On My Bookshelf

While I enjoy this "leisure" time of not being in school and not yet having a full-time job, I have found that I am really enjoying two things: having time for Netflix and reading.
My current obsession on Netflix is Hart of Dixie.  I love how cute and sometimes corny this show is.  Not to mention I want to move to Alabama and live in Lemon's closet.  Her and AB have the cutest, vintage style.  Soon I will need a new show because I'm blazing through this one.  Any suggestions?
Anyway, as much as I love having more time for reading, I find myself getting distracted or, most of the time, sleepy when I read at home.  If I'm in the car or on the beach I could read for hours on end.  It's something about sitting at home and reading that makes me stop and think about all of the other things I could/should be doing, like laundry, running, cleaning my room, etc.  I don't think it's that my books lack engaging content, but rather that I am easily distracted.  The only solution to this problem that I have come up with is to move to the beach :)
Where is your favorite place to read?  Do you have any reading tips that will keep me focused and engaged in my book while reading at home?
I'm about to finish up The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks.  I really wanted to read this before the movie comes out in April.

Here are some other books that I would like to read and/or finish, pulled from my Goodreads account:

What book did you finish recently that you would recommend me adding to my bookshelf?

Happy St. Patty's Day! + Race Recap

Happy St. Patrick's Day to my fellow Irishmen + everyone who adopts being Irish today.  I am technically 1/2 Irish, 1/4 Italian and 1/4 English, though I definitely look more Italian (dark hair/eyes/tan easily) than my Irish looking brothers (fair skin, one has a red beard, both blondies as babies.)  Today I will be celebrating St. Patty's Day at school with a bunch of green kiddos!  I'm going to bring some Lucky Charms for a special snack :) Here's my green-inspired outfit of the day:

I'm wearing this Lilly Pulitzer tunic that has a hint of green in it.  I'm not really much of a green person -- like I have very little green in my closet -- but I do have plenty of pink + green or blue + green!

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A couple weekends ago I went up to Washington D.C. for my second race of 2015.  It was the Pacer's St. Pat's 5K, 10K and Double.  I chose to run the double because I am always up for a challenge!  Of course when race day came I thought that I was CRAZY, but nevertheless I laced up my shoes and headed to the start...in the snow/sleet/freezing rain.

Freezing! Pacers is awesome and they had warm coffee for runners (although I didn't have any) and were very considerate about how cold it was.  They lightened up the mood with funny jokes and good music.  I give two thumbs up to whoever the MC was!

I also give two thumbs up to my amazing boyfriend who was there to support me even in the terrible weather!

Running in D.C. is amazing and I feel so lucky to live so close.  If you are thinking or dreaming of running in our nation's capital, I highly recommend make it a reality!  Even in the winter weather I had so much fun.

Plus you get to run with famous people, like Woodrow Wilson...

The way my race worked was the 5K started at 8:15 and the 10K followed at 9:00.  So, essentially, you had 45 minutes to run the 5K and depending on when you finished determined how long of a break you had.  I ran the 5K as a "warm up" and finished in around 31 minutes.  I had a little under 15 minutes to grab some water and stretch before the 10K started.

I ran the 10K in 1 hour and they posted the results as "double" results, so my final time was around 1:32, give or take.  I had not done much training up to this point since we have been bombarded with snow and I have been stuck on the treadmill.  I think my longest training run, if you can really call it that, was about 5 miles on the treadmill. I wasn't proud of that and honestly when race day came I considered dropping to just running one of the races, but the energy of the day got to me and I just went for it!  I'm so glad that I did.

I had a great St. Patty's day outfit on and then the weather hit and I stayed in my Patagonia the whole time! I never do that, but this time it was different.  Thanks to my trusty spectator for the pictures :)

A week or so later I received my medal in the mail.  Here it is along with the shirt that we got in our packets:

I have to give kudos to Pacer's Running for putting on a fantastic race in such dreary conditions! They did a wonderful job of keeping people informed of the race status, keeping everyone safe and happy and EVERYONE who was working the race (especially the marshalls out on the course) were cheerful and encouraging.  That really makes a difference to us runners! Thank you!!
My next unofficial race on the horizon is a local race called the Huckleberry 15K.  It's on the local running/walking/biking trail and features part of the new extension.  I'm excited to be a part of a brand new race!

Hope y'all have a happy, green-filled St. Patty's Day! Cheers!

