is pregnant and I hope to take walks with her and the baby... and Gracie, of course!!

I have turned over an old leaf again.. I am packing a gym bag and taking it to work so that I go straight there after work. I did this last year and it was foolproof... I look forward to seeing some results soon!! That being said, I am headed straight to the gym after work and then to Barnes and Noble to meet Jeanine for coffee and book browsing. We are going to get the book for March's book club, The Next Thing on My List. I am excited about the visit and the book....

What a difference some years make....

Now a days, if I choose to stay up late, and by late I am talking 10:30 or so..., that it affects me for the whole rest of the week!! It baffles me because in college I could stay up to wee hours of the morning and function to the fullest the next day?! I know you may say, well.. you are getting older, but I am not that old (regardless of what Erik says!!) and I am in MUCH better shape than I was back then, anyway....

So, I am remaining in the state of confusion as to why this is...

I am also remaining in the state of exhaustion... I am tired and tend to get frustrated easily!
I guess I knew it was coming when I stayed up late for the Super Bowl, a game that I support, but did not watch one minute of! (I mean, it was on TV and my friends were watching, but I was too busy talking and munching on peanut M&Ms... )

Toffee Crunch

Well, my wish list is getting shorter!! :)

Friday evening, Erik and I went to pick out a paint color for our bedroom. We chose Behr's "Toffee Crunch", sooo pretty! Saturday, I woke up with him at 6:ish; and when he left for work, I started painting. I have never done a room by myself, so even though it is not perfect, I still feel VICTORIOUS!! Today, he touched up the trim that I missed, and now we have a BEAUTIFUL bedroom! What a difference some paint can make!!! I absolutely love the color... I woke up and was instantly happy looking at the walls.... what do you think??

When the enlargement of our favorite wedding photo comes in, we will have it framed and then hung over the bed! I can not wait, it will look sooo good! (We got the enlargement in "sepia", so it will have the brown tones)I can not wait to show you.... :)

I am headed to Sam's to get Turbo Tax... the sooner we file, the sooner it gets returned! Then, off to a Superbowl Sunday fun-filled evening!! I love this weekend!