Monday, Monday (La la la la la)

It sure doesn't feel like a Monday, tomorrow will feel like a Monday, but that only means that Friday will feel like a Thursday, but it will be a Friday.

That is what I like to call a pleasant surprise.

Today was a very lazy day here are some highlights:

Got up and decided to start a run streak.  Roni over at Roni's Weigh (a blog that I ABSOLUTELY love because of her strength and attitude on health and fitness) started a 2014 run streak.  She runs at least one mile everyday.  Did I mention she lives in a very cold place?  She runs when it is in the negative degrees.  Did I mention I live in CA?  It has been in the low 80's for the past couple of weeks. 

Yeah, I felt like a wimp.  So I decided to start a streak too, only mine is 19 days late.  So this morning I ran a mile and did a TABATA workout.  It felt so good!! 

Last night I put an oatmeal recipe in the crockpot and it was ready this morning.  I really liked it.  I like my oatmeal sweeter (of course) but it was very good.

It was Pumpkin Spice Latte Oatmeal It is on this website a few recipes down.

I took a nice long shower (not something I get to do often) and worked on the math portion of my CBEST test.  (I am trying to get California certified to teach in public school and I have to pass this test)  which includes some math.

yeah. right.

We ran to Target and I cooked a great Cooking Light dinner. 

Chicken, Potato, and Leek Pie

Bella and I danced around Rich and Sarah while we did dishes and put lunches together.

Some of the songs on the playlist were:

Best Song Ever by  One Direction



Wild Wild West by Will Smith



Evolution of Beyoncé by Pentatonix


and of course Love on Top by Beyoncé



I would dare you to watch any of those videos and not want to dance, but most of the videos I embed never make it to the final post.

So I dare you to search our those videos on youtube, watch them, and not want to dance.

But more important each time you think tomorrow is Monday remember how good it will feel on Friday.

More Later

- A Ro

Project 365 Week 3

Project 365 on the go today. Here is a peek at my week. And as promised more human photos!!

Sunday January 12


Andrew's last night called for a family game of uno. This picture took about 5 takes. Crazy family.

Monday January 13


Bella's selfie right before finals began.

Tuesday January 14


I subscribe to ipsy. It is a company that sends you a pack of beauty products for $10 a month. It is always fun to get a treat once a month. This month was mostly cleanser products.

Wednesday January 15


Came home and danced. This is my fitbit readout.

Thursday January 16


Bella and I went to lunch. She went back to get a soda and got the senior discount. Boy it seems only yesterday she was a teenager.

Friday January 17


Out to eat with my guy. Love him.

Saturday January 18


Bella went to the LA Art Show. Right up her alley!!

What was your week like???

More later

-A Ro
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dancing Queen

A little backstory...I have a Fitbit One that I ABSOLUTELY love. I am an information junkie and love getting a little extra nudge to move a little more. Now this moving a little more isn't necessarily running more or working out more the Fitbit nudges you to take the stairs more, or park your car a little further out in the parking lot...

...or dance.

Confession time...I have always wanted to learn how to hip hop dance. I took some classes when I was in college, but let's be honest it was Iowa not the hip hop capital of the world.

I now often find myself watching Beyonce in awe of the way she can move and want to dance like that!!

Ok you can pick up your jaw off of the floor now.

I have a new obsession with her song Love on Top. She can really sing!! Bella and I looked up the video and I thought long and hard about my hip hop dancing skills and thought...I can learn that dance.




Well yesterday was the day. I was so sluggish when I came home I felt I needed to get my blood moving.

Then I felt that little fit bit and thought of my girl

Beyonce

So I found a tutorial video.

They are EVERYWHERE on YouTube. You can find a tutorial on every music video out there.

So I closed my blinds and learned the entire dance.  Every hip swirl, pop and lock.

well almost every one

And this was my fit bit jump after the 50 minute "workout" (which was more fun than work)

I actually burned about 250 calories just dancing.