Busy March + Book Fair Picks

Wow, I feel like March has come and moved along so quickly! We are already halfway through, which seems crazy to me.
So far March has been filled with weekends at home - love the relaxation - and lots of working/subbing.  My current schedule allows me to work everyday (at my beloved after-school care job) and substitute when/where I am needed.  Last week I substituted three days in a kindergarten room and just had so much fun!  I could definitely see myself teaching kindergarten one day.
When I'm not substituting I am usually catching up on my new Netflix obsession, Hart of Dixie, lounging with my furry friends or helping out my mama in the library.  This week is the book fair - aka the most anticipated week of the school year, besides spring break & the last week of school - so I am going in to help with check out and convincing children to not buy the fuzzy pencils and to buy a real book instead! ;)
There are some really cute books this year that I am going to snag up for my future classroom. Here are a few samples:

This is an adorable book about a shark and a minnow who are best friends!  This would be a great read aloud.

My mom actually already bought this one but I am definitely suggesting it to all teachers/mamas of little ones.  It is a sweet tale about planting a seed of kindness.  If you know Kadir Nelson, then you know you want your hands on this book.  If you don't know Kadir Nelson, I strongly suggest you look into his books.  Beautifully done work.

Another sweet story of a little girl, Maggi, and her dog, Milo, and their adventures together!  It reminds me of the bond I have with our dog and that dog's really are a woman's best friend ;) Cute book!

I will also be picking up some nonfiction pieces, such as:

I seriously LOVE the book fair and one of the most exciting parts about teaching is getting to set up my classroom library! I could not be more excited :)

Have a great week!

Sunday Verse

2015 | Goals

2014 has come to an end and the time has certainly flown by!
Overall 2014 was a great year: - Steven started his masters degree in January at George Mason and this was our first year of a shorter long distance! With him being only 4 hours away it was much easier to visit each other, and for that I am very thankful. - In February, Blacksburg received about 20 inches of snow which closed school (and work for me - we are typically open on "regular" snow days) for several days! Needless to say we were stuck at home. - After winning the championship, Steev team went to the NCAA Division 1 Regionals in Houston, TX, which I had the opportunity to travel to and watch.  That was a great trip! - Steven and I were able to attend multiple sporting events this year, including a Flyers game, a Nats/Phillies game, an Eagles vs. Redskins game, the Army-Navy football game and more. - I had a great, although short, summer spent at the summer camp I work at with amazing friends and Steven even joined our staff this year! - Steven and I spent a week in D.C. in August, although it ended with him sick with tonsillitis :( - I started my FINAL semester of graduate school in August and looked forward to starting my student teaching - I completed my student teaching experience in 1st grade at a wonderful school here in Blacksburg and had an absolute ball! I miss my kiddos every day! - I graduated with my Master of Arts in Teaching in December and will be walking in May - I got offered a semi-long-term sub job on December 1st in 5th grade and have been enjoying that opportunity thoroughly!
We spent New Year's Eve in Downtown Blacksburg at one of our favorite restaurants and got to catch up with several high school friends. A perk to living in a small town!

lara casey

I have spent some of the last several days reflecting on what my goals for 2015 would be.  I have a feeling that 2015 will be a big year for me in terms of my "professional life" as I am beginning to put my application in for several school districts.  I also have the opportunity to move away from home and start living more independently. This year will be full of change, I am sure!
Once I knew Lara Casey's book, Make It Happen, was released, I knew this would be a perfect jumping off point to get me started on my 2015 goals.  I was struck by her message of living life on purpose and that is exactly what I want for 2015.  There has been a lot holding me back -- wanting things to be perfect...the fear of letting people down...the need for control and wanting to always have a plan -- and with this book I am learning to work through those things, let go & start living life on purpose.  Because that is what I need.
I decided to write down three goals in each of the following categories: personal, professional, health, financial, other.  I am not so keen on the word "resolution" and prefer the word "goal" instead. Here they are.
Personal: - Have me time - whatever that may mean // manicure? nap in the sun? - Live life on purpose // Lara Casey is my hero - Journal more // Including blogging, spiritual journaling with SRT, goals/thoughts
Professional: - Create a clean, crisp resume // One that I will be proud to share at job fairs - Accept a teaching job where I know I will be happy // Whether that is near or far - Be the best first year teacher I can be // I know this means I won't have a picture-perfect classroom, or perfect students, or a perfect stress-free start...it means I will do my best and know that that is enough.
Health: - Cut back on unnatural sugar // 2015 is about a clean slate, and a clean plate. - Create new running goals // More on this later...but I have high hopes. - Reduce my screen time // I want to live in my own moments instead of constantly flipping through pictures of other people's moments.
Financial: - Read through Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover // A Christmas gift from my brother that I am very thankful for - Start a savings plan // Start small, stay consistent - Say more "no" and less "yes" // I don't really neeeeeeed that top.
Other: - Knock some things off my bucket list or my 101 in 1001 list // 362 days ahead of me...let's go! - Travel somewhere new // Even if only for a day! - Participate in a challenge // wardrobe challenge? money challenge? blog challenge? Who knows!

Hoping and praying this is a year of happiness, success and living a life on purpose.
I will update as I work on completing my goals!
Happy New Year!