Overwhelmed...

I had one of those rapid fire information days... a day where my pen could not write fast enough and where my brain was running a mile a minute. Welcome back to school! Summer is officially over.

I am not so sure how I feel about this school year. More than anything I just want to be back teaching and not in meetings. I want to meet my students and get excited as to why I choose to send my day with pre-teens. I want less paperwork and more meaningful interaction. Right now I feel like I am just spinning my wheels waiting for the checkered flag to finally fall.

Mr. R is out tonight and while I am also supposed to be out being productive, I have opted for a night in to decompress, drink hot tea, and go through our vacation pictures. I also get to do all of this in my yoga pants and tank top while he is forced to put on a suit. I think I totally got the better end of the deal.

I did want to share that my 30 day challenge is off to an amazing start.

Monday: Tae-bo (fat blasting cardio)

Tuesday: 2 miles and arm strengthening exercises

Wednesday: 4 miles and arms (using the weight machines at the gym)

I am trying to think of this as less of a challenge and more of new balancing act. Today we went over our school's new mission statement and I kept thinking I need my own personal mission statement, a motivational statement of sorts. So here is my 1st try at a mission statement for the 2010-2011 school year, I will no longer let work take over my life. I will not choose work over the gym. I will not become stressed over work or our social calendar. And I will not make unhealthy eating excuses because I am busy or get home later than expected. I will put myself first. And I will be successful.

A Summer Wishlist:

As a teacher I seem to impatiently demand summer right after spring break. My students start to get a little squirrely (or frisky) as my principal might say. And I too get a case of spring fever in early May. Two weeks into May, my countdown to summer begins. And I find myself wishing more and more that the last day of school will finally come.

And then all of a sudden it does! And my summer vacation begins! Mr. R and I were talking about making the most of our time. And I find that I sometimes squander my summer. I wait so long for it to come and then all of a sudden my vacation is gone and I am not quite sure what I have done with my glorious days off.

To make the most of my summer vacation, I am making my summer wish-list. A few things that I want to make sure I accomplish for the sheer fun of it.

• Eat Rita's water ice and walk along the beach
• Go to free music night at the pier
• Go dancing
• Host a grill only dinner party
• Take a vacation with Mr. R (sans cell-phones)
• See Mr. R's grandparents
• Visit Mom and NJ family
• Play mini golf
• Eat lobster
• Play with sparklers
• Jump on a trampoline (but I will settle for a bounce house)
• Eat an ice-cream cone
• Pack a picnic with friends to hear music downtown
• See the fireworks at Disney
• Take a roadtrip
• Get a pedicure
• Go to a drive-in movie
• Run on the beach
• Go vegan for a day
• Go to a luau

What's on you summer wish list?

6/16: Wordless Wednesday

Don't you just love how pictures can tell a story.

What do these photos say to you?

6/15: Totally Made my Tuesday

My students had an impromptu beach day this afternoon. The YMCA was closed, ending my workout plans and my student's swim lesson. Instead of heading back to school I rallied the kids for an ocean swim, some bodysurfing, and ice cream. The lifeguards gave my students a lesson in riptides and ocean flags. They even got to checkout the lifeguard truck and see an AED demonstration.

Even though I missed out on my swim at the YMCA I hijacked our neighborhood pool and swam a quick 700 meters before I headed home from work. The smell of chlorine really works for me.

And lastly, Mr. R is making dinner tonight. Netflix sent me Glee Season 1 Disc 1 to watch this week. And on top of everything else, I found these at the grocery store.

Totally made my Tuesday!

6/14: Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.

My day in Photos:

Marine Science Begins! (this is what I will wear everyday for the next 6 weeks!)

A lovely bike ride!

Learning to Castnet

Swimming in the Intercoastal

Time with the pupsters

Afternoon Run: 3 miles!

Dinner: (In my mind Reese's Puffs are made healthy via the addition of skim milk)

Off to the YRs!

How was your Monday?

6/12: Bikes, Brunch, Brushes (& Paint)....and a date night with Mr. R.

To begin, this morning I hit the trails with Mr. R and a few of my favorite people. I will be biking as a part of my Marine Science rotation and need to learn the ropes before I start work on Monday! We tried to be adventurous and hit the sand trails, but I think for the first few days I will be sticking to the safer and easier blue and green trails.

An hour later we dropped Mr. R home and headed to Kristin's for brunch. Danielle introduced me to scones and I LOVE them. So this means that they will never be welcome in my house due to my lack of self -control for all things butter and carbs. Kristin also made an amazing egg casserole.

