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!

Running (for my life!!) ha.

So I figured that I had to document this some how.....hence....this blogpost!

I have been running on the Des Plaines Rive Trail lately. I didn't know this before we moved in, but it picks up right next to my house! I run over to Rockland Rd (as a warm up), then I stop and stretch. Then I continue my run a short while down Rockland to go over to the trail.

This past weekend, I ran up to the Old School Forest Preserve and it was so cool! I probably would have had a better run (physically) if I didn't stop to take all these awesome pictures of the landscape, but I had a better run (aesthetically) when I stopped to take all these awesome pictures of the landscape. You know?

Anyway, tonight I decided to go the opposite way on the path. I ran through boglike forest (which was super cool), down along the river, and even got to see a train go by! On my run back along the trail, I was running with my head down and something caught the corner of my eye so I looked up really quick.

Good thing I did! There was a deer right in the middle of my path and I would have seriously ran straight into it! I stopped DEAD IN MY TRACKS (and hurt my leg in the process! ouch) like a dear in headlights (hahaha). It looked at me and froze, and I looked at it and froze and I kept thinking "Do deer attack people? I mean anything that feels threatened will attack right? oh shit should I run away? Will it chase me?" and by the time I was done thinking all of these thoughts, the deer walked slowly into the forest and I sat down in the middle of the path to let me heart slow down. I seriously thought I was going to have a heart attack.

Then I realized that it was getting dark and I was in the middle of a foresty-bog probably surrounded by deer and I got freaked out and ran to a neighborhood so that Tommy could come and pick me up!

Needless to say, it was an interesting run!

Bully

So I recently saw the movie Bully and I had to get some thoughts out about this. Coincidentally enough, I saw the movie with a dear friend of mine who was bullied in middle school growing up. A girl that I didn't say some very nice things to myself. Luckily, I realized at that age that my words can hurt and that I was wrong.

The thing that gets me is that I knew I was wrong and that I made a mistake. I'm not sure how I did that, or if I came to the realization on my own.

This movie has made me think, as an educator, how I can impact students to make them realize that this is an issue. I have come to the realization that I can not be the only driving force behind the issue if a difference is going to be made. Parents, teachers, and students all have to get involved and stay involved. Maybe for some students, they will look back and think, "Hey, remember our Second Grade teacher who told us that it's ok to be different and we should respect that?" but I don't know that all of them will think this at the opportune moment down the road.

I will be honest though, that only lights a bigger fire under my butt to teach them how to respect each other and treat each other with compassion. For right now, I'm starting with my classroom. If they leave me understanding those two things, I will feel like I accomplished something this year.

House Hunting Update....

....well the house hunting has stopped for the moment because.......

WE FOUND OUR HOUSE!!

It has been a looooong, semi-stressful, and fun process, but I'm glad that we are done and that we have found a house we love. Our closing is later this month over my spring break and then we have to move EVERYTHING!

Here are a few pictures of our future home :)

{Entryway}

{Master Bathroom}

{Backyard}

30 Day Photography Challenge

Twitter's #marchphotoaday has started! I am a few days behind...but I'm about to catch up :) Check it out on Twitter!

Day 1- Taken from up above

Day 2- Fruit in a glass....A Mimosa!

Day 3- Your Neighborhood

Day 4- Bedside

Day 5- A little Smile

That's all for now!

25 things you may or may not have known about me!

25 thingsssss.....

1. I've been in a serious relationship for 7 1/2 years and married for 8 months. His name is Tommy, and he's the best thing that's ever happened to me.

2. I am semi-crafty....scrapbooking, painting, etc.

3. I am a Second Grade teacher (but I feel like a Kindergarten teacher at heart)

4. I am starting Grad School in March :)

5. I love to read, like seriously. a lot. I never go anywhere without a book (or two). and now I have a Nook, so technically I have access to millions of books!!

6. I watch tv  A LOT. I have at least 5 shows that I watch at any given time in the year. It's a problem, I admit.

7. I used to be a hardcore Catholic in high school. I was even on the peer team and youth group, but now I'm not affiliated with any religious bodies.

8. I hate wearing pants and I sleep in my underwear, lol.

9. I don't dot my "I"s when I'm writing.

10. I am a little obsessed with oranges and grapefruits right now. It takes me 20 minutes to eat them, but I love them.

11. I've journaled pretty much everything since 8th grade- and now I'm starting to do it a little more online!

12. I have a great group of friends that I would do anything for. 

13. I wear size 11 shoes and I have man hands.

14. I'm not organized at all. Like, I need a professional organizer in my life.

15. I've dyed my hair black before.

16. If I could afford to, I would volunteer as a full time job.

17. Bikeriding is one of my favorite things to do.

18. I was on the prom court my senior year of high school.

19. I give people the benefit of doubt waaaaay to often.

20. I have donated my hair to lock of love, and I am planning to do it again this summer.

21. I don't know how to cook, like anything.

22. I was a Girl Scout for like 10 years and I want to be a troop leader one day.

23. I am a runner (not a fast one, but maybe one day!) I also like to do yoga.

24. I am laid back, and I don't get stressed out easily, but when I do get stressed out, I get realllly stressed out.

25. I have no regrets in life. Not one. Everything is a learning experience.