First day of school!!! Er…I mean work! :)

It’s the day I’ve been anxiously waiting..the first day of school (work)!! I’ve been pretty excited as I feel like I wasn’t ready to close this chapter in my life just yet. I love teaching and I love teaching high school. I love the challenge, I love the stress (ha!), and I love the camaraderie and relationships I build with my students and co-workers. I just really love my job.

Walking in to my classroom feels like I never left (my room wasn’t used the year that I took off). There were a few things I needed to set up but for the most part, everything is good to go. In a couple of hours, all the seats will be filled and I’ll be up at the podium back to doing what I love 🙂

Have a great day friends!

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My bib board and Coke collection 🙂

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My beloved podium ❤

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Fave quote on the window–love me some Ralph Waldo Emerson!

What are you passionate about? Do you love your job as much as I do?

Do you remember your first day of high school?

Friday Five–What’s New?!

I’m hooking up this week with the DC Trifecta girls Mar on the Run, Eat Run Pray DC, and You Signed Up For What!? (<—who’s doing the NYC Triathlon this weekend!!! Good luck Cynthia!!) for today’s topic of: What’s New?!

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Well there’s a lot of new happening in Hellyland.

ONE: I go back to work on Monday!!! Last school year, I finished off May seven months pregnant and ready to get out. I packed up my room with doubts that I’d come back. I knew I wanted to take at least a a year off to spend it with my daughter and my newborn son. After that, I’d assess and see where life would take me.

I think it was around when my daughter turned 2 that I started to seriously think about returning to work. Luckily, I have the option and it’s not something I need to do. I feel the need though, as even though I’ve enjoyed all the time I’ve spent with my kids, a part of me isn’t ready to let go of my career. My husband and I looked at the logistics of it all, the biggest hurdle being that my work was pretty far away, and we figured we’d give it a shot for one school year and go from there.

So back to school work I go!

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TWO: Sticking with the work topic, I’ve mentioned before that I’m planner. I’m old school and like writing things down. With a pencil. In a notebook. No tech notebook computer thing or fancy phone pencil to jot down notes on an e-calendar for this girl!

For the longest time, I used Jim Burke’s The Teacher’s Daybook to write my lesson plans in and keep things organized. Well, a lot of things changed in the one year I didn’t teach, one of them being the Daybook no longer in production 😦

For a couple of days I was stressed out. Then a friend in my running club suggested an Erin Condren planner. I went to her website and found quite a few options and eventually chose this one:

I was able to personalize it with my name and school (that’s ^ not my name or school fyi) and create a list of my favorite things to run across the cover like in the photo! I’m so excited to get it! It was a little on the pricey side for my liking, but I’ve heard good things about EC planners so I’m looking forward to seeing how it works for me.

THREE: Me going back to work means that my kids start daycare/school. (I like to call it school 🙂 ) Besides the whole getting sick part, they’ve been having a blast. My daughter has been really opening up and participating in music class, art time, and especially reading (that’s my girl!). The other day her teacher told me that she pointed to and said aloud several alphabet letters. It really makes me feel better about returning to work knowing my kids like where they’re at.

I’ve also been having fun with all the dress up days they’ve been having!

Vintage Nash on Sports Day :)

Vintage Nash jersey on Sports Day 🙂

FOUR: I’m super pumped I was asked by Fit Approach to try out a new portable tracking device called the Orbit by Runtastic! I’m not a tech savvy person at all, so I feel like I’m a good person to test these types of things out. If I can figure out how to use it, any one can lol! I’m still waiting to receive it so I’ll have a lot more details later this month. In the meantime, here’s a visual of the awesomeness:

I’ve always been curious about tracking devices, especially ones that monitor how you sleep. As a mom of a two and one year-old, there’s not a whole of it happening. I often wonder, how much real sleep am I getting? I’m excited to find out!

FIVE: The new running group I’ve joined up with, Run Eat Tweet AZ, has been super awesome. I love meeting local runners/bloggers and being able to talk about things around our city. So far, the group is two meet-ups in with the next one in a couple of weeks. One of the girls in the group talked to us about a virtual run she’s hosting for her friend battling a rare type of liver cancer:

We all decided that our next meet up would be to do this 5k together. It’s amazing how once strangers, we’re now friends coming together to help another with an important cause. Traci, the one hosting the virtual run, is super sweet and has been working so hard to raise money for her friend Courtney.

If you’re interested in doing an inexpensive virtual run the month of August, go here to sign up. There are medals for completing the 5k too 🙂

That’s it from my end! What’s new in your world??

Are you a planner like I am? Have you used a fitness tracker before? Ever done a virtual race?

Have a great weekend amigos!

Friday Five: Summer Edition {Link up!}

I’m so excited as this is the first link up with the wonderful ladies of the DC Trifecta– Cynthia, Mar, and Courtney!!

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If you haven’t checked out these ladies, you should! Each Friday these three host a link up with a different theme–all fun, all awesome. Why I’ve waited til now to join? No idea.

This Friday’s theme is:

5 Things I Will Do This Summer

Here goes!

(in no particular order)

1. Marine Corps Marathon Training Starts!!

Marine Corps Marathon here I come!!!

Marine Corps Marathon here I come!!!

Yes, I’m actually really excited about this. I’m a schedule girl and love having something on the radar to look forward to. I’ve also recently started reading this

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and will decide if it’s something I’ll want to try for this marathon. Have you read it? What are you thoughts?

2. No Soda!!

As you might already know, I started a 100 Days of Summer Challenge with my challenge being no soda.

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Day 6 and I’m going strong. I’ve been tested a few times, like when I refilled my mom’s soda at Chipotle, but so far I’ve passed 🙂

Left: My water cup Right: Mom's soda

Left: My water cup Right: Mom’s soda

3. Lesson Plan.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I’ll be headed back to work. I start early August and I’m really looking forward to it. Like I’ve said numerous times, I’m a planner and last summer after having my son in July, I took a year leave of absence to stay at home with the option to return if I wanted to the following year.

I’m so glad I left myself the option.

I’ve loved being home with my kids and am grateful I was able to have that opportunity. But I also want to see what being a working mom is like. I plan on working this upcoming school year and then deciding what my maybe more permanent place in life is as far as work is concerned. Luckily with teaching, I can go back when I can/want to.

4. Party Time!

OMG, my son turns one in July! I can’t believe how time flies. I remember people telling me that once I have kids, to really cherish the moments because they grow up so fast. I used to secretly roll my eyes but it. is. truth.

We’re having a birthday party for him beach themed and I can’t wait!!

He's got his swim suit ready!

He’s got his swim suit ready!

5. Gym Visits

With our crazy Arizona heat, I’ll be making more gym visits to the treadmill. That means taking my kids to the gym daycare. We’ve done it a few times and they’ve been okay but only lasted about 30 minutes. Last week I took my daughter and she actually lasted more time! I’m hoping with more consistency they’ll get used to it and let mommy get in a good workout 🙂

Post gym smiles!

Post gym smiles!

–What are some of YOUR summer plans??

Today is the last day of the Bondi Band giveaway!! A winner will be announced tomorrow morning. Click here to enter!