100th day of school

When did the 100th day of school turn into such a big deal? Many parents asked me this question this year and I didn't really know how to respond. It wasn't something that was celebrated when I was in school but I think it's awesome. The kids really enjoy it and it puts such an emphases on the things they have learned in 100 days -- which seems like an eternity to a five year old.

So...like a month ago we had the 100th day of school.  I know, I know a month is a long time ago but I honestly feel like I blinked and February is gone. For the shortest month there sure is a lot to cover in kindergarten! Presidents Day, Valentines Day, 100th Day and Dental Health Month; it is just too much.  Anyway - I digress...back to the 100th day of school.

As a team we decided to go with a superhero theme. We used Mrs. Miner Monkey Business for inspiration but if you would like to buy her packed you can do so by clicking here. (it is really cute and she has great stuff on her TPT page) We sent home plastic table clothes for the students but a few of the K teachers decided to make fabric ones to use year after year. As a teacher that's the goal right -- make it once and use it again and again?!

After googling how to make an adult super hero cape and not really finding anything that tickled my fancy I ran to hobby lobby to pick out some items and just wing it. Now keep in mind I waited till the Wednesday before the 100th day to start this project and it probably wasn't the best idea to only give myself 2 days but hey, I work great under pressure.

Here are the materials I bought:

 A yard of the patterned fabric, half a yard of black fabric, 3 yards of sequins and two bags of buttons.

I started by folding the pattern fabric in half and cutting it into a trapezoid shape. There was no measuring just using the yardstick to assure a straight cut. I then opened it up and sketched a Superman triangle on some paper to check the portions. The only tape I could find at our house was Duck Tape but hey it worked.

I cut the black fabric and used stitch-witchery and my iron to hem it. I also used the stitch-witchery to adhere the back triangle to the patterned fabric.  The sequin trim was added using liquid stitch which can be found with all the fabric glue and is only about 5 dollars. I also used the glue to adhere all the buttons because lets be honest, I was not sewing 100 buttons on this cape!  I used some double bias tape for the top and to tie around my neck.  All and all the was a really simple project that I never even had to take my sewing machine out to complete.

I am really happy with how everything turned out and it held up great all day.  My very favorite part is the matching sequin head band - I mean you can't be a super hero without a head piece right?

I will survived…

I hope you are sining this title in your best Gloria Gaynor voice.

At first I was afraid I was petrified.
Kept thinking I could never live without humongous thighs….

Ok…sing along is over; back to this post. I survived my first booty barre class on Thursday. I was pleasantly surprised I was not the only newbie in the class which was rather comforting. What was not so comforting was standing next to the Work-Out Barbie. She was honestly one of the prettiest women I have ever seen and was so sweet. Funny part was when I asked if she had been to the class before her response was , "This is only my second time. I usually just run marathons and do kick boxing." Haha…I will never use the words just and marathon in the same sentence EVER.

The class was hard but Destiny (the teacher) was very encouraging. She was motivating without being mean which is always a nice change.  One word I did not love so much was pulse. Destiny loved this word….we would squat, with weights, then she would say this terrible word pulse. My thighs and arms were on fire but it was never unbearable. I loved using the bar to do kicks; it took me right back to my 11 year old self in jazz class.

I was surprised at my lack of soreness when I woke up Friday morning. I mean don't get me wrong I was sore but nothing like I was anticipating. I was feeling pretty good until about halfway though my day - the soreness had set in. Let me remind you that I teach kindergarten and all my furniture is made for 5 and 6 years olds which is not ideal for sore muscles. Kindergarteners will also say whatever is on their mind. Here is a little convo about my soreness that should make you chuckle:

Me: sitting down to read a story and grunting a little

Little Girl: Mrs. Halbrook are you ok? (with the most concerned look on her face)

Me: Oh yes ma'am. I was exercising yesterday and my muscles are just a little sore.

Little Boy: No Mrs. Halbrook your just getting old. Your muscles get sore when you get old.

Don't you just love children.

 Overall I know that I will get better after I have gone a few times and I am really glad I bought the groupon. I think I will grow to love the class even though I did get very sweaty and had to shower the moment I got home. I am also very excited because two of my friends are also joining me in this adventure. They are coming to class with me tomorrow and I am going to track their thoughts and progress on the blog too (Surprise Alison and Melanie)!

