The Countdown...

Today was my first day back from a relaxing spring break and to be the first day back after a long break it was pretty good. I think the kids were still asleep. :) May is going to be a big month for me and I am beyond excited about it. Here is the most recent countdown...

As of Tuesday I will have
- 7 1/2 weeks until school is out for summer
- 6 weeks until I run my first half-marathon
- 24 days until I graduate with my M.Ed.

I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am definitely in the home stretch!!

1 week down 16 more weeks to go...

So week one of half marathon training ended Saturday and a new week began on Sunday. Let's just say that I am struggling a bit. I have been on that loves running however, I do like how I feel afterwards. Last week I ran about 3 miles on a very hilly course. Needless to say that was a big mistake, at least for right now. At one point I thought I was never going to make it back to my house and if I was struggling with 3 miles how in the world was I going to be able to do 13.1 miles and live to tell about it?!?! Well in the midst of my little pity party, ha, I was reminded that I do have to start somewhere. I cannot just expect to be able to up and run 13.1 miles easily right off the bat. Rome was not built in a day. I think this whole training process might take a toll on me more emotionally than physically because I like to feel as though I have accomplished something after each run. So I pray that I learn to become more disciplined and develop more patience during this whole training processes. Wish me luck! :)

It's official...I have lost all my marbles!

So this past weekend I was talking with my boyfriend's mom and sister and they talked me into running a half marathon with them. I signed up today and it is official, I am running my very first half marathon. I am very excited but also very nervous at the same time. We are running the Divas Half Marathon in Myrtle Beach. It is a big nationally know race called Run Like A Diva. Hopefully I will be able to blog my training progress for you all. Today began day one of train for a half marathon. I did a 30 minute walk/run. I started out walking Rambo but his little legs only lasted on loop around the neighborhood so I dropped him off and ran the rest. By running more I think it will help me maintain my stress during my final semester of grad school. Please join me in my new journey to prepare for a half marathon!! Now back to grad work.

Pinterest

Ok if you have not heard of Pinterest or if you have and just havent visited the website then DO IT!!!! I have recently become obsessed with it. I found a recipe for loaded potato soup on it. The recipe came from Live A Little Wilder blog. I made it for my parents the other night and it was so good!! For Christmas I got a KitchenAid mixer and it is my new baby!!!! I seriously could go bankrupt buying things to make with my new mixer. To go along with the potato soup, I made homemade bread. I was nervous at first because to make homemade bread you have to have time and patience...two things I normally do not have a lot of but luckily break provided me with both. My next thing I want to make is the Santa Fe Chicken Fajita Soup.

My new baby and her accessories


The bread: It is round because I did not have a loaf pan...


The final product!!


For real Paula you should watch out there is a new chef in town. :)

Watch our Paula...

Since I have had so much down time during break I have worked on my cooking and baking skills. I had no idea what to get my dad for Christmas other than a funny t-shirt that said: "I came, I mowed, I kicked grass" because even though I live on my own, he still comes to mow my lawn! I sure do love my daddy!!! After thinking for awhile, I decided to make him a homemade caramel cake using my grandmother's (his mother) caramel icing recipe. Not to toot my own horn, toot toot, but it was pretty delicious and daddy loved it. :) To make the cake I just used a box cake recipe but for the icing all you need is powdered sugar, light brown sugar, whipping cream, vanilla extract, and butter. Below is the masterpiece:


The beginning stages of the icing


The final stage of the icing


My final masterpiece after daddy ate a slice!! He loved it!!

My other thing I made was a pound cake! Usually I struggle with making the pound cake stay moist by Oh buddy it was real good!! All you need is butter, sugar, flour, almond extract, cream cheese, baking powder, and eggs. Here is the final product:

Christmas Season!

I cannot believe Christmas is just 2 days away. 2011 is almost over. So much has happened in the past year and I am so lucky for the many blessings that were brought to my life. In 2011 I finished my first year of teaching, first year of grad school, bought a house, went to Alaska, and paid my own bills. There are times I come home from work and I am still in shock that I am a "big girl". I love having my own house and be able to provide for myself, although I did not mind at all living with my parents. :) I used to absolutely HATE yard work, especially picking up pinecones. Lucky for me my house has one tree and it is not a pine tree. I have thoroughly enjoyed Christmas break so far. I never realized how badly I needed a break to kind of get myself back together and run some errands. I completed all of my Christmas shopping yesterday...I was a little behind/didn't start until Wednesday. My only complaint about break is that I wish it was a little bit colder outside so that it would feel like Christmas! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!

Be the Shark not the Goldfish

I just started reading this book tonight called The Shark and The Goldfish by Jon Gordon. I have only read a little bit of it but already I 100% recommend this to everyone.



The back cover is what hooked me instantly.



Not many know this but I have been struggling the past few months with change. Some of the change is for the better while other parts not so much. It weighs on my physically, mentally, and emotionally. My hope after reading this book is that I can be more like the shark and not the goldfish.