Next up home depot. I am a bit obsessed with the Martha Stewart paint color line in fact I stole my own hand-picked fan deck. Kristin & Ash Came home with awesome paint choices and I must admit I am more confused about what I want than ever. Mr. R's office has so many mood boards its insane!

Finally, Mr. R and I have a date night tonight. We will be watching these guys and will hopefully be laughing historically. (Just like I did during Sarah Marshall). I am also excited to have a reason to dress up, do my hair, and wear make-up.

I also have this for dessert. I have been waiting to try it for a while, but haven't had a reason. I decided to stop waiting for the special night and just embrace tonight in my house with my husband as being special enough.

House Pretty

Summer is here!

It's official. So that means I am free to concentrate on making my house into a home and driving Mr. R crazy with paint swatches, fabric, and trips to IKEA and Anthropologie.

Here are a few of my latest inspiration ideas.

I don't surf anymore, but I would love to have more of a beachy vibe flowing through my house.

Maybe a cute surf sign in the guest bath?

I adore this red chair.

We don't have a mantle at Casa Repub. but I think a shelf with a few seashells can be arranged.

All white furniture is amazingly beautiful... but Simon hair all over that beautiful white furniture? Not so much.

Maybe we can compromise with stripes?

6/9: School's Out For Summer!

Today was the last day for students! As the busses pulled away I waved goodbye to my rising 8th graders and breathed a slow sigh of relief that I now have 10 weeks of freedom from grading, planning, reading, and answering emails.

I am not quite done with school just yet. I still need to finish cleaning my classroom and packing boxes. I may be changing rooms next year. I also need to organize my piles of papers so that I don't have to reinvent the wheel come September.

Lastly, I hit the pool tonight, but not for my usual tanning and reading. Instead I held my first swim practice. I swam 250 meters of free style. I know that doesn't sound like much and in fact 4 years ago I would have laughed at my piddly distance. But it's a start!

And as you can see, I had some serious game face going on!

5/28: Memorial Day Weekend!

Our Memorial Day weekend started with books. Travel books!

We are going to Europe this summer!

Let the planning begin :)

Summer time and the livin's easy...

Today my school day will start at 9:00 AM and end at 12:00 PM.
This afteroon I will set up my classroom at Marine Science. Wander over to whitney lab to check out the new animals and seafind my kiddies will see on Monday. Visit Target and find a watch that is water proof. Make final plans for date night... and then hit the YMCA for my first triathalon training. Summer is here & life is fantastic.

Southern Hospitality

There is just something about the summer months that makes me want to play hostess. The long days make a perfect setting to backyard BBQs, s'more dessert nights, and crab boils complete with newspaper table cloths. The latest RR magazine was filled with glossy pictures of summer fare and all of these really cute summer party ideas that make me want to bust out my inner Martha.

Summer Party Idea #1: New England Clambake

The magazine featured a recipe for a shrimp roll, similar to the lobster rolls you would eat in Maine. One look at the delicious creation had me breaking out my seersucker and Pepperidge Farm accent. I decided to host a pre-4th of July party featuring foods from my summer vacations in the land of LL Bean.

Invitation: www.invitingco.com

Food:

1. Minty shrimp roll appetizers -http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-index/appetizer-starter-recipes/Minty-Shrimp-Rolls

2. Clam Bake Stoup - http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/clam-bake-stoup-recipe/index.html

3. Mini crab cakes with mango salsa - http://www.chef-menus.com/crab-cakes-recipe.html

4. Strawberry shortcake trifle*

5. And for the non-seafood eaters a platter of sliders with tomato, mayo, romaine & bacon. (This is the way you eat them in the vacation state.)

Shortcake Trifle*

Layer slices of pound cake, sugared strawberries, and real whipped cream in a trifle bowl. End with a final layer of sliced strawberries. My trifle bowl fits two layers of each.

Hope you can make it!

Clues!

Here are the clues Mr. R found today. Can you guess where we are going?

On a completely separate note:
I think a little bit of the south is rubbing off on me. I just finished reading my new Rachael Ray magazine and I am feeling the need to host a few dinner parties, game nights, and cookouts. Those glossy pictures and weekly menus get me everytime. More party ideas to come...

Can you believe it? I have one day of school left!

When I was younger I loved summer. It signaled long days at the beach. Nights spent roaming the boardwalk eating Mac & Manco pizza and riding roller coasters in the warm salt air. Summer meant weeks spent in sunny Florida visiting my grandparents and endless car trips up and down the east coast (seeing every historical town and battlefield I-95 had to offer).

