Happy Valentine's Day Love Bug!

I don't really know how the tradition started,

but somehow it did.

Keith and I take turns planning Valentine's Day each year,

usually trying to visit a new restaurant we have never eaten at before.

This year, it was my turn.

I actually got my idea LAST year on Valentine's Day when we ate at Palomino Restaurant & Bar .

On Fountain Square, there is a restaurant named Via Vite

and I have been wanting to try it for awhile now.

Our reservation was at 7:00, but when we arrived at 6:45 they immediately sat us by one of the windows in the picture above.  We had such a great view of Fountain Square.

We ordered drinks...

 and this appetizer:

Chef's Choice Bruschetta.

It was tasty, but I was more in love with the bread and vinegar/oil they gave out for free!

What can I say, I'm easy to please!

Via Vite is famous for their wood-fire pizza, 

so Keith and I each ordered one

(not realizing that they were big enough for us to share!).

Oh well, we had enough left over for dinner the next day.

When we got home, we ate these that we had prepared the night before.

My mom gave us a heart shaped cake pan and cupcake pan for Valentine's Day--so sweet!

The heart cookie was made by Lisa, and the heart cupcake was made by Keith and myself.

Can you see why Lisa is trying to open up her own business and Keith & I aren't?!

Anyhoo, both were DELICIOUS!

It was a fun date night and I am so lucky to call Keith my valentine!

Now the challenge is yours Keith...only 364 days left to plan!

Go!

Personal best: 12 miles!

Today, Nicole and I went to the gym around 10:30 for our 12 mile run.

We love to run outside, but with the temperature at 10:30 only at 13 degrees,

we figured we were better off running in the gym.

15 minutes before we went, we drank Gatorade Prime.

I have tried the Orange flavor, but it reminded me of Metamucil and couldn't down much of it.

I have recently found a love for the Berry and Fruit Punch flavors.

As we were heading up the stairs to our treadmills, we both looked at each other and said,

"I'm a little scared!"

We have never run 12 miles before and anticipated aches, pains, and whining.

I have to admit, this run wasn't so bad!

It's funny how some of the smaller runs were worse than this run!

After 5 miles, we decided to take our first energy gel.

I tried the Strawberry Banana and Nicole had Cherry.

After trying to swallow it, I thought,

"How do people do this?"

It definitely wasn't my cup of tea, but I needed the carbs and energy to continue for 7 more miles.

After our next 5 miles, we tried Gu Chomps.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these!

They were just like fruit snacks and tasted MUCH better than the gel.

The energy is also supposed to last 1.5- 2 hours, where the gel only lasts an hour.

I think I have found my new running companion!

We finished our 12 miles in 2 hours and 18 minutes.

Not the fastest time around, but our goal for the Pig is just to be able to finish it.

We are not really worrying about our time this time, but

maybe for our next race we will. ;)

Congrats on our best run yet!

Even more blessed...

As soon as I finished my "I am blessed" post,

I felt a pawing at my pants leg!

I looked down and there was my precious little Maddy, looking up at me, 

as if to say, "Hey mom! You forgot me!"

How could I have forgotten my baby?!!

So now she gets a post of her own!

I am definitely blessed to have this four-legged friend in my life.

I have had a couple of dogs in my life so far,

and each hold a very near and dear place in my heart,

but nothing compares to the love I have for Maddy May.

She is the first dog that I can truly say is "my" dog.

Our other dogs have always been great companions,

but I've always felt that they were my parents' dogs.

Maddy is by far "mine."

She is my childhood dream of a dog--

I always wanted a dog that followed me every where I went.

I also truly believe that she misses me when I am gone!

I always say, "I hope my children are like Maddy one day."

haha 

I know this sounds weird, 

however, Maddy is such a great sleeper.

She sleeps when we sleep.

If we sleep 8 hours, Maddy sleeps 8 hours.

If we sleep 12 hours, she sleeps 8 hours.

"A dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than it loves itself."

It was a miracle the way she came into our lives,

and unbelievable how she has changed them.

We love you Maddy May!

I am blessed.

I am blessed.

This past week, I had many moments where I reflected on aspects of my life that make me feel blessed.

I am blessed.

I am blessed to finally be feeling better.

I have to admit that it has been a rough 2 months since my sinus infection struck.

It may sound crazy, and I know it was just a sinus infection, but in a way it took over my life!

 I haven't honestly felt well since early December,

and was extremely grumpy, negative, and exhausted ALL.THE.TIME.

I was definitely not my usual, bubbly self.

Poor Keith!

Luckily, I am on my way back to my old self again! Yay!

I am blessed.