OK People, dance as if no one is watching...it feels so good!!

More Later

- A Ro

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Hodgepodging Down the Slopes

It is once again the day of the Hodgepodge.  I am gonna answer and link up over at Joyce's so I think you should too!!

Here it goes:

1.  Are you a force to be reckoned with? In what way?
Gosh, I have learned over the years not to back down from conflict and sometimes am too much of the little dog behind the fence.  I hate injustice especially when it is in my own back yard.  I love fiercely and if you try to hurt the ones I love I'll jump the fence and go for the jugular.

So yes maybe??

2. What are two things you love about the wintertime? Or, if love feels like too strong a word, what are two things you 'like' about winter? 
I love the snow (as she says sitting in 82 degree weather in sunny CA).  OK I love the snow when I am in Iowa for two weeks.  I think that I would love the snow even if I was there permanently.  Not sure though.  I love scarves and sweaters...oh and we can't forget boots!!

3. Pomegranate, kumquat, persimmon, kiwi, and guava are all fruits said to have health benefits, particularly during the winter months. Do you have a favorite on the list? Are there any on the list you haven't tried? 
I like kiwi and pomegranate.  I am a big fruit fan but haven't tried the others.  Maybe I am big ordinary fruit fan

4. I passed a local church yesterday and noticed they had this on their outdoor sign- 'When all else fails, do the right thing.' Your thoughts?
I LOVE this quote.  I sure wish others would live this kind of life.  However, sometimes there are consequences bigger than us for doing the right thing and I sure respect people who don't feel that they CAN do the right thing.  BUT if everyone did it and stood together things would be very different.

5. Do you ski? According to one list I've seen, the top 5 ski destinations for 2014 are-St. Anton Austria, Whistler Canada, Cortina Italy, Tahoe USA, and Zermatt Switzerland.  Of the five listed, which would you most like to visit? We can make skiing optional if that helps the non-skiers with their answer. 
never skied, and really don't have any desire to try. But if I HAD to go to a ski destination I would have to pick Italy, 'cause...it's Italy.

6.  What's the last thing you looked for online? (Besides my blog!)
I have been getting really into Pinterest.  Lately I've been looking for healthy recipes and TABATA workouts.  Yep...it's the new year!!

7. What saying, slogan, quote, or motto have you seen lately that inspires you for the new year?
I am a big fan of quotes.  They are all over my classroom.  One that is on my wall near my desk right now is: "Only a fool trips on what is behind him" - Unknown.  I also am a big fan of "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission" - Eleanor Roosevelt.  I spout that one often to my students.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 
Knowing I am not really a force to be reckoned with on the ski slope I am going to do the right thing and eat kiwi, while searching Pinterest in Italy by the fire place, because only a fool trips on what is behind him unless I am skiing and then I would trip on everything in front of me, but  I am sure I would look good in my scarf and boots falling down that hill of lovely snow.

Wish I Could Think of a Clever Alliteration to Go With Tuesday

Not much going on around here really that blog worthy.  I already waxed woeful yesterday about Andrew leaving and it being finals week.  I will be happy when we can put the study guides and the sad face away this weekend.  I am, however, very good at helping her connect topics of information with funny things to help her remember it all.

For instance:  Amendment 10 has to do with rights of the states.  So I tell her that the University of Iowa is part of the Big 10 so 10 = Iowa (a state)

see...

Well I thought I might post some pictures that I love in hopes of distracting myself from thoughts of sitting down once again at the dinner table and discussing hot topics such as whether or not the civil war could have been avoided, how you say shirt and tie in Spanish, numbers and letters which I can only assume are math, and the characteristic of lead.

Here it goes:
Do you want to build a snowman?  Rich is an amazing snowman builder...who knew?
I miss these two so much.  I kinda like the beards.  Much better than the mullet look of years (many years) past.  My sister Kate was entertaining a sassy (but adorable) 4 year old so she missed our selfie.
If I had a nickel for every picture I had of him on a racing game...he just couldn't help himself.
Yep sassy (but adorable) 4 year old...I miss her and her mama too!!

