Monday, December 31, 2012

A-Z: Everything you didn't want to know about me

I was working on a "New Year's" post, but I keep seeing this A-Z thing everywhere, so I decided to work on it and hope I think of something awesome for my other post in the meantime.  So, here we go!

A. Age: 27

B. Bed size: Queen.  I always think it's too small for Christopher, as he is like 6'3", but when we do sleep in a king size bed, we always end up on top of each other yes like that too so it doesn't make sense to have a ginormous bed if we aren't going to utilize the space, ya know?

C. Chore you hate: Is all of them an option?  The only time I don't mind "chores" is when we are having people over for something.  I guess if yall start telling me you're on your way over all the time I'd clean more.  But probably not.

D. Dogs: None.  I am not a pet person.  I won't judge you too harshly if you are, but I really just can't stand furry things  that's what she said.  But I won't punt your Baxter off a bridge or anything like that, so don't be afraid to invite me over.

E. Essential start to your day: "I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence."  Other than that, I really don't know.  I don't drink coffee or "have" to have caffeine (although it doesn't hurt), and I'm not a big breakfast person so...maybe people just not talking to me.  If I had it my way I wouldn't have to speak to a human until around 10 a.m. (except you babe).  But I'm a teacher so that's really not feasible.

F. Favorite color: Black. And any shade of blue/green (except the green that looks like poop).

G. Gold or Silver: Silver.  I tried the gold thing but it makes me feel too Jersey Shore-ish.

H. Height: A whopping 5'3".

I. Instrument you play: Rusty trombone I kid I kid, please DO NOT google that.  I know this is going to disappoint Christopher, as he is determined to believe (and make everyone else believe) that I was in the band, but I WAS NOT.  I have always wanted to learn how to play the drums, but it has yet to happen.  Maybe in 2013?

J. Job title: Pre-K Teacher (shocking, I know). 

K. Kids: That came out of my body, Kason and Kutter.  That didn't come out of my body, Tiegan.

L. Live: Huh? 

M. Married?: How about D for Divorced.  No I am not currently married.

N. Nicknames: Kitty, Kat, sometimes Kitty Kat, Kaka (and that is a sentimental thing my niece calls me, so back off!  Well at least I think it's sentimental...) and probably a bunch of other stuff that people call me that I don't care to know.

O. Overnight hospital stays: Three nights when I had K & K.

P. Pet peeves: Like Holly said, I have too many and I probably shouldn't list them because then you wouldn't want to be my friend lol.

Q. Quote: Umm I could probably do a whole post full of those...but most recently I am loving "Why are you going to choose failure when success is an option?" and an old fave, "Be careful of what you teach, because someone will learn it."

R. Righty or lefty?: Righty.  I had to be a lefty when I had both of my shoulder surgeries, and it was terribad.  And also impossible to drive a standard car, just fyi.

S. Siblings: One brother, one sister.  I am the baby, holla!

T. Time you wake up: I usually have my alarm set for 6:13 and get up by 6:33.  I keep telling myself I'm going to get up at 5 to get my workout over with...but that has yet to happen.  Again, maybe in 2013?  I'm going to venture to say that learning to play the drums will happen first though...

U. University attended: Texas A&M University baby!  Only the greatest school around (and not just because of Johnny freakin' Manziel--although that doesn't hurt)!

V. Vegetables you dislike: Cauliflower.  Cabbage.  I know I know, I'm supposed to eat cabbage tomorrow for luck with money.  I usually gag down one bite, which may be why I'm still poor, but unless I'm drunk I'm not eating more than that.  Hey, being poor ain't so bad (sorry Lora, I know you LOVE that word)!

W. What makes you run late?: I like to blame the kids.  But usually it's my ADD and the fact that if I forget something and go to look for it (forgot my jacket, go inside to get it, realize I didn't make lunch, see shoes that need to be put away, can't remember if I put on deodorant, turn off the lights, wait where are the kids? Why did I come inside again?  Oh eff it!) and not only waste time, but usually don't accomplish what I went in for.  You get the idea.  This happens daily.

X. X-Rays you've had: Lots of shoulder x-rays.  Teeth.  Foot.  Back.  Neck.  Vajayjay.  Just kidding on that one, I think.

Y. Yummy food: Love me some Pizza.  And Mexican.  And McDonald's french fries.  Ok if it's bad for me, it's yummy, and I love it.

Z. Zoo animal: Giraffes and Zebras.

So there's a little about me in an A-Z nutshell.  You're welcome for keeping you entertained for part of the morning.  Just in case I don't get my New Year's post up before the New Year, I hope everyone has an amazing (and safe) time tonight, regardless of what you are doing!

Kitty Kat out.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Choose Success

Hey there lovelies!  Did you miss me?  The obvious answer is yes, so no need to think about it.  I had a Christmas hangover for a couple of days, but I think I'm finally over it.  I hope you all had a fantastical Christmas with your loved ones and got everything your naughty little hearts desired.  I was certain I would be on the naughty list this year, but either Santa didn't get the memo or he's so smitten with me he didn't care.  Either way, I got some awesome stuff so thanks for that big guy!  The boys got everything they wanted, and then some, and I KNOW they weren't that good this year!  But everyone was all smiles, so hoorah for that.  If you follow me on Instagram or FB, you saw the pictures.  If not, your loss!  I'm too lazy to download them at the moment, sorray!
 