As I posted earlier, Sunday and Monday I was able to attend the National Reading Recovery Conference.

I feel blessed to have an occupation where I can make a difference in the lives of others.

It's definitely not an easy occupation by any means, but the trials and tribulations make me stronger.

It's also in these tough times that I realize who I really am.

It is also this week that I realized that the reason I am not getting a snow day this year is because this group of students NEEDS to be with me every single day.  They can't afford to miss a day.

Sometimes you just get groups like this, and I feel that this groups needs me more than any other group I have taught.  

I am blessed.

I am blessed to be healthy (or on my way there!haha).

I am blessed to have the ability to train for the Flying Pig Marathon.

There are people who would give anything to be able to have the chance to even run at all.

I am blessed.

I am blessed to have a sister.

I am even more blessed that she let me talk her into running the Flying Pig with me!

26.2 miles is a long distance, but we are also spending countless hours and miles training together.

We definitely have a stronger bond than before we started, and I can't imagine the excitement and tears that will happen after the race is over.  Running the race next to her is creating a unique bond that is different from any other relationship I have in my life. 

(Side note: 84 days until the big race!)

I wanted to share with you a few pictures of us grabbing food after we purchased a new pair of running shoes for her on Thursday:

I am blessed.

I am blessed to be an aunt to 3 nieces and 1 nephew on the way.

Being an aunt is one of my favorite things to be!

How did our family ever survive without these 3 little girls?

I am blessed.

I am blessed to be a godmother to this little boy.

This photo was taken by my boyfriend, Charlie (Ben's 5-year-old brother), around Christmas time. 

Absolutely love these little guys!

I am blessed.

I am blessed to be married to my best friend.

Who else would do this:

I am blessed.

I am blessed to be surrounded by a phenomenal group of friends.

Friday night, we all rallied together for Beerfest 2011 at the Duke Energy Center.

Here are some pics from our eventful night:

(We missed you Savannah!)

Photo bomb!

 

I am blessed.

I am blessed to have a loving, caring, and supportive family.

Keith and I are lucky that we have both come from parents who love us and would do anything for us.

They are inspirations for parenthood that we will strive to be one day.

Every Sunday is "Family Sunday."

Here are a few pics from past gatherings:

I am blessed.

Are you feeling blessed this week?

A Salad Bowl of Things

Happy Monday!

Today I am writing you as one exhausted litte lady!

In my last post, I told you about my trip to the doctor.

Thursday I was feeling great with the new meds.

THEN FRIDAY HIT!

Friday was the worst!

I wanted to run after school, but did not have any energy.

I came home, took a hot bath, put on my pjs, and laid on the couch the rest of the evening.

Sounds like a pretty good night if I didn't feel like my arm was going to fall off from the Tetanus shot and my head hadn't been pounding.

Saturday was much of the same.

I have come to find out, that I am not very good at this thing called "resting."

I always feel like I need to be doing something, and feel guilty for laying in bed.

However, I did not have energy to move!

I had to wake up on Sunday morning at 5:45 because 7 of my colleagues and I were chosen to attend the National Reading Recovery Conference in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday and Monday.

I attended this conference last year and felt very inspired coming home.

I was hopeful that this year would bring the same inspirations because I am in desperate need of it this year more than ever.

Here are some pictures of us before our first keynote speaker, Gay Su Pinnell, author and researcher of

Katie & Me

(with matching Argyle sweaters)

Christina & Katie

Emily & Jen

Our first day of learning was a success!

My favorite session of the day was taught by a group of K-5 teachers who were discussing with us strategies for making non-fiction reading more enjoyable for our students.

I was very excited about the new strategies I learned...

especially since this week's text is nonfiction! Woohoo!

The only downfall of this conference is that it is scheduled over Superbowl Weekend every year.

This is the second year in a row that I have had to miss out on fun Superbowl parties, but oh well,

there will be more!

The crew and I ate at Boston's pizza where we watched the game until halftime

(Loved Madonna by the way!).

We also celebrated this girl's birthday!

Happy birthday Em!

After dinner, Christina, Katie, and I then went and saw Man on a Ledge.

Such a good movie! Better than what I expected.

Monday brought a day of conflict.

We listened to the very inspiring Tony Stead, who authored many books including

but I left feeling torn.  In my district, we are mandated to use a Reading Street core program.

Throughout Tony's lesson (which was fun to listen to because he was from Australia!)

he emphasized the importance of creativity and showing the students how to love learning.

I do not feel that a boring, mandated reading program creates a love for learning.

I am currently try to find a way to blend both methods.

That was my weekend.

What did you do?