Hope everyone had a great weekend and is enjoying their Super Bowl Sunday!

Sweating is for the birds

Anyone who knows me well knows that I do not like to sweat. LIKE AT ALL! I just think it is so yucky and completely unladylike. I mean southern ladies don't sweat they glisten right?! This attitude towards sweating has caused me to dislike cardio with a passion. I avoid it at all cost honestly.

When I do end up being tricked into doing cardio I am one of those people you see on reality TV that moans and complains the whole time. I know it is annoying but I just can't help it. Kelsey (my old workout buddy/best friend) can testify to this statement and I am sure would describe it as nails on a chalk board but hey, everyone has to have their downfalls.

Before we moved I was doing Pilates on the reformer twice a week. I loved it. I felt tone and good about myself and was even loosing a little weight. I am not someone who looks at themselves and thinks "eww, I am so fat" but I know I could stand to tone up and loose a few pounds here and there. When we moved I looked at gyms and studios that offered reformer classes but I wasn't working and we just couldn't afford it. I was really bummed but hey Andrew was stuck with me now….fat or skinny.

One thing I did join when we moved was groupon. My Nanny always talked about it and I thought why not. Thanks when I spotted this little gym...

Number 1 - who can't afford 29 dollars. Number 2 - if my stomach will look like that - sign me up.

After reading some reviews and watching booty barre classes on youtube I decided to give it a try. (It only took me five months to think it over but hey better late than never.) I went ahead a bought the 10 class package because in my mind that would really make me commit to the class. I also didn't think it would be that intense and was really going to stake out the Pilates equipment but have sense found out differently. Supposedly you sweat your hinny off for 50 minutes which makes me very nervous.  I know I will be fine and am excited to loose the 600 calories the average person burns during the class but woah…sweating - this is a big step for me.

My first class was supposed to be yesterday but due to the winter weather it was canceled. Everyone say a special prayer for me at 6:30 tomorrow - I will me 30 minutes into class and will probably be the person dying in the corner but hey…at least I'm giving it the old college try.

I'll let you know how it goes…but really pray I make it through.
Happy Wednesday

Love & Hate

I'm just going to admit it….I have a love hate relationship with my blog. 

I love…

     how I feel after I have blogged.

     expressing myself through writing.

     documenting the randomness of Andrew and I's life.

     being able to look back on times past.

I hate….

     when a month goes by and I haven't blogged.

     the feeling that the window has passed me by for the post to be reverent but I still have so much to say.

     scheduling times to write.

     typing away on my computer when Andrew is home.

When I started the blog it was more for others. I mean don't get me wrong I wanted the stories to look back on when I am old and gray too but it gave everyone wedding details and allowed them to follow the planning process. When we moved it was the same thing…I thought it would be nice to look back on one day but really wanted to keep everyone in the loop of our lives. But I have sense started realizing that it is for me. 

I have struggled a lot of the past few months on what this blog was going to turn into and if I was even going to keep it going. Over the summer and the beginning of the school year I loved it. I blogged a few times a week and felt amazing but then I started working and the blog came to a screeching halt. Yes, I know plenty of people blog and work at the same time but this concept was really difficult for me. How was I supposed to give everything I have to my students during the day, come home make dinner and then hang out with my husband in the evenings - where does blogging fit?

After taking some time away ( 2 months to be exact) , praying about it and really thinking about what to do I decided that blogging is something I need. I need to blog to feel like my week is complete. I need to document this journey of life and I need to write. I get to use my creativity everyday in the classroom but this is different. It scratches another creative itch I have you could say.

Overall the conclusions I came to are

1. I'm done with the hate and only want love. Why should I hate something that I am choosing to do? 

    

 2. I'm done feeling guilty. Some weeks I might blog a few times and others there might be silence but that is ok. Life gets busy, things happen and I can not beat myself up anymore over feeling the guilt of not blogging…It is stupid.

   

 3. I am not going to let important moments pass me by on the blog. If it means blogging while Andrew is home sometimes or scheduling it into my weekly schedule I am determined to make it work and capture the moments.

    

4. This blog is for me and I am happy about that.