Thursday, September 29, 2011

Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!

As usual, I'm thrilled that tomorrow is Friday.  It's been a pretty crazy few weeks (and weekends for that matter) and it will continue to be this way, but it's sure making the time fly!

Our wedding is 9 months from today.  :)  It still feels like forever, but 9 months isn't all that long anymore.  I think.  At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Today I got paid for the first time since June.  Thank God for that.  Of course, after paying the credit card bill which was not exactly small, I don't have much left for the month of October, but this is how I've been living since February, so oh well.  Lots of expenses and things to save for right now.  I can't wait to be married and have things settle down a little in terms of money.  We're saving to buy furniture and go on a honeymoon and buy a house eventually, so at least after we get married the furniture and honeymoon expense will be gone.

However, I don't want to think about the honeymoon being over because that's just sad.  The nice thing about still having 9 months to go is that I can keep looking forward to all the good stuff we have going on.  :)

I still CANNOT WAIT to move though.  That will never change.  4 months-ish.  Not that I'm counting down to that too, or anything...

I should take advantage of not having to be doing something tonight and go to bed early.  That's the smart thing to do.

Half-marathon: 9 days.  My birthday: 14 days.  Vegas for the sister's 21st: 77 days.  Wedding: 273 days!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

iPhone Problem :(

I discovered this afternoon that when I make a call on my iPhone, I can't hear anything out of the receiver.  I can hear out of the speaker and out of the headphones, but not the receiver.  I googled the problem and tried some of the solutions that people recommended, but nothing worked.

This is annoying.  Fortunately I can still use it on speaker, but it's still another thing to go deal with.  Also fortunately though, I don't have to stay after school tomorrow for any meetings so I can easily go to the Apple store and hopefully get a new phone.  This one isn't even a year old yet, so I sure hope they replace it!

In other news, our save the dates were mailed today. :)

Saturday, September 24, 2011

9 miles

Today I ran 9 miles.  It didn't really feel any different from the 8.25 miles I ran the past 2 Saturdays.  I was a little tired, but that could be from a variety of things.  I definitely ate last night, so it's possible that I was a little sluggish because of that.  Either way though, I didn't stop unless I paused at a light, and I always jog a bit in place when that happens.

Speaking of food, here's what we had last night:
Whole wheat penne pasta with a homemade pumpkin sauce and hot Italian sausage.  Spinach salad with apple and red onion and a homemade dressing on the side.

Wine.  Part of it went into the sauce.
We also had chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream.  I wonder if that's what made me a bit sluggish... :)

I'm currently still working on my post run food:
PB & J, banana, strawberries.

Iced mocha.
In other news, discovered this morning that when my doctor wrote out my prescription for my birth control, he didn't put a 3 month supply on it and I'm now paying $80 for the one month's worth that is coming in the mail.  If I get a 3 month supply, it will cost $120.  I think I may switch to generic because that only costs $20 for a 2 month supply.  I can't do anything about the $80 cost so I'll try not to think about it right now, but on Monday I definitely need to have a little chat with my doctor about if generic is ok, and if so, have him phone in the new prescription and make sure it's a 3 month supply.  *sigh*  I'm already seeing dollar signs so this does NOT make me happy.

Tonight Mat and I are going to Kelly and Keith's engagement party.  I'm sooooo excited to celebrate with them and to see the Kappas I haven't seen in a long time.  And, I haven't been to a party like this (for someone else - we had our own party back in April but that's different) in forever, so I'm super super excited.  I'm so happy for them and can't wait for their wedding next October.  :)

Maybe I'll get some Save the Dates addressed today.  Or something.  :)


Friday, September 23, 2011

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Oatmeal

Oatmeal.  Add peanut butter.  Add chocolate chips.  Stir.  Consume.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Country Music

My iPod Shuffle was set to the country mix during my 5-mile run this morning.

