Fitness Update

I have been doing a great job of tracking with both spark people and weight watchers. I have lost 5 lbs in the past two weeks. I have been really proud of myself for tracking everything even when Phil and I went to South Carolina this past weekend where they have pralines! I love pralines. I am looking forward to running with Galloway group this weekend... 10 miles. The last long run before my half in 2 weeks. I am already starting to get slightly nervous but as long as I use the Galloway method I feel like I will certainly be successful! :)

Book #7

Practice Perfect was lent to me by my Aunt Kim who knew that I really loved Doug Lemov's book "Teach like a Champion." I didn't like this book nearly as much as Teach. I thought that the authors were missing their mark on who they were writing for because they would use quite a few examples about teaching but switch to how you could use this in the business world. Because I am a teacher and how helpful "Teach like a Champion" was I wished there had been more direct ideas of what to do in my classroom versus flip flopping on who could use the stratgies and how. Overall, I loved his first book because it was written with teachers in mind but this one fell flat for me.

Book 6 out of 50 :)

I had bought this book last year after reading "Why is God Laughing?" By Deepak which I really enjoyed. This book was slightly difficult to get through but has many helpful hints on reminding present and includes mantras and tips to include in your daily meditation practice. It is a book I feel I will read again when I feel I need help in remaining at peace with my present reality. If you enjoy books of a spiritual nature I would definitely encourage reading this one as well as "Why is God Laughing?"

Valentine's Day Weekend 2014

Before Valentine's Day this year we had a horrible snow storm leaving me stuck inside for a few days but thankfully the roads were clear to go out to dinner on Friday. Phil and I went out for sushi at Vine which is where we had our second date. I hadn't really liked it the first time I had been there on that date but I was also pretty nervous the whole time. The sushi this time was delicious! I loved the detail that they put into making the boat with a watermelon heart which I ate after we were done. It was a great palate cleanser! Phil and I decided to walk next door to Madhatter's bakery where I ate half of a slice of German Chocolate cake.... Delicious! 

On Saturday, Hay and I went out for dinner and a movie. We went to see August: Osage County which was amazing! I loved it. It was thoughtful, truthful, and provoking! I thought it was going to be slightly dull at first but oh I was very wrong. It had many twists and it will definitely be one that I buy in the future. Definitely a must see for movie lovers.

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's celebration!

In Love with the Bling

And so it begins my goal for this Spring...the triple crown for completing 3 half marathons in 4 months. I am completing one every month for this year but I also am working towards completing several different races to recieve this extra medal. I don't know why but I will run anything for a medal especially a special medal. I guess it must be a competition thing but I just love knowing that I will have something shiny at the end of the race even if I am in a ton of pain it will take the edge off. 

This will be the first triple crown that I will attempt. Hopefully training will go well and in a few months this medal will be posted on this blog with my smiling face. :)

Gregory Vineyards

Phil, Lukas, Lauren and I travelled to Angier yesterday to go to Gregory Vineyards where they make muscadine wines. I don't know why but I love the sound of muscadine and scuppernong... They just sound so fun to say. 

I have been here several times once with Hay and once with Phil but it never seems to disappoint. The wines are a little but sweeter because of the muscadine grape but I love sweet wines and I ended up leaving with quite a few bottles to try at home. My favorites were the love-a- Rita which is a slushie shown above and the Bald Eagle which was a dry white wine.

Angier is quite a drive from Durham but I loved the tour which talked about the differences in grape types in North Carolina and sampling the wine. Hay and I went there in the summer when the vines were blooming but unfortunately in February the vines are not as pretty. I definitely would love to go back in the summer. The vineyard and tasting rooms are beautiful. Definitely worthy a try and it is locally owned with great deals and events happening all the time.

Website: http://www.gregoryvineyards.com

Erin's Birthday Party!

Erin celebrated her birthday on Friday. You can barely see Erin in between Hay and I. Nice photobomb. Hayleigh and I ate dinner together and began watching She's All That a 2000 classic movie when Phil came to pick us up to take us bowling. Normally I rarely can do anything in a Friday night but I am so glad that I went. Erin is one of the coolest people I know... She's quite amazing! (I feel like this statement needs more exclamation points) We went to AMF bowling in Cary and glow bowled the night away. After we went to Erin and Adam's house to eat deliciously homemade carrot cake. I don't even like carrot cake but I ate almost half of Phil's piece. Erin is also one of the best cooks I have ever met. It was a great night filled with bestie time, friend time, dancing, laughs, and singing Good Riddance in the car ride home. Lovely way to kick off a weekend!