Two weeks, 146 points:: Game day #2

The Ole Miss Rebels