While driving to work, I flip-flopped between the two main country stations: 95.1 and 105.1.  As I was driving and shamelessly not singing along with some of my favorite songs, I realized that country music makes me happy.

It really does.  I've been into country for about 3.5 years, ever since Mat and I first started dating actually.  That may very well be part of why I love it so much - whenever I hear a good country song my mind probably goes back to that time when the relationship was new and I just KNEW that I was going to marry that guy one day.

But anyway, country music makes me happy.  I wasn't in the greatest of moods this morning, mainly just because it was Monday and I hadn't gotten to bed as early as I wanted last night.  I also wasn't really looking forward to the work day because I was nervous about the activity I had planned.  But then, singing along with my favorite songs, my mood just shifted.  Yeah, it was still Monday.  Yeah, I still had the day's activity in the back of my mind.  Yeah, I was looking ahead to Wednesday night (Back to School Night which means being at school from 7 am til 8 pm) and wasn't too thrilled.  But the country music brightened my mood.

That's why there WILL be good country music at our wedding.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Emotion

I've learned lately that human emotions are tricky, tricky things.  I guess it isn't new news, but when you really stop and think about it, the way that you perceive something and the way that someone else perceives something is often very different.  You mean one thing, wholeheartedly, but people take things differently than you mean.  Someone says something to you about *fill in the blank* and for whatever reason you yourself perceive it differently.  When you add various emotions to the mix, it's especially hard.

I guess the biggest lesson is to always be conscious of what you say and to constantly think of how it will be perceived.  I know this from experience, on both ends.  All too often I take something too seriously or not as it was intended.  And I think because of that, I'm often extra cautious of how I say things.  I know sometimes I don't succeed at that, but I do really try.

I also get myself overly paranoid about basically everything.  It's tiring.

My goal for myself from now on is to not dwell on things so much and to just let it go.  Whatever it is, let it go.  I'm allowed to be emotional, everyone is allowed to be emotional, but after a day of that, just let it go.

Besides, it's all in God's plan, right?  So why in the world do I worry so much about silly little things and let myself get all worked up?  I'm not supposed to take control - I'm supposed to let God do that.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Friday!

This weekend has a few things going on, but it's good because I'm trying to stay busy.  I do hope for some relaxation too though because this has been a rather long week.  The kids in 4th and 5th period were rowdy yesterday but apparently I put the fear of God in them because today they were both much better.

On a random note: I really need to cut my fingernails.  I'm a weird girl - if my nails start to get even a little long, I get really bugged.  I don't have great nails, so they basically need to stay short.  I think I'll be getting acrylics for my wedding because my real ones are just ugly.

The fall sports assembly was today, and Amanda's song pom girls performed.  At the second assembly, the one I went to, they did really well.  I was proud, and I'm not even the coach!  I just hope her paperwork goes through so she can get a paycheck - she's owed a ton of money right now!

I really want Starbucks tomorrow morning but I don't know that I can justify spending any money.  I need a paycheck too!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Overnight Oats

Overnight oats is seriously the best discovery I've ever made.  My favorite combo: peanut butter, oats, milk/water, and chocolate chips.

Need I say more?

Ignore the pizza sauce jar.  It's all I had.  And it was washed.
Don't ignore the awesome Yogurtland spoon.
It's my breakfast of choice these days.  Especially on running days.  It's pathetic, but when I wake up and am still groggy and a little nervous about the 5 mile run I have to begin when it's not even 5:00 am yet, and I think about how I get to consume this jar of deliciousness once I get to work, I suddenly have honest-to-goodness motivation.

Maybe it's not pathetic.  Do you think using food as motivation is pathetic?  It's healthy food!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Almost the Middle of September

In 3 short days it will be the middle of September.  Some might ask, "Oh my goodness where did the time go?"  And while I do agree with that statement to a certain extent, I also wish for the months to go much, much faster.

Saturday's 8 mile run went excellently.  (That's a word, right?)  Then Mat and I used our Groupon from about 6 months ago to go ice skating (see when you talk about Groupons that are about to expire after 6 months the time seems to go fast).  That was followed by a trip to the mall to try and look at tiaras for the wedding (fail - Nordstrom did not yet have the one I really wanted to see) and then to Total Wine for the 10 cent wine tasting (score!) and then to BJ's for the "Party for 2" - 2 soups or salads, a medium pizza with anything on it, and a pizookie to share - all for $20.  (major score!)

Yesterday Mat randomly had the day off, which was excellent, so after church and finishing the night before's pizza for breakfast, we headed to "proposal park."  I've dubbed Craig Park in Brea by that name because, as the name suggests, it's where he proposed back on February 5th.  :)

I finished my grading, we ate, and read.  I even dozed a little bit on the blanket using his back for a pillow.  It was lovely.

Today we had a minimum day so that we could have staff development.  Staff development is always super exciting (note: sarcasm) but it's nice to have a shorter day with kids.  The additional 30 minutes that were added to the school day really wipe you out.  You wouldn't think it would, but 5 minutes added to every class period really makes a difference.

In 27 (almost 26 now) days away from the half marathon!  Training is going well!  Go me!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Tomorrow and Things

Tomorrow morning I am tackling an 8 mile run.  I'm excited.

Wednesday I went to ballet for the first time in nearly a month.  My calves are now paying for it.  I hope that my 8 mile run tomorrow is not hampered by this.

Tonight we made spaghetti squash with marinara sauce and vegetarian meatballs for dinner.  And we had bread.  And wine.  Mmm.
Spaghetti squash with marinara and veggie meatballs (and parmesan cheese).

Pinot

BREAD

As we all know, the 10 year anniversary of September 11th is on Sunday.  There are specials on TV all the time now.  It takes me back to that day.  I may have only been 15 but I remember the feeling that I wasn't safe anymore - that the world wasn't safe anymore.  It's very frightening.

What I also remember from that day and from seeing TV specials is the feeling of unity as Americans pulled together.  I'm not generally a big nationalist or anything, but you can't deny the shared feeling and spirit of hope that this country had in the aftermath of such a horrible thing.

We are down to 293 days now.  It's far less than when we started but it still feels like an eternity.

Once again I have a lot of grading to do this weekend.  And it's not a 3 day weekend this time.

Tomorrow afternoon we're going ice skating.  Yes, in September.  Groupon is cool.

I'm reading The Help right now.  It's a good book.  Time to get back to it and get some sleep so I can do that run tomorrow.  Good night!

Monday, September 5, 2011

The Long Weekend

Saturday was a fairly normal day.  I successfully completed my first 7 mile run, which was amazing.  I felt energized and like I could conquer the world.  I need to remember this motivated feeling when I have to wake up super early for runs these next few weeks.

Saturday afternoon was a wander around the mall kind of day, but between that and the run I had graded some quizzes.  I think this year is going to be heavier on the at-home grading.  Oh well.  Dinner was almost free at Ruby's Diner - we used the rest of the gift cards we had gotten last Christmas.  Yes, I know it's pathetic.

Part of the mall wandering included going to Sears to look at mattresses because they were having a massive sale.  We got some good information.

Sunday morning = church.  The sermon was especially relevant to the things that have been going on lately, which was both creepy (I had the urge to look up and say "not funny!" :) ) but also very comforting.  Then that afternoon we went over to Sit n Sleep to look at their mattresses, and we walked away with more very good information.  We had a family bbq later in the afternoon.

Today I did a 4.5 mile run that was not the most fun thing ever because I felt rather sluggish.  But I got through it and I'm proud of myself.  Then I had coffee with my future sister in-law, and it was a nice chat.  We needed it.  I then went home and finished grading quizzes and entered in a massive amount of scores.  After Mat finished his lifting class we went back over to Sit n Sleep and actually purchased our mattress!  We don't need it quite yet, but after having gone to a couple stores and asking questions, we determined that this was probably going to be the best opportunity to get it at the best price.  The next time there will be a good sale will be Thanksgiving, and there's no guarantee that the mattress we want/need will be marked down as low as it was this time.  Since Mat's parents are going to let us store it in the spare bedroom for a while, and then since his brother is going to get a storage unit while he moves home for a few months and we can share the unit with him, our mattress will have a home until it moves to its real home in a few months.  Either way, it's one more thing that we can cross off the massive list of things.

I continue to be frustrated with my living situation.  I feel very trapped.  I intend to just keep to myself and not talk so that I don't risk getting into stupid arguments, but that is not easy to do.  It also seems that my mom is feeling left out of the wedding plans (I do NOT know why on earth she would feel that way...) so I really can't stay super closed off.  There's more to it than that, but the jist of it is that I feel I am in a lose-lose situation and the only thing I can do is try to keep my mouth shut on things non-wedding and try to preserve my sanity by focusing on my job, running, and my little wedding projects.  

The other thing I deal with is my mom's dislike of us moving in together before the wedding, which we aren't really going to do anyway.  I think that she fears that if Mat transfers to an Irvine store before June/July, we'll end up spending every day/night together in our place in Irvine.  I have two responses to this: a) it really isn't her business - she may be providing us with an amazing wedding but what we do with our lives is up to us and b) I've already made it very clear to her that we ourselves do not want to be completely living together beforehand anyway, so if he does end up transferring early (and he would only do that if it ends up being the best option, not just so he can be in Irvine) we will still be back here some of the time too.

I fear I am letting her control my life.  I have already stood up to her, but I hate arguing and want to avoid it at all costs.  I will be out soon enough, yes, but it feels like an eternity.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

This Week

This week was long and jam-packed, which is why I haven't touched the blog in a while.  Let's see...

Monday: Pretty normal.  My parents went to pick up their new Mac and were gone the entire evening so Mat and I had a few hours just us.  It was lovely.

Tuesday: I had a doctor appointment after work.  The woman doctor. You know, THAT appointment.  I was then supposed to meet my former roomie Jenn for Golden Spoon and much needed catch-up, but traffic reared its ugly head and she couldn't get here in time so we rescheduled for Thursday.

Wednesday: Mat and I went to an open house/vendor appreciation at The Summit House.  We were mainly going for the free food, and holy crap was that a good idea.  They had tons of amazingly delicious things as well as free champagne, wine, beer, etc.  It was awesome.

Thursday: Follow up appointment with my dermatologist after work, and then meeting Jenn for Golden Spoon.  The dermatologist is in Pico Rivera, and I work in Santa Ana, so after having driven 20 miles to get to work in the morning, I drove from Santa Ana to Pico Rivera, then back to Whittier where we were meeting, then to get gas at Costco, and finally home.  This was around the time that I realized I have virtually no spending money until I get paid at the end of the month.  Good times.

Friday: Oh glorious Friday.  I gave quizzes in all classes which gave me a few minutes of quiet in each class but resulted in a shit ton - yes, a shit ton - of grading for this weekend.  More good times.

The evening was ok.  Not exactly what I wanted for a Friday night, but a lot of stuff is going on right now.

Today: I RAN 7 MILES!!  Yes, 7 miles!!  And I didn't really even get that tired.  I got up at 7:15 so it wouldn't be too hot, and of course the sun was already out (stupid sun) but the air was much much cooler than last Saturday so the sun didn't bother me at all.  I also was a good little girl and didn't exercise at all on Thursday (just like I'm supposed to according to my training plan) and I just took a 2 mile walk yesterday morning.  Mat and I didn't do our usual evening walk last night due to the stuff that is going on, but it was probably for the best because my run was awesome.

I officially signed up for the half-marathon in Long Beach a couple days ago.  No turning back now!

Here's to hoping for a good weekend (despite the shit ton of grading - I should probably get on that) and the end to some stuff.