#25- Donate my hair to Locks of Love again!

This is #25 on my 25 Before 25 List.

This past August 2012, I decided to FINALLY donate my hair to Locks of Love again.

The first time I did it I was in high school. My hair was down to the middle of my back and I just decided one day to donate it. I cried from the time she made the little pony tails on my head, to the time she evened everything out after cutting off 10 inches. Looking back, that seems silly because it's just hair, but I think I was feeling like I lost a part of me.

This past August when I donated my hair again, I didn't feel like my hair defined me. I was so much more than just long haired :) So I didn't even cry about it! Go me!

Not to mention the fact that it felt good to be able to do something for someone else.

So here is the before, during, and after:

{Before}

{During- sectioning off hair}

{During- cutting off sections!}

{After}

I hope to be doing this again in another year or so!

One Little Word for 2013

So I have decided to choose my One Little Word for 2013, seeing as how we only have two days left of 2012.

This year, I have decided my word will be: Persist

{Persist}

According to Google, persisting is when someone continues in "a course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, or failure", or you know, life in general.

I have not chosen this word because I have dealt with much "difficulty, opposition, or failure" this year.  In fact, I think this particular year has not been that hard. I have had harder years in the past. Not "OMG this class is so stupid" hard, but life altering WTF hard. And personally, I think it has made me a better person, but this is not why I have chosen Persist as my OLW of 2013. (Or should Acronym be my word? Ha).

I chose Persist as my word because I think I need to work on this. I wouldn't necessarily say that I am a "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" type of person, but I do think that I am semi-ok at sticking throughout he hard times....when it comes to other people or when other people are involved. I don't hold the same standard to myself, and I don't think that's ok. 

I recently had a convo with my sister Katy about something I view to be related to this ideology. 

She said to me that she used to feel guilty when she did something for herself, like bought a pair of shoes she wanted (but didn't need), or went to the Korean spa for some relaxation. And I have to say, that I STILL feel that way. Part of it is because I feel guilty about spending the money, but I'm afraid a another part may be that deep down I don't think I am worthy of it. Katy told me that she has learned that she needs to take care of herself before she can take of other people, which has led to her feeling ok with doing any of those aforementioned things and not feel guilty about it anymore. 

I think I need to focus on persisting for myself in 2013 for me, not for anyone else, because I AM WORTH IT. 

I am going to show persistence when those ugly "you can't do it" thoughts pop into my head. 

Sounds silly right? To not be good at persisting through negative thoughts that I, myself create.....but I find that being nice to myself can be one of the toughest things to do. 

So here's to PERSISTING in 2013. I can't wait to see how this unfolds.....

#4- Become a Teacher

This is part of my 25 Before 25 List......it's #4- Become a Teacher!

The end of the school year has come and gone and it has led me to reflect on my teaching experience thus far. 2010 was my first year teaching {ever} and I was scared and excited all at once. After having 10 interviews in multiple districts and being rejected 9 times, I was stoked to finally have a teaching job.....and not just any teaching job, a teaching job in the district that I went to school at. It was seriously everything that I ever wanted (minus the fact that it was part time, but thank God it was because of the year that ensued). And I love that fact that I see cows on my drive and get stuck behind a tractor driving down the road sometimes :)


I was worried about the fact that I was teaching Kindergarten, but after the first day I was pretty hooked. Kindergarten is so much fun. I loved that I got to sing, dance, and sit on the floor with the little kiddos. Not to mention the fact that they are just so darn cute! We did super fun projects, and they are like little sponges at that age. They grow so much over the course of the school year and I had so much fun learning with them. And do you know what's weird? At some point it hit me that I wanted to teach Kindergarten. When Tommy was in the hospital, I worried about my kiddos the first day I was away from them. Then, I stopped thinking about them when I was at the hospital and focused on Tommy. When I went back to the classroom a few days later, teaching Kindergarten was still so fun. I actually enjoyed going to school when I did, and I enjoyed being with Tommy when I was at hospital. I was having fun in the middle of a crisis, and you may read this and think that is totally selfish, but that's what teaching Kindergarten was for me: fun. Even on the days that were hard- the kiddos were crazy, someone was crying or under a table, a lesson didn't turn out like I planned, etc.- I was still happy to be teaching Kindergarten. 


I love teaching them how to be little people. I love teaching them how to sit on the carpet criss cross applesauce with eggs in a basket. I love singing hallway songs, calendar songs, and phonics songs with them. I love penguin playday and teddy bear playday. I love giving a direction and then telling them to put their hands on their head/shoulders/knees/elbows etc. I love teaching the basics- especially phonics. I love seeing them grow academically/socially. I love teaching them compassion towards each other and how to problem solve. I love their love of learning. 


Last year I taught Second Grade. Big jump, I know. 
It was definitely.....different/fun/challenging/friendly/unexpected, thought not all in one day. ha.
I learned a lot about my teaching self, my personal self, and teaching in general. I do not think I would have gotten through alive without my team, and my friends at school, that much I know. Next year will be a new adventure, a new challenge, and though I am not ready for it right this minute on August 1st, I will be. Many things to look forward to this month :)


I am a teacher right now, but I suppose this will be a lifelong journey.


And that's #4- Become a Teacher. 

#6- Run a Half Marathon

This is for #6- Run a Half Marathon


Well, it's almost time to do this one. On Sunday, TOMORROW, I will be running my first (and quite possibly last, but who knows?) half marathon: The Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Chicago.

I heard this was the best one to run because there is so much entertainment on the run that it's helpful. I am glad for this because I will definitely be needing something to distract me for some of the time. You know that point when your mind realizes what you're doing to your body? Yeah, that little stretch of time.

I got my handheld water bottle, my goo packets, and my moral support all ready to go. Pictures will be posted soon....

