Get ready 2011

I am so stoked for 2011. I feel like it is a chance to start fresh and take on the world. My favorite number is 11... so I think that is a sign for good things to come this year. I'm really not a huge New Years resolution person, mainly because I always break them. Also I have the list of 25 Things to do before I turn 26 so I don't really need to add another list of things to complete. That would be overkill. This year, I just have a few goals that I want to maintain throughout the year.

Goal One: Stay connected with friends and family.
Over the years, I sadly have lost contact some of my friends. Life takes over and they get busy and I get busy and we just lost touch. After graduating from ECU, I moved back to Virginia while many of my friends stayed in NC or moved else where. I want to make it a goal this year to stay connected to friends and family. The majority of my friends live many miles away, which makes it difficult to stay in touch,but this year is going to be different... it is a priority. Also the friends that are here in Virginia, I want to soak up time with them before I move.

Goal Two: Enjoy good, healthy food again.
I have been a very bad non-meat eater this past year. I have slipped into old habits, which include lots of cheese and carbs, which leaves me feeling icky. Recently, I feel like I just don't love food... some nights I wish I could just get an IV of nutrients, so I wouldn't have to eat (not in an anorexic way, I just don't feel like anything). This year I want start cooking healthy food that I enjoy eating (with the occasional nachos), so I can start feeling fantastic again!

Goal Three: Love the life I'm living!
Sometimes I have the tendency to look at other peoples lives and get jealous or get sad about where I'm at in my life. I look at Facebook and see a lot of my friends getting married, having kids, some on their second kid... and it makes me a little down about where my life is. But no more... I am going to embrace where I am in my life and know that I am on the right path. This year, I am cutting the complaining and upping the positive outlook. I want to enjoy my life and live it to the fullest. Cheesy, kinda... but I feel this is going to be an awesome year.

So those are my goals for the coming year. I think they are better than resolutions... they are more things to keep in mind throughout the year and strive to maintain them. I think this will be an awesome year... Watch out 2011!

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

Yea, yea, yea... I know... I've been a bad blogger. But in my defense, I was busy finishing up my semester... and honestly I've had nothing good to talk about.

But I have some fun stuff coming up. Christmas recaps, home DIY project, taking parents out to a fancy dinner, and a look forward to 2011. Good stuff I tell you, good stuff! So hang tight... I promise to be a better blogger in 2011.

In the mean time, I leave you with Lexi in the snow...
This dog loves her snow... she won't walk outside if it is raining, but willingly prances through the snow. Crazy dog!

A Letter to Nacho

Dear Nacho,

I am so sorry I have neglected you these past couple months. October was all about preparation for the Wicked 10k and November has been overwhelmed with school work. Now it is so cold and windy, I doubt you even want to go out for a ride now. You give me the evil tire every time I walk through the garage, and yes, I feel very guilty.

I feel like such a bad bike owner for not taking you out, but I promise as soon as it gets less freezing we will go out for many long rides. But don't worry, I am going to pull you out of that cold garage and get you in my room. After the holidays, I swear I will buy a trainer so you can come upstairs in the warm and get moving. We will spend long "rides" in the toasty room while watching the Real Housewives and eating popcorn. So while you are cold and frozen right now, soon, very soon you will move in my room for the rest of winter. I promise not to do this to you again, I hope you will forgive me!

Sincerely,
Stephanie

Last Day of Preschool

I ended my practicum time in the preschool yesterday and I have to admit, those little boogers melted my icy heart. In the beginning, I really hated being there... the kids were snotty, cried at the drop of a hat, and I just found it very difficult to relate to them. Well fast forward a couple weeks and man, I really enjoyed going and hanging out with the little kids. I ended up doing couple centers (one we made turkey headbands and the other cotton snowmen, come on so cute!) with the kids and ended up really enjoying the satisfaction of working with them. Once I got to know them and learned how to deal with the crying and snot... it really became fun.

I had a great interaction with a little boy on my last day, we hung out for the majority of the day playing and reading books. He stayed in my snowman center for like 45 minutes and we talked while he colored (in the lines btw, what a champ). When it was time for me to leave he asked "Why can't you just stay here forever? You can come back tomorrow and then next day." And as I was walking out, he gave me a hugggge bear hug and a big kiss on the cheek. *melt*

So my time there wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be. While it probably is not my first choice to teach, I really wouldn't mind if I ended up teaching preschool. Well as long as my immune system builds up against their germs!