This year my summer officially starts on Friday June 12th. My days will be filled with afternoons at the beach (making sure 18 middle schoolers remain safely above the water), nature hikes and cast net fishing, and early morning training runs. (Let's cross our fingers and say a prayer that I actually manage to get my lazy butt out of bed early enough to run!) I cannot wait!

Weekend Update!

Friday: 12 hours in Sea World. Rode Manta, got turned upside down and then backwards while screaming my lungs out and praying to God I would not have a heart attack. Had fun girl time with Danielle followed by an uneventful bus ride home. New iphone is now up and running (to be honest I still have no idea how to use it).

Saturday: Kayaking with friends while getting paid. (I know, I live a charmed life!) Learned how to hook up a trailer to an SUV, figured out how to tie kayaks to said trailer, became a master at boy scout sailing knots.

Saturday Night: Dinner in Orlando, Drinks @ Hard Rock Cafe, and Jim Gaffigan! Hot pockets, bacon, sea cow, bed... I love him!

Sunday: The alarm went off for 7am church too soon and was quickly followed by the snooze button. Second day of kayaking, today we actually made it to the inter coastal. The weather cooperated! (Don't you love how we say that. As if the climate and humidity should accommodate my plans instead of nature's). Early bird dinner with the hubs at Carrabbas. (What can I say I was hungry at 4:00pm)

It was a fantastic weekend with hours of quality time with Mr. R. I know this sounds very unliberated of me but the time I get to spend with my husband is the highlight of my week. This coming week is my last week teaching the 2008 - 2009 school year and I am ecstatic!

Amazingly blessed!

So much has changed in one day... I went to work yesterday planning to spend my summer taking courses and pinching pennies. I didn't check my email yesterday morning and by lunch when I dared to open it I had 23 messages. Hidden in between notes from parents, staff notices, and junk mail was a letter from the marine science director asking me back! So it turns I am a workin' girl this summer. This means instead of having to "make it work", to quote Tim Gunn, with the funds we have. We will be a little more comfortable and be able to do a few of the house projects we have been planning.

Today I will be chaperoning my class on a field trip to Sea World. I almost think I am more excited than the kids! I have wonderful students this year who I can honestly say I will miss as this year comes to an end. I hope the rain holds off until tonight so we can all have a fantastic, sunny, rollercoaster ride filled day. I'll let you know how I make out on manta. (I am trying to be brave, but the idea of being strapped on my stomach while going through corkscrews scares me to DEATH!)

Tomorrow is still to be decided, than announced.

I was given the opportunity to take a certification class in gifted ed. (I teach so MANY gifted students in the advanced classes and I am without the necessary classes) The class runs from 10am to 4pm. At the same time I need to practice setting up and loading the kayaks for marine science (my summer job). I will be taking the kids kayaking twice a week to a new location that I am unfamiliar with. This means I need to step it up and be prepared. I am hoping there is some way I can to accomplish both tasks. (Cross your fingers).

And tomorrow night is GAFFIGAN! A few months ago Mr. R surprised me with tickets to see our favorite comedian Jim Gaffigan. (Bacon!) Mr. R has been watching him since his Conan days and I discovered him on the TV show My Boys (which I love and watch religiously!). He is playing (is that the appropriate word for a comedian?) in Orlando and I am super excited for some quality time with Mr. R and a great date night. (I am hoping we can get drinks at Margaritaville before hand!). Hint! Hint! Mr. R! (if you are reading this.)

It's getting close to 6:00 am and I need to hit the showers and prepare for a 13 hour day in the land of Disney. Wish me luck!

Blessing in disguise?

Every night before I collapse of exhaustion I pray. Usually I pray for forgiveness, patience, and wisdom. Last night I prayed for understanding. I found out yesterday that I did not get hired for my typical summer job. It's fantastic summer money and in fact last summer it paid the down payment on our home. The letter I got telling me about my non-employable status rambled on about the economy, school budget, and lack of money to hire back summer teachers. I was so angry at first. Angry becuase I expected the job to be mine and also angry becuase I was greedily counting the money I planned to be making this summer.

I have no idea why I will not be working Marine Science camp this summer, but I can take solace in the fact that God in HIS infinite wisdom has decied a new plan for this June. I talked to Mr. Republican last night and he thinks I have been working too hard with no breaks for too long and that a summer of may do me some good.

I can't imagine how I will be spendigng this summer...part-time job? take new classes at the gym? reading fantastic books that I have been eyeing at the library? logging sunny hours pool side or volunteering at the hospital and red cross?

I am kind of nervous about having so much time all to myself. I can't imagine I will be bored, after all I could always work on the house! I am looking forward to naps, sleeping in, and more time with the hubs.