All I have to say is this, my goal is to finish. I just want to run the WHOLE thing, and I want to finish it.

{Truth}

Well, I did it!! I ran super slow, but I ran the whole time and I finished it in 3 hours. (3 hours of running...yikes!) It was fun at times, and mostly hard, but I did it! woot!

I made my two goals and I couldn't have run it with my Bff Megan. Seriously. She was refilling my water bottle when I needed it, getting ice at EVERY medical station and putting it down my back, and telling me when to take my GUs and water. She did all this while thanking every band/person that came out to cheer and making me believe I could run 13.1 miles, even when it hurt like hell. 

Thank you Megan!! I couldn't have done that with out your mental and physical support :)

{Running}

{Right after 13.1 miles- My Inspiration!}

{My husband and I after the race}

{We are so strong}

#3- Get Married

So this is #3 on my 25 Before 25: Get Married

Well, I've already done that, to my high school sweetheart no doubt! 

In fact, there is already a blog post about us on Angela Renee's Blog.

aaaaaand a super sweet slideshow she put together that makes me cry every time. 

It was such a perfect day ;)

Here are some of her wonderful, wonderful pictures to tell the story of our day :)

{We met at MHS}

{Right before First Look}

{First Look}

{Programs, DIY Aisle Decor, Ceremony Music}

{Walking Down the Aisle}

{Walking Down the Aisle}

{Awesome Day}

{Vows}

{Rings}

{Kiss}

{Married!}

 {Laugh Twins- as Angela says!}

{ :) }

{Married}

The Shape of Us

Found this song today while working on my computer.
Wanted to share with the world!
Check it out :)

Journal Challenge Day 5

Here we go! Really enjoyed this one :)

Journal Prompt #5:  What do you believe in?  A simple prompt that shares so much.  

Niiiiiiiiiiight!!

30 Day Journal Challenge- Day 4

It's late, but here is the prompt for today. After being at school, then have a laaaaate dinner at mom's, I am not home and spent the last (much needed) 30 minutes journaling at my kitchen table while singing/humming songs from my Ben Folds Pandora Playlist (much to the annoyance of the hubs....though he just turned up the volume on his game! ha).

Here's the prompt:
Journal Prompt #4:  Go outside, set up a little journaling area, and see where your mind takes you. Journal it.


I didn't exactly go outside.....I decided to go for a run in my mind to help me journal (hence the 30 minutes...ha!)

Here's some people that I like to listen to when writing, painting, working, singing, etc.

• Ben Folds 'o course
• Foster the People
• Ben Kweller
• KT Tunstall
• MGMT
• Lenka
• Regina Spektor
• Bon Iver
• Gotye
• Some Ellie Goulding
• Mumford & Sons
• Fun.
• The Shins

Here's the entry :)

sweet dreams all.

30 Day Journal Challenge

Here we are, into Day 3 of the 30 Day Journal Challenge, and I am 3 days late on posting my entries!

Well, I have been doing them, just not posting them so here are the first three posts!

Journal Prompt 1:  Create an introduction page.  This can be an introduction of yourself or of your journal.  This is kind of like the title page for your journal. 

{#1}

Journal Prompt 2:  This is something that I do in all of my journals.  I love making tangible goals and I love writing out lists so this is always a perfect page for me.  Use this page to create 3-5 tangible goals for this journal challenge.

{#2- I chose to just do 6 goals I have for this month}

Journal Prompt 3:  Use your name as an Acrostic to tell us all a little bit about yourself. Get creative with this one.

{#3}

Yay!

So in the midst of feeling blue, I will say that I am a little stoked to hear that one of my favorite blogs is doing something different! Run With Scissors has a fab blog that I love to read up on.

She is doing a 30 Day Journal Challenge. You write out your journal on paper and then take a picture of it and post it on your blog. I may or may not be writing it out on paper becausemyhandhurts (ha!) but I am going to TRY to either blog it or write it.

It starts June 1st...so we will see!

7 Miles

"If you want to become the best runner that you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it" 

-Priscilla Welch

That's what I did today. MY Nike+ Running Calendar said 7 miles today, and through I knew this alllllll week, I still felt like I wouldn't be able to do it. Prior to today, the most I've ever run is 5 miles. I was skeptical that I Would be able to run this today, but I did it!

I even texted a friend of mine and said, "My calendar says 7, but I am aiming for at least 5.5 because I think I can realistically do that much."

Strange, but I never thought I could do it. And you know how much I Ran?

7.02 MILES. I blew my goal of 5.5 right out of the frickin' water. And I feel great!

{During}

Today's run, besides being full of cool bids and beautiful trees, made the half marathon feel more real. It made me feel like I can do it, and I'm not so crazy after all. I know that 7.02 is far from 13.1, but it's a start.

I am no longer going to spend the rest of my training tie wondering if I can do it, because now I know I can :)

{After}

#2- Buy a House

So there are a few things that I have accomplished on my list of 25 things to do before I'm 25. I want to blog about them!

This blog is for #2- Buy a House.

So Tommy and I were looking for a house for a few weeks. Well, if you know Tommy, then you know that he has been looking for a house for much longer than that!

We finally found one at the end of February (which is the one we live in now!) in Libertyville. We were living in an apartment in Arlington Heights, that we were very happy with, but it was time to find something more permanent. We looked in Buffalo Grove, Libertyville, Arlington Heights, Lake Zurich, Hawthorn Woods, and Palatine. We saw a TON of houses- ones that needed lots of work, ones that needed some work, and ones that didn't need any work at all. And then we found our house. The one in Libertyville. As soon as we walked in, I felt like it was our house. The layout was just what I wanted, and it didn't require any painting or updating. I was stoked :)

Here are some pictures of our house!

There's my house!