help a girl out

Please take a moment and read about my dear friend and her families fight with a rare AVM.  They are very excited to walk in the TAAF AVM walk this wekend.  Many of us take for granted the ability to walk 2.5 miles, and Gisela is finally strong enough.  Check out their page and learn about the struggles this family has faced due to this uncommon, devastating condition.  Please consider reaching deep in your pockets to support this cause, so, no families need to experience the setbacks and permanent damage due to this condition.


Check it out: Here

trail mix.

Let's talk about how I just ran 3.5 miles in 42 min... This run AWFUL. Everywhere hurt! Aside from the obvious pain from kicking some serious 9th grade butt in the calf raise competition yesterday. There was PAIN.

Hold on, the explanation is a lot longer than you think.

I got stressed today.

I went shopping, I needed something to take the edge off, somewhere were I could find something and make my world a little bit of a better place. A place called... The Container Store.  How can you be unhappy when organization is involved? It very quickly became a closet organizing trip, shoe organizers and sweater storage)

Still wondering about that run... getting there, promise.

Next stop was LOFT- have you ever gone into a store intending to return the suit jacket in your car with receipt... without the jacket and receipt? That was me today. Don't worry- it will all be returned. Maybe.

LOFT is right next store to The Fresh Market and I was craving a Synergy (ya know, that fermented kombucha tea everyone brewed in college). So I got bought one... and a little container of the sweet and spicy trail mix. This stuff is incredible  I used to get it all the time at wally world (wal mart) it's the great value cajun mix.  I ate the entire thing on my 30 min drive home.

It was like a brick in the pit of my stomach.  My heart rate monitor was strangling me. I told myself if it was really bad at 15 min I could turn around, but I didn't I kept going hoping I'd feel better and the running would help me digest. Yeah- that didn't happen.  I had heart burn- I never have heart burn!

Three miles and towards the end of my jog I wondered how I did 23.2 more of those- in one day? Running Grandma's in 2012 didn't hurt this much. How did I do the 5,6, 20 mile runs to train for this? I don't know- you do it... and the race (though horrible) was a exciting experience.  Yep- I walked, a lot, it hurts more than running at that point. Running the 26.2 miles are the easy part, it's the 100's of training miles that are horrible.

I've had this thought a lot since high school (and a little bit in college) when I was a "serious athlete." Standing on the podium, skiing the race... thats the easy part. It's getting up at 5:30 (IN COLLEGE), running for hours after your school day... It wasn't work then, but now it is. I wish I could give purpose to my physical activity again.

The run sucked and I'm still frustrated, but my shoes, sweaters and ski clothes are organized.

Serious Athlete= exercising, with a purpose and plan most days of the week. possibly twice a day.

In other news: #tbt that time I thought it was a good idea to run a marathon. without training.

Marathon Team of Awesomeness! Grandma's-Duluth, MN 2012
I know super nerdy.

This is what you do after running 26.2

Oh Hey, how ya doin'?

Wow, my goal to create a blog and update it regularly is not happening.  Hopefully I can get back to updating it weekly. So much has happened in my life to take me away from my blog, but I'm committed to get back to it!

I've continued to teach 3rd grade at Saturday School and it has become one of my favorite parts of my week.  After taking my graduate level math class, I quickly learned that teaching math is something that doesn't come as easily as teaching reading and writing.  I've moved to teaching math to my little ones and have found it extremely rewarding and (gasp) FUN!

Here we are working on six diget numbers- house shopping!

January 2013:

Our view of the Inauguration- 2013

After celebrating the new year with my dear friend M, I decided that 2013 would be my best year yet.  (Update: there's been a few bumps since but I'm thinking positively!) Mom and Little Sister came to visit for the 2nd Inauguration for Obama. It was a truly unique experience and I don't think I'll ever do it again. It was CRAZY, typical. I can't imagine what it looked like 4 years ago. It was a lot of waiting and standing around but the excitement and positive energy in the air was infectious. 

 February 2013:

Visiting long lost relatives at Air and Space

Although I did turn 25 this month- it was fab. Some friends and I went out on a weeknight to a Flogging Molly concert at the Fillmore in Silver Spring. It was a lot of fun and I learned that mosh pits are not quite my style, so I enjoyed from a distance.  

A few weeks later  celebrated my birthday (again) when BFF came to visit from Colorado! We went to the O Street Mansion in Dupont. This place is seriously awesome- we explored all levels of the mansion and the hidden doors. If you're ever in the Dupont looking for something to do- check it out.

Back to BFF's visit! Poor thing flew overnight to see me! It was her first time in DC so I was sure to show her all the important stuff. Of course we went to the Quarry House in Silver Spring, did most of the mall- fairly quickly and my favorite- the Newseum. 

February ended with a very, very special Bar Mitzvah! This kid is amazing.

Namaste Politicos! 

March 2013:

Had my very first snow day ever- and was extremely productive organizing and cleaning. I know horrible for a snow day.

I know right...

Dad came to visit and we explored DC- doing things on our "bucket list," because lord knows we won't be back to visit... 

and SPRING BREAK.  I was planning on going to New York and Vermont to play in the snow and explore with a good friend, but a relaxing week on the couch and catching up on my favorite blogs was in order.  

I finally was able to (no judgement, I know, so nerdy) read all of this fabulous mamma's blog she is awesome! Check out her blog (link below), Mama Laughlin!

She inspires me to be better. Not only has she lost 60+ pounds, she always looks good, committing to fitness and eating healthy and oh guess what, she has two toddlers and a full time job. 

I am becoming more consistant in my exercise routine (running, elliptical and Jillian workout videos- more about that later) and wearing more professional adult clothes (read= not yoga pants, sorry lu).  I have no excuses not for not fitting in a good workout, healthy meals and making sure I look good (hair included).  

April 2013:

Where the heck did April go? It's already the 19th! Yikes Stripes!! It has been a great month. The 9 and 10th graders have been jumping into drugs head first. I'll do a post on that soon- promise.  This week we celebrated Zimriya- Israel Independence Day. It is a great day of celebration! Each grade does a song and dance in Hebrew.  The energy in the gym yesterday was incredible!

Soon I will be heading to Marquette to celebrate my little sister's graduation! I'm excited because that also marks the last week of my graduate program for the semester! I'm soooo close to being half way there! If you're looking for a quality online education program, look no further, I have one and it comes highly recommended!

Links included in this post:

O Street Mansion: http://www.omuseum.org/museum/

Mama Laughlin:  http://www.mamalaughlin.com/

check out my boo!

Since you're wasting your time on my blog... or maybe just I am... go check out my friend Jillian's blog over here!

I know this hot mama is going to share her delicious baking and cooking recipes and techniques (seriously she's known for the treats she brings to work) on her blog.  Help her become fit ('cuz she's already fabulous), let her inspire you and giggle at her sassy girl talk!

Links in this post:
con amore, jillian: http://conamorejillian.blogspot.com/