More Later

- A Ro


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday, Monday (la laaaa la la la)

So yeah it is Monday once again and so much of what is happening in my world right now is causing me to fade into the "Mondays stink" funk.

This evening is our last night with Andrew before he heads back to college.  Tomorrow starts finals week for Bella and myself.  (Mostly Bella as she has to actually take the finals all I have to do is proctor a few).  Sarah got spacers this morning so in addition to her pesky headaches (which we are now trying food tigger elimination) she has to deal with a very sore mouth, it is really windy here today, and I didn't get to rehearse any kids today.

BUT

I am not going to succumb to the funk.  I just won't.  I am going to be thankful for all the things I have in my life.

I am thankful that I get to go home and spend the evening with the most wonderful man in the world, that the eggs benedict on the menu tonight will make all five of us happy (even the sore mouth girl), that Bella and I will be in close proximity most of the evening studying me for the pesky CBEST and her for Spanish and Social Studies (not to mention Rich offering to clean up after dinner so we can do just that), AND I am pretty sure that our coffee shop has Vanilla Cupcake flavored iced coffee still on the menu.

See...so much to be thankful for and that is just what I could think of!!

I was off the grid for most of my trip to Iowa.  Not much internet at all and what we did have was limited so I didn't have much of a chance to check out my favorite bloggers Christmas posts.  So I went back and relived my favorite time of the year with them.  It was nice to be reminded of how much I enjoyed spending time with my amazing family.  I really want to try to live in each moment  in this year.

each.one.

The good, the bad, and especially the ones that I normally deem as mundane.

So in the words of Pharell.

Here come bad news talking this and that
Yeah, give me all you got, don't hold back
Yeah, well I should probably warn you I'll be just fine
Yeah, no offense to you don't waste your time
Here's why, because I'm happy

Vanilla Cupcake, here I come!!

More Later

- A Ro

Project 365 - Week Two

Happy Sunday everyone!!

This weeks pictures seem to be like Oprah's My Favorite Things...except I am not a multi millionaire, they are not extravagant items, and I am not giving them away.

Other than that, just like it.

SUNDAY JANUARY 5th

I got this candle before Christmas knowing that it would make me happy after the holidays are done and I lit today.  It really smells good. (I think I'll go light it now)

MONDAY JANUARY 6th

I finishsed my blanket before Christmas and enjoyed it today.  Now I need a new knitting project.
TUESDAY JANUARY 7th Bella had her first soccer game.  Her dad captured her right before she kicked it in the goal!!!  (She is 15)
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 8th

Dr. Conkey's Candy and Coffee Shop
I know that I seem to be a Starbucks fan, but this is my happy place.  It is a local coffee and candy shop and they have the best flavored coffee either hot or cold.  It is a 1.5 mile walk from my house so once I week I take the walk which is a good 3 mile walk, but on the way home I have a tasty treat to enjoy!!  
THURSDAY JANUARY 9th
Today the Chinese Gymnasts came to do our assembly.  My friend Kristen took this picture and it really captures all that they did for us. I am not going to lie my heart stopped a few times during the show!!

FRIDAY JANUARY 10th

My student Amanda's family is from Iowa too.  Her dad went to the University of Iowa just like I did and we always have lots to talk about.  She recommended this book and this author.  This book is a memoir about growing up in Des Moines in the 50's.  It is laugh out loud hilarious.
SATURDAY JANUARY 11th

 OK so I stole this picture from the interweb but I DID wear this shirt today.  Spending a lot of time in Iowa City and with addresses like the following: 100 Iowa Ave University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa The shirt is totally appropriate.
I got it at a place called Raygun in downtown Des Moines.  I LOVE this store.  The website is here.  If you are from the midwest you need to go peruse their selections they really crack me up.
So there is my week.  Not many human pictures, I'll try better next week!!
More Later
- A Ro

















- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone