Body Combat

Yes it sounds like a war zone title or something but it's really a mixed martial arts kickboxing aerobics class.

I go to Fitness Works and this is the only gym I know of that has Les Mills group fitness which offers classes like Body Combat, Body Pump (weights), Body Attack (high intensity cardio), Body Flow (Yoga), and Body Jam (dance aerobics).

I try to go to Combat as much as I can, but sometimes my hectic schedule conflicts.

Exercising, especially kickboxing, is my way of releasing built up stress with work. Exercise even when you're tired and feeling lazy or frustrated. It gets your mind off of all that's going on.

When I can't find time to do Combat, I'll run at a high school near my house. I don't even listen to music when I run. I love the sound of silence since it's noisy around me all day long.

Exercising is the one thing I do for myself. What's 1 hour a day? I work from 6-8... What's 15 hours compared to 14 hours? And when everyone is sitting on the couch and eating... I'm out getting tough ;)

Fitness Works Link

Les Mills Link

Pooch Problems

So my poor Scottish Terrier has Valley Fever :( but he's costing us a fortune! It all started on a Friday; he was acting a bit strange... No energy, no appetite, shivering, just blah and he had this crazy, hacking cough. So finally, EARLY Sunday morning, we make a trip to the Pet ER where they diagnose Kennel Cough which is an airborne disease. They prescribed him meds which he took for a couple days but I didn't see any change that he was getting better.

By Tuesday, I made an appointment with our doctor and they did bloodwork and X-rays for us to find out on Friday that he has Valley Fever (fungal infection that's found in desert regions; you get it from breathing in fungal particles from the soil; infection starts in the lungs). Valley Fever isn't contagious. Symptoms vary depending on the person or animal.

It's so sad to see him going through this :( but I'm considering pet insurance!

Here's a breakdown of our expenses as of Sunday, Decemer 18th:
Pet ER: $160
Vet: $450
Additional Prescriptions: $45
Prescription Food (since he lost his appetite): $60 for 28 cans (he eats 2 per day)
Pill Pockets (he hates pills): $16
GRAND TOTAL: $730 (give or take)

Geez Putter! I love you but holy smokes! Note to self: don't let your dog outside to sniff soil ;)

Decisions, decisions

I was just talking to my aunt about decisions. Teachers make millions of decisions to conveniently conserve time. YES! I'm the one who tries to carry all the groceries I can without having to make 2 trips back out! What can I do while getting a glue stick for a student? File a paper... Pass this out, get this, grab that, scold him/her, type this. Honestly, my mind races a bajillion times faster than the average one. It's frustrating at times because it seems like I'm always stressed. I'm never relaxed which leads me to the conclusion: THIS IS WHY TEACHERS GET "BREAKS"! And even when we're on "breaks"... We're not relaxing... It's called "catching up on a few months of cleaning, errands, personal maintenance, SITTING and watching a TV show".

I love my job. I get to be with 22 comedians all day. I'm a role model. I'm my own "boss" in a sense. But when you have to adapt to 22 unique needs, it can be overwhelming.

If you ever need multi-tasking lessons, hit me up. I can help you make 100 time consuming decisions on your way to the bathroom in the morning ;)

You know you are growing up when...

Your Christmas wish list changes from Barbies to CDs to clothes to... A food processor and Keurig coffee maker!

It's funny how your wants and needs change as life moves on. When you're young, you think about things that benefit yourself. When you're married, you think about things that benefit your spouse... And yourself. I'm sure WHEN we have children, I'll think about things that benefit them (I can wait for children though).

But fun stuff with my new "toys"! So excited to try 'em out :)

Tis the Season

Tis the season to drive around the planet! Last night we celebrated with Ry's mom and fiancé. Today we started early by going to my parents' then grandpa's in Prescott Valley, grandma's in Black Canyon City, Ry's dad's in Scottsdale, and the grand finale with my mom's side at my aunt's! Whewwww! Long, exhausting day ahead.

Even though it's a tiring day, it's nice to be with loved ones and eat lots of yummy food! And most of all, celebrate the reason for Christmas... Jesus! John 3:16 God LOVED the world (us, filthy and sinful human beings) SO MUCH that he gave his one and only son, Jesus. Keep CHRIST in Christmas :)

Stop & Smell the Roses

Monday through Thursday... I wake up at 5:00, I'm at work by 6:30... I leave school at 4:00... to be at cheer by 4:30... I'm home by 8:00... I pack my lunch for the next day and I have just enough time to clean up from my husband and his workers and pick out my clothes for the next day before I have to get ready for bed (if I want to be coherent the next day).

Fridays are meant for catching up on sleep... Saturdays are for errands and cleaning... and Sundays are for church.

My schedule is crazy and crammed! Sometimes, I just want to be not-needed. Wherever I am I have kiddos needing me, dogs needing me, cheerleaders needing me, my husband needing me. I don't want to be anywhere at any specific time... I don't want to wake up to an alarm clock... I don't want to wear make-up for love of Mary!!!

Sometimes, you just need to let go. New teachers and new wives... let go! One thing I've learned whether it's your classroom or your house or your husband... they'll all live. School will always be there... don't wear yourself out; leave the paperwork, emails, grading, everything. Your house can wait until next week to be cleaned... even though I can't stand a dirty house. Your husband can chill out and cook/clean for YOU!

And stop to smell the roses. Seriously, time flies. Too fast. Why waste it being busy with things you won't remember or things that make you tired/stressed/worn out/frustrated? Teachers... you're making an impact on 20+ kids a year... wives... you're making an impact on a man that's obviously obsessed with you. Why not make an impact on yourself for yourself?