 
Anywho, as was expected I fell off of the workout/healthy eating wagon the past week or so.  I didn't eat everything in sight like I expected, but I also didn't make the best choices.  Shit happens.  I'm not going to let those few bad choices ruin the weeks and weeks of good choices I had been making though (can I get a hell yeah for that?!?)!  Last night I was looking at Pinterest and stalking some folks on Instagram (don't act like you don't do it) and came across this quote (more than once) from the foul mouthed, hot bodied Jillian Michaels:
 
 
 
 
I felt like seeing it multiple times had to be a sign.  In an instant, I felt a tiny fire get lit under my chubby ass and decided that tomorrow (which was today) I was going to get in the gym and start the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred I had bought a week and a half ago and had yet to use.  We all make New Year's Resolutions, and if you're like me, you break them within hours of the New Year.  So I decided this year I'm not making any resolutions.  I have goals I want to reach, but instead of waiting until January 1, 2013 to start reaching for those goals, I started today.  I CHOSE to get up, get dressed, and make myself a little pre-workout drink.
 
 


I have no clue what that brand is or what's in it, it's Christopher's and he said it was good and would help, and I'm not one to argue bahahahaha.  It actually is very tasty and while I felt the difference, it didn't make me jittery or tingly not the good kind of tingles like other pre-workout mixes I've had in the past did.  So yeah I chugged that bad boy down and then I CHOSE to go to the gym (which is Christopher's homemade gym right next door).  When I got out there, he already had the DVD in and on the right workout, and all I had to do was push play.  Not only did he have it set up for me, but I also found these two little notes that made my morning and gave me the last little push I needed to get started!


 

 
 
Isn't he the greatest?  Yes, he is.  I am proud to say that I CHOSE not to quit and survived day numero uno of that crazy bitch Jillian's shred.  It wasn't easy, but I didn't want to die during or afterwards either, and that's always a plus in my book.  I was expecting her to yell at me a lot more, but she took it pretty easy on me.  At least for today!  I did my measurements today so I can track my progress.  I was actually down a total of 7.5 inches (all over) from the last time I measured (which was probably almost 2 months ago).  That's not *great* but considering the obstacles I encountered, I ain't mad at it.  I expect much greater results in a month though! 
 
 
Today was the beginning of our love/hate relationship.


After I got all nassy and sweaty, I went to town holla at my hicks to do a little shopping.  I had some gift cards that were burning holes in my wallet so obviously I needed to hit up the after Christmas sales.  I found a few good deals, but NONE of them compared to these babies right here:


 
 
I have been looking EVERYWHERE for some aqua/lime green shoes and I almost peed myself when I saw these!  They had a tag on them that said they were on sale for $49.99 and I HAD to have them.  Then as I was trying them on, and the size 7 I would usually wear was ginormous, I found out they were KID'S shoes!  I ended up with a size 5.  And THEN as I was checking out with the shoes and new laces, I found out they were 30% off!  So I got shoes and laces for $41.  I will holla fo saving a dolla(s) any day!  I'm not gonna lie, I do have them on right now and I am probably gonna go workout again just so I can try them out.  I really don't even care if they are super comfortable because they are cute.  And that is very important :)  Oh and I also went through McDonald's today and CHOSE to get a grilled chicken wrap and a diet coke instead of the crap I would usually get.  Damn you Jillian (jk)!  I saved calories and money.  I feel some divine intervention going on.
 
 
So to sum up today, it rocked.  I feel good and am looking forward to what the rest of 2012 has in store, as well as all of the amazing things that I know are gonna go down in 2013.  I also signed up for the Armadillo Dash that is in March!  This is the 5K that I did a couple of years ago when I was around 135 pounds.  I am hoping to be around that size by then, and I am definitely going to beat my time of 37 minutes that went down at the 5K I did in November.  I'm excited to have a new race to work towards and am hoping it will be a continued motivation for the next few months.  There are so many choices that I have to make daily in order to get to where I want to be.  And I am choosing SUCCESS over FAILURE.  What will you choose?
 
Ok, time to go try out these new shoes!  Holla!

 

 
 
 


Sunday, December 23, 2012

Santa?? I know him!!!

 

If you know me at all, whether we are new friends or old, you know that I love Christmas.  Love it love it love it!  I love how the weather changes (well is SUPPOSED to change, Texas doesn't always get that memo).  I love to see the twinkling of Christmas lights as I drive past people's homes or walk past stores.  I love the beautiful decorations that people adorn their homes with.  I love the spirit of giving that people catch and the way it feels to watch someone you love open a gift that you picked out just for them.  I love sipping on apple cider and hot chocolate and making cookies with my children.  I love visiting with friends and family and just enjoying being together.  Do you get it?  I love Christmas and everything about it!




I don't have a ton of memories of Christmas traditions from when I was little, but I have a few.  Like leaving cookies and milk for Santa every Christmas Eve.  Waking up early on Christmas morning to see what Santa had brought me.  Going around my dad's house and finding things he already owned and wrapping them up and putting them under the tree for him; hey, maybe he didn't notice?  Having a stocking full of goodies (never without an orange, apple, chocolate/peanut butter truffles--so THAT'S where my addiction comes from, thanks Dad--and crazy fun little trinkets).  Btw at my Dad's house I still have the same stocking I had as a child, and I love it.  I'm sure there were more things that my parents did, but those are the main things I remember.




Now that I have children of my own, I am trying really hard to start traditions with them at Christmas.  Watching the movie "Elf" is a must even though I have that movie on hand year round. We always bake cookies for Santa and leave him milk.  Because they go to their dad's on Christmas eve in order to celebrate with his family Christmas morning, we celebrate Christmas eve at our house on the eve of Christmas eve, got that?  They get to have two Christmas mornings, which I think is awesome and they never question it because who the hell would have a problem with Santa visiting you TWICE??  We always open our stockings first, and then the gifts.  This year, we started the "Elf on the Shelf" tradition.  They have really enjoyed it and I plan on continuing it for many years to come.  I have seen tons of ideas on Pinterest and although I haven't gotten to them all, I think I will throw new ones in each year.  If we're being honest though, I must say that I am glad tonight is the last night that damn elf will have to show up.  It gets tricky trying to get him into new shenanigans each night without them catching me (and having to stay up later than them some nights)!  It was very helpful in the behavior department though, I'll explain how when I post our elf pictures!


 

Since tonight is our Christmas Eve, I am planning for us to bake and decorate cookies for Santa and make sure we leave him and Jingles (our elf) a special letter.  I saw some cute ideas on Pinterest about leaving "Santa footprints" and "Reindeer food" and a bunch of other crap I will never get done, so if I have the right supplies I will attempt to do that for them this evening.  We will read, "The Night Before Christmas" before they go to bed tonight and I will try to hide my excitement, but truthfully I will be as giddy as them because I absolutely love Christmas eve and Christmas morning.  And hopefully they will pass out early tonight so we can all of the presents and goodies put out in a timely manner.



I hope everyone has the most amazing Christmas ever.  We will be going non-stop from this evening through Christmas day, so hopefully the kids behave and no one gets hurt enjoy every bit of it!  Much love and blessings to all of you!

Are there any traditions you remember from your childhood that you loved?

What kinds of traditions do you have with your family now?

Anything I didn't mention that you think I *must* do with my family?

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

So What Wednesday


So what...

*If a couple of these "so whats" are from last week.  I got  busy and didn't get to do a post about it.  Womp womp.
*If this morning last wednesday morning when I made my delicious smoothie (bananas, strawberries, orange juice, ice, vanilla protein powder, and spinach or so I thought), it tasted like ass.  I couldn't figure out why.  Same ingredients I've used before, minus yogurt, so why the drastic taste change?  Lack of yogurt can't make THAT big of a difference.  So I started examining my ingredients...bananas: fine.  Strawberries: sweeter than ever.  OJ: full of calcium.  Ice: nicely crushed. Protein powder: very powdery.  Spinach: NOT FINE.  I didn't pay attention at the grocery store and I got the "Spinach and ARUGULA" mix instead of just spinach.  Kill me now.  Arugula??  I know I've had that mix before in a SALAD, but trust me yall, that shit DOES NOT belong in a smoothie.  It's awful.  And no matter how much sweet fruit you keep adding, it will not alleviate the horrid taste.  Bleh.

*If after above smoothie disaster I dropped my yogurt on the way to the car and it busted everywhere.  Awesome.  I didn't want that stupid yogurt anyway, so ha!

(Back to this week)

*If I'm freaking out about having a Student Teacher in the Spring.  Believe it or not, I'm not a "people person" and the idea of having a stranger all up in my personal space in my classroom is making my skin crawl.  It's not her fault, so I'll try not to scream at her like Robin screams at Patrice on How I Met Your Mother (if you don't watch that show, start now, and/or google this because it is hilarious).

*If this week I haven't done very  much "teaching" because a) It's the week before Christmas and the only thing on the kids' minds is SANTA SANTA PRESENTS SANTA PRESENTS oh did I mention SANTA!  and b) maybe I feel the same way.  And c) after last week's tragedy I've just been playing dress-up with these babies and holding them while we read because I want them to feel safe.

*If yesterday Christopher put my brand new Michael Kors watch on my dresser for me to find and because we are both impatient I am wearing it today. 

*If I took an energy pill and am bouncing off the walls worse than the children, can't hold a single thought for more than a second and have already thought of 79 other things to blog about as I am typing this. 

*If this post that sentence above is one of the longest run-on sentences in history.  Sorry to my HS English teachers Mrs. Newnum and Mrs. Flencher, you were great.  Not your fault I didn't retain it all. 

*If I'm done now!

Peace out homies.


Monday, December 17, 2012

Our World Needs A Group Hug

As I sit in my (currently) empty classroom this morning, I am overcome with a rush of emotions.  We all know the horrific tragedy that unfolded on Friday in Connecticut.  I was off on Friday, and first heard the news as I was sitting with a girlfriend getting a pedicure.  Seems so petty now that I was out having fun while others were at their job, the same job that I have, protecting their students, some, losing their lives.  When the news first popped on, the newscaster said that one person had been killed, possibly a child.  Just hearing that ONE child had been shot was heartbreaking.  But then, as the morning went on, and more and more details came to surface (not all true I might add), it became evident that the ONE student had grown to TWENTY.  My eyes are filled to the brim as I type that number.  Twenty innocent little boys and girls who will no longer have the chance to grow up to become the doctors, teachers, astronauts, or princesses that they dreamed to be.  Twenty boys and girls who went to school Friday morning, just like every other day, assuming that they would be learning their ABC's and 123's, playing with their friends, hugging their teachers, and being SAFE.



And then some coward came in and took all of that away.  The security that children and adults should feel everyday while at work and school, gone.  The sense of peace parents should have as they kiss and hug their children good-bye, *knowing* that they are going somewhere that they will be safe and loved, gone.  The lives of so many who had so much more living to do, so many dreams to fulfill, gone.  And on top of all of that, he of course took his own life.  Because he was a coward.  Because he was a nasty enough person that he could kill innocent people, but not big enough to stick around to deal with the consequences of his actions.  I don't care if he was an "outcast".  I don't care if he had a "mental disorder".  Everyone has problems.  But not everyone goes on a shooting rampage because of it.  If you can kill your own mother, hop into a car (full of guns and ammunition), go into a school and start shooting people that you have no connection to, people that had nothing to do with whatever you felt was wrong with you, you clearly have some form of clear thinking going on.  Those guns didn't grow arms and legs Friday morning and shoot his mom.  Or drive themselves to the school and shoot those teachers and students.  No, they were picked up by a maniac and used for evil.  It's not my place to judge that boy, or to decide what gun laws should be in place or who/what is to blame for what went wrong with that young man.  But I will not read anymore stories that talk about him or his disorder.  I will not be made to feel sorry for someone who killed innocent, defenseless women and children.  The media is doing exactly what he wanted.  They are comparing this shooting to others, ranking it in it's "deadly factor" and giving him all of the glory and attention he no doubt wanted when he took his life.  We need to focus on the lives that were lost, focus on how we can keep our schools safer, and stop focusing on the person who caused this tragedy.  He does not deserve our thoughts or time.



As a parent, as I watched the news coverage and saw the heartwrenching images of parents searching for their children, desperately trying to find out whether or not their child was alive or dead, my heart was aching.  One of the best "parent" quotes I have ever heard was that when you have a child, it's like your heart walking outside of your body.  For some of those parents, their hearts were gone.  Taken away from them in a split second.  I cannot imagine being the one to receive the news that Kason or Kutter was one of the victims.  They were all I thought about all day Friday.  I wasn't supposed to see them before they left to go to their dad's for the weekend.  They were supposed to be gone before I got back from shopping.  As I was headed back home, looking at the clock, I had an overwhelming urge to go to my mom's and hopefully get to see them and love on them before their dad showed up.  I was afraid I wouldn't make it, but somehow, I did.  When I got there, they were confused as to why I was there when I told them I wouldn't be, but I saw the smiles on their faces as I literally almost tackled them onto the couch hugging them and kissing them and telling them how much I loved them.  I got a bunch of, "I know mama!  Mom, I know!  I love you too!  Eww you're kissing me in front of my friends!" but I didn't care.  All I could think about were those parents who will never get the chance to hug and kiss their babies again.  The ones who only have memories left, and were robbed of the chance to make new memories for years to come.  I knew the boys thought I had gone crazy, but I also knew that if for some horrible horrible reason that ended up being the last time I saw them, I had the peace that they had felt my love, and I cherished their love all weekend until I got them back.  I know that as time goes on, and this incident in Connecticut fades to the back of our minds and disappears out of the news, many will go back to their old habits and routines.  I know my kids are going to drive me crazy and get into trouble.  But I am going to do my best to hold my boys a little tighter each day, hug them a little a longer, kiss them a little more, and say I love you as much as possible.  When I picked the boys up yesterday afternoon, they started talking about what they had apparently heard or seen on the news.  I hadn't planned on talking to them about it just yet, but it seems the media and their dad beat me to it.  They talked about what they would do if someone came into their classroom.  They told me how they thought our school was safe, but now they don't know.  And then they started talking about the children who died.  I almost had to pull over because of the tears.  They were so sad that those children will not be here for Christmas.  Sad that their families will miss them so much.  And they hope that Santa Claus will make a stop in Heaven (since he will be in the sky close to Heaven) and give the boys and girls all of the gifts they wanted because they deserve to celebrate Christmas too.  Sometimes those kids just amaze me.



As a teacher, I go to work each day and expect to be safe.  Not because my school has maximum security, it does not.  But because I guess I am naive and don't think about the fact that people are crazy and heartless and could at any moment bust through the doors of my school and classroom, and take what is not theirs.  I became a teacher because I love children, I have always worked well with children, and I believe that every child deserves to receive an education.  I also believe that every child deserves to have a teacher that not only teaches them what the state says they need to learn, but also a teacher who is encouraging, shares kind words, hugs them, and loves them like they are her (or his) own.  I know this is true of how I feel for my students.  I am with my students almost eight hours a day, five days a week.  For most, they are with me more than they are with their own parents.  I am with these children more each day than I am with my own.  Once they step into my classroom, they become mine.  I come to work each day for THEM.  I spend the money I earn on THEM so that they can have the best possible experience in my class.  When I leave work each day, I am still thinking of THEM.  When they are in my care, they are my responsibility.  Their parents send them to school each day to be with ME, because they trust me and expect that I will take care of their child and keep them safe.  When I hear about all of the heroic things that the teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary did, I cannot help but feel a sense of pride.  Pride in knowing that other teachers feel the same way I do, and pride in knowing that those teachers did everything in their power, including having their own lives taken, so that their students would be safe.  Teachers shielding students with their bodies, that is a selfless act.  Teachers locking their classes in bathrooms and closets and managing to keep their students calm and quiet as they no doubt had panic and fear running through their minds and bodies, that is courageous.  I'd like to think that if I found myself in a similar situation that I would be able to act calmly in the midst of chaos.  It frightens me to think about something like that happening at my school.  It makes me sick to my stomach that I even have to think about the possibility of that happening, because clearly that is not a fear that I, or anyone else, should have.  From here on out I will prepare myself the best way I know how for a situation like that, and just hope and pray that I will never have to find out.

I'm trying to find peace with all of this, just as I'm sure you all are too.  I hope we can find it.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Jump on the bandwagon

So if you aren't a cool kid and you haven't joined Instagram, you should.  It's like a baby version of Facebook...I guess.  And just when I "mastered" Instagram, I found out about "Keek".  Keek is like the video version of Instagram.  You post 30 second or less videos of...well...I guess whatever you want!  I haven't quite figured out if there is supposed to be a "purpose" behind the videos or if they are just random.  I'm gonna go with random.  Especially since that's what mine have been.  Total nonsense.  Doesn't that sound fantastic?  You know you're gonna go google it.  It's free, just do it already!  And it's fun to say.  Keek.  Keek.  Kegel.  Yeah I always want to say Kegel instead of Keek.  But don't knock the kegel!  That's a whole other awkward post...(My username for IG and Keek are: katsweb09.)

Anywho, through IG and this amazing lady Jennifer, I have started the #merryplanksmas challenge.  Everyday you have to do a plank (and no not the kind where you lay on some random object, this one actually has physical benefits) for as long as you can.  The obvious goal is to get better and better as time goes on and see how long you can plank.  It may sound silly, but it's a good motivater and it's fun to try and beat your time each day.  And I'm gonna have (the beginnings of) a tight ass core and abs and great arms when it's all said and done!  If you decide to join in, just use the hashtag #merryplanksmas on IG or you can do the same on Facebook and hopefully I'll see it!

This was my time the very first time I did it.

This was my time just a couple of days later.
And that is me in the corner because I couldn't hold my head up.

Here are a couple of pictures of "planks".  You can do them in push-up form, or on your elbows.  I do the elbow version.  It is harder, but it's more comfortable for my gimp shoulder.  I am not a workout or medical expert (shocker I know), so please advise someone other than myself if you have more questions or concerns.

Push-up Plank


Elbow Plank
 
The other challenge I found through IG was the squats challenge.  I don't remember who started it, but here's the jist of it.  Everyday you do a certain number of squats, and each day the number goes up.  Easy enough, right?  Eff no!  Squats suck.  A lot.  Like I'd rather get kicked in the face with a golf shoe kinda sucks.  But, each day I dread them, and then do them.  Again, may sound like a silly challenge, but you won't think so when I've got the best booty this side of the Brazos! 



It's not too late to start!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Do you see what I see?

I started last week strong on the blog front...and ended poorly.  But I'm back bitches, so let's see if I can do better this week!  First, let's recap my weekend shall we.  Friday night the boys wanted to ride around and look at Christmas lights in our little town.  It took all of 10 minutes to see them all.  Yeah our town is that small.  And we live amongst a bunch of grinches.  Everytime we would drive past a house that wasn't lit up the boys would say, "Those people just don't have the Christmas spirit!"  I know that's not *totally* true because I know what a pain in the A-hole it is to purchase lights and put them up.  But still.  Give us something! 

Saturday was our family Christmas with my mom's side of the family.  They are cray cray and I always look forward to seeing them.  I had my friend Crown Royal to keep me company and we had a lovely time.  Oh and I also had fun visiting with the fam.  :)

"50 dollars and a flask of crown..."


Me and my favorite only sister!


I really need to grow.

Man of great patience to complete this puzzle with those three goonies!


I dislike this picture but if you look at the back right, that's my Meemaw...with her violet hair.  And my cousin in cosmetology school had bright purple in hers.  For once I was the one with a "normal" hair color.  That Meemaw called "Wine".  I'm totally ok with that!

After the family party was over, we went out to the "Country".  Now when I say that, I am referring to Christopher's family's land that is indeed in the country.  So from now on when I refer to the country, I am actually referring to a place, not just randomly calling everything the country.  The boys love going out there and doing "man stuff" with Christopher and I love when they let me join them!  We rode around on the golf cart and did hillbilly things.  It was quite fun and got the chillrens good and tired.

Boys checking a feeder (aka setting it off so the corn will hit them).


Somebody got brave and put Mama behind the wheel!  Nooooot smart!

Ok so as not to bore you simply with my weekend recap, I want to talk about this weight loss crap.  As of last week, I am down 13 pounds.  Yay for that!  Unfortunately, while I should be motivated by this, I am not.  I was feeling a difference in my clothes, and I love that.  But, I don't "see" the difference in my pictures and that bugs me.  I kept taking pictures this weekend and thinking hmm...maybe if my hair was different my face wouldn't look so fat.  Or maybe it's the way I'm sitting/standing that is making me look so large and in charge.  Well folks, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that it's not my hairstyle.  It's not how I'm posing.  It's not the clothes I'm wearing.  It's just me.  I have come a tiny way with the weight loss, but I still have so far to go.  I guess when I saw the number on the scale going down, I felt like I was so close to my goal.  And I'm not.  And that's ok.  I have no deadline.  There is no ticking bomb somewhere that is going to go off anytime soon.  I know this is a journey that is going to take a while.  And even once I do reach my goal (because I WILL), it is not over.  I will have to work hard to maintain my weight loss and healthy lifestyle (I will not make the mistake I made last time and revert back to old habits just because I think I'm "done").  So yeah.  That's where I'm at there.  I am doing some fun "challenges" via my new pals on Instagram and the blogging world.  I will try and post about those tomorrow or Wednesday.  They are keeping me accountable in at least two areas, so hopefully this week I will rock the shit out of the gym and get back some much needed motivation!

Oh and I have decided that once I reach at least 20 followers, then I will take the plunge and spend some dolla dolla bills to have my blog revamped!  So...get to following people!

Over and out.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

So What Wednesday

I've been seeing this "So What Wednesday" on some other fabulous ladies' blogs (Mrs. K Scott and Lindsey), so I figured I'd try it out!  Seems like a good way to compile a bunch of random thoughts and clear my mind for newer, more senseless, redonk thoughts!  I have no idea where this is going, so prepare yourself to be bored...or annoyed...or amused...or none of the above.

SO WHAT...

*If I bailed mid-workout on Monday to go to the country with Christopher and ride around in the golf cart looking at cows and drinking (ah) beer.

*If last night when we went to run some errands and go eat it was a total disaster.

*If part of said total disaster was that we tried a new mexican restaurant and EVERYTHING we ordered came out wrong.  And I got very uncomfortable because I hate confrontation.

*If I let my kids have cereal for dinner after I went out to eat (not my fault my mama didn't feed them).  Not the first time, won't be the last.

*If I had to write a pink slip TWO DAYS IN A ROW for one of my cutest students and now he can't go on our field trip tomorrow. 

*If I felt so guilty for (finally) being tough on above cutie that I ALMOST changed my mind about letting him go.  I said ALMOST. 

*If the other night I let Christopher trick the boys into the ol' "How do you spell 'i cup' " and we laughed endlessly at them because a) it took them FOR-EV-ERRRRRRR to sound it out, spell it, and then to figure it out (they are only in kindergarten) and b) because after they figured it out they did that awesome deep belly laugh that every mama loves to hear her children do! 

*If the new pair of jeans I bought in October as I began to size DOWN, are now too baggy and also have a rip in the crotchal region apparently because I wear them too damn often.

*If I really really like the show "Ben & Kate" after I talked shiznit about it after the first couple episodes.  I gave it a chance and it grew on me!

*If I secretly wish to be Zooey Deschanel as Jess on "New Girl".  She called her period the "Red Devil in her belly" one time.  She's awesome and I love her.

*If I'm PMSing and I can't decide if I want to scream at someone or just curl up and cry.  And I really want some effing chocoate.

*And so the eff what if above emotional mumbo jumbo NEVER used to happen to me, making me feel like I'm getting old.  Bleh.

So there is my pointless "So What" post!  I'm sure you aren't amused, but I do feel a little better...

Anyone else having any "So What" feelings? 



Didn't believe me about the cows, golf cart and beer?  Bam.


ICUP!  Gets them everytime (now that they get it).



Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Red Red Wine...

Goes to my head...makes me forget...have fun singing that all day long!  You're welcome.

It's Monday again no it's not it's Tuesday but I forgot to post this yesterday.  How the hell did that happen so quickly?  I swear I was just packing up my shit, locking my classroom sure hope all the kids were out, leaving this place and gearing up for a super fun kid-free weekend!  It was a great weekend, just went by way too fast.  That could be partially blamed on the fact that I spent 3/4 of Saturday in bed being lazy.  That NEVER happens, so I'm ok with admitting that.  I will also admit that I drank a whopping amount of dark red liquid Friday night and that may or may not have had something to do with why I was tired and felt like doing nothing.  And said red stuff may or may not have been responsible for this... (Spoiler alert: if you follow me on instagram @katsweb09 you have already seen these!  If you don't follow me, well shame on you.  Now go do it!)


Yeah Santa ended up in the living room.  I think he was a nice addition.
Sadly he was put in his proper place on Sunday.  Womp womp.


When I finally did decide to get out of bed, Christopher and I went to the lake for a little bit and then headed to town (I know saying that makes me sound so country--but I call any place that is not Somerville "town") to get Christmas lights.  Umm holy cockballs people.  Christmas lights are not cheap.  Our house is pretty big, but due to my lack of "measuring sense" and reality in general, I didn't think it would take "that" many lights or that they would cost "that" much.  About $350 later I concluded "that" was all a crock o' shit and I was ready to puke. I have a hard time spending a lot of money (yes I'm a woman and I just said that).  Even though Christopher was trying his best to convince me it was a good "investment", I still didn't like it and was still trying to convince him to put everything back as the cashier was checking us out. 

Such a beautiful night at the lake.


Sunday we Christopher started putting the expensive little bulbs out.  I should mention that it was close to 90 degrees, sun out in full force.  In December.  Welcome to Texas.  If it had been July, it would have been considered a gorgeous day.  But it's not July.  And it's hard to get into the Christmas spirit when you're sweating balls or have sweaty balls.  Luckily I've got the most amazing man and he never once complained about being up on the roof or about the hard work he put into making our home look so pretty.  He knows about my weird efl-like love for Christmas and lights, he knew it would make me happy, and he couldn't have been more right.  We spent most of Sunday evening after I picked the boys up from their Dad outside in the street being mesmerized by the lights.  I'm pretty sure my love for all things Christmas has rubbed off on Christopher as he was just as in awe as the kids and I were! 

I admit the lights look spectacular, and although I still cringe at how much they cost, I do believe it was worth it.  I also plan to leave those lights up for a long long time.  Maybe even year round.  Don't be surprised if you drive by our house next summer and they are still up.  You've been warned.

Hard at work...with a Heineken!  Btw yes he's wearing an Alabama hat.  And is a Longhorn fan.  And is in love with an Aggie.  Ironic, no?   I think it's just to spite me.  Oh wait, my team is the ONLY team that beat Alabama this year!  He does look good in it though ;)


 Dear Texas, it is December.  NOT July.  Calm the eff down with the heat and send us some Christmas weather damnit!  Please and Thank You.


We finally got Santa in his place, and this is what I find Goober #1 doing.  Yup, he's mine.



And Goober #2 was all up in there like I didn't spend an hour wrapping those lights!  Just a little FYI info for yall, that is an old ass windmill that Christopher found in the country at his family's land.  He saw it and said, "We could wrap lights around that and make it a tree for Christmas!!"  I was so proud :)


This is what it looks like in the dark.  Love. It.


Our home!

Happy Merry Christmas Holidays!



Monday, December 3, 2012

Extreme Blog Makeover

I'm getting bored and want a new blog design.  One that I don't have to copy and paste and check a thousand times to see if it's working and displaying my blogger awesomeness the way I want.  I have been quietly following stalking Holly's blog for a while, and absolutely love her and her super cute little family!  Her hubby has recently joined the blogging world here and also does blog designs.  After having done some research, ok I googled a few things and didn't like what I found, it seems that HubbyJack's blog design price(s) are very reasonable.  Unfortunately I am very new to this blogging thing.  Like new as in I still have the umbilical cord attached.  I am not tech savvy in any way what-so-ever.  Me so mart I can type up these fancy posts and get them onto the blog.  I can even occasionally get my pictures on here the way I want.  But...that's about it.  So, the following questions are for all of you blog experts out there!  Making my blog look more "official" rather than something K&K put together is something I really really want...but I want to make sure I have all of the right information before I take that step (oh and Christopher is an IT man and didn't think I had enough information when I was telling him how I wanted to throw money at Holly's hubby) so help a sista out!  I'm also not *limiting* myself to Hubby Jack's blog designs, but he seems the most reasonable so far and I have seen lots of his work and love it all!

1. Once the new blog makeover is done, will I still be able to post the same way that I currently do?
2. If I want to "add a button" or change a "tab" (just kidding, kinda, I can't even do that now) will I have to have the blog designer do that for me?
3. If I want to change out my hot "profile pic" is that something I can do myself?
4. Basically I want to know if once I hand over the reins to  this bad boy to someone else, am I going to have to constantly rely on him/her to make changes, or will I still have control over the "simple day to day" stuff? 
5. If you have had your blog redone by anyone besides yourself, please let me know how it has worked out for you.  Was the price right?  Did it turn out how you expected (or exceed expectations)?
6. I am clearly just getting started, so my number of followers is pretty much non-existent and I'm not even thinking about sponsors at this point...but if my numbers do grow, and I do one day in the next ten years have anything to do with sponsors...will that change the layout of my blog and will I need the assistance of an expert to set that all up?  I see all of yall's fancy sponsors and highlights in your sidebars but have no idea if you do that yourself!  Please don't judge me.  Help me :)
7. Does anyone else remember all of the questions I was going to ask?  No?  No one?  Damn.
8. If you have any tips/advice/hints/etc, please please please share them with me!  Unless you're going to tell me I should give up on my dream of having a successful blog, then I will just cyber punch you and ignore what you say! 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Oh Snap Recap

Oh snap! I got caught up in the craziness that was Thanksgiving and completely neglected the blog.  Here's a recap of last week:

Tuesday: We had our annual "Pre-K Feast"!  We usually have the feast at the school, in our classrooms.  This year though, both Pre-K classes are larger than before and we have seen tremendous parent/family involvement, so we decided to have the feast at the "Yegua Center" just down the road.  My teaching partner Kaylee and I got everything set up, I cooked two turkeys (yes that's right, ME), and we had assigned a side dish/dessert/etc to each of our students to bring.  I am always nervous about these things because you never know if people are going to bail on you and not bring something or bring something crazy (like being assigned to bring corn and sending the kid with an actual can of corn, no dish, no utsensil, just a can...).  Luckily though (almost) everyone brought what they were supposed to and everything turned out fantastic!  We had around 65+ family members show up, and that doesn't include the 32 students we have, ourselves, or our aide.  We were overwhelmed by the turnout and are so thankful for our students and their families!

Poor turkeys.

Christopher was basting all night long.

Look at all those people!

That's what was left of my scrumptious birds!

The kids were passed out after all of the fun!


Thursday: We had Thanksgiving at Christopher's Granny's house and it was de-waitforit-licious!  I love her mashed potatoes and gravy.  Like seriously I would drink the gravy straight from the container if it were socially acceptable.  And shovel in some potatoes between gulps.  I didn't do that though, sorry to disappoint!  I was actually very good!  After lunch we went back home and after a few rounds of fighting and tears between the kids, Christopher came up with a bracket for us to have a "Wii Turkey Bowl".  Guess who the champion was....

Winner winner chicken dinner!

That's right, this girl!  I have no shame in beating a bunch of little kids and a dude who's a foot taller than me (although that has nothing to do with Wii Bowling...)!

I also decided randomly that I was going to partake in a little Black Friday shopping (it was Thursday but idk wtf that is called...).  The boys want/need new bigger bikes and they had some at Wally World for $39.  I convinced Christopher's sister to join me and we made our way to WW at 7:30 p.m.  It was shockingly calm when we arrived.  I didn't even know what to do.  I was a little nervous that it was so quiet, thinking it was like the calm before the storm.  I was somewhat right.  We found the bikes I wanted, camped out next to them, made friends with the ladies around us who also wanted bikes, and when the time came, worked as a team passing bikes to our new "friends".  It worked out quite nicely.  I had in my basket what I was there for by 8:01 p.m.  Of course we got stuck in the current of crazies trying to get to a few other things, but overall it wasn't a bad experience.  I'll probably never do it again, at least not at any of the midnight or 5 a.m. sales.  But I'm glad I got the bikes and a few other goodies!  And glad Jennifer and I didn't have to use that taser gun we took with us just kidding kinda

Well I almost did because some crazy little old man decided he was done shopping and wanted to turn himself and his cart around, in the middle of an aisle full of people wanting towels, and dude just backed all up into my junk, stepped on my toes, and rammed people til he got where he wanted.  "I will hit an old man in public!!"  And we can't forget that when Jennifer and I were in the car about to leave, I looked back and saw that a young girl (that we had just talked about for smoking and blowing smoke right into her baby carrier) had turned around while talking on her cellphone and didn't notice that her basket (along with her baby) was rolling down the parking lot!  Jennifer was about to get out and yell at her but she thankfully turned back and noticed what was going down.  That is why people should not be allowed to have children unless they pass multiples tests.  I don't have a lot of room to judge folks on their behavior, but I really felt like some of those people needed to go home and reevaluate their lives after the way they acted while shopping.  Just sayin'.  I'll reevaluate mine too just to be nice.

Friday: Did some more shopping.  Went to dinner with my love (where he convinced our waiter to look away as I snatched the cute drink mixer our margaritas had been in).  And went home to drink some Pumpkin Beer (so very good) and watch, well, "The Watch".  It was pretty dumb, but there was a hilarious part in there that still makes me laugh just thinking about it.  If youtube wasn't blocked at work I'd share the video!  Maybe later when I get home... "Look at him, and understand me!"

You must try.  Don't be skeered.
Saturday: Lazy. All. Day. Long.  I woke up, watched two Hallmark movies, and then began the football watching.  My Aggies of course did their thang and BTHO Mizzou.  I made some pretty awesome mushrooms.  Annnnd....that was about it.  I will post my mushroom recipe sometime this week!  Along with my Pumpkin Pie Mini Cheesecake recipe!


 
I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving as well!  Cheers to an upcoming crazy December and lots of Christmas fun!




Monday, November 19, 2012

Just. Keep. Going.

I did it!  I survived our insane weekend of two family Thanksgivings, a birthday party, and that's right, the 5K!!  I'm not gonna lie, I had my doubts.  Saturday morning was crazy busy and by the time we arrived at my Dad's, I was ready for a nap.  Then we ate (moderately) and watched some Aggie football, still tired.  Dropped the boys off at the birthday party, yawning nonstop.  Waiting around for the race to start, ready to lay down in th parking lot and snooze.  I was feeling nervous the first part of the day thinking about the race.  But the thing about the 5K being so late was that by the time it started, any nervousness I had had disappeared and turned into 'let's just do this thing already!!'!  So when 5:40 rolled around I was ready to go.  I started strong, and ended strong.  I did some walking, but I ran more than I walked, and I was really surprised at myself.  As I said before, I didn't set a "goal time" to finish by.  I didn't want to put that kind of pressure on myself this first go round.  And...I finished in 37 minutes!  That might sound crazy long to some of you, but I am pretty proud of that tme.  And that includes some of the lingering that I did once I got into Santa's Wonderland and became mesmerized by the lights.  :)

Getting closer to Santa's Wonderland; almost done with mile 2!

The entrance to the last 1.2 miles of the race!

When I did the Armadillo Dash in March of 2011, my time was around 33 minutes.  And that was at a point when I had been training HARD for two months and weighed about 135 lbs.  So, considering my weight now, considering that I hadn't been training as hard as I should have been, I think that 37 was a damn good time.  There were a couple of times when the cold got to me and my chest was hurting.  A couple of times when my legs wanted to give out.  Many times when I was about to stop and kick a little kid who kept getting in front of me and then stopping to tie her shoe.  But I kept telling myself: Just. Keep. Going.  It would have been really easy to just walk the rest of the way, or simply give up.  But I had to Just. Keep. Going.  It would have been really easy to stop, grab some cookies and hot chocolate, and sit on Santa's lap instead of finishing the race.  But that's not me (although that probably would have made for a more interesting story...) and I had to Just. Keep. Going.  I wasn't about to let myself down, or let any of you guys down!  Christopher was there and I certainly didn't want to let him down.  Nor did I want to disappoint these two awesome ladies who read the blog and who also did the race!  Crossing that finish line was one of the best feelings I've had in a long time.  I was overwhelmed, proud, encouraged, and tired as hell.


After it was over I was all jacked up and ready to sign up for another 5K!  But then I came back to reality and made myself calm the eff down.  I believe the Armadillo Dash will be in March again in 2013, so that will probably be my next 5K.  I feel good about the progress I am making, and am looking forward to even greater results in the near future! 

I don't care that it's not even Thanksgiving yet...I love Christmas lights!


And yes I am sporting my race t-shirt today!

Thanks to all of you who have been following me on my journey to a better and healthier me.  I appreciate the support and encouragement you all give me more than you will ever know!  Keep holding me accountable ladies (and possibly gentlemen)! 

P.S. Look at this super fun Christmas cup that my Secret Pal gave me!  It's got a snowglobe inside of it yall, a freakin' snowglobe!!  Well done Secret Pal, well done!


Merry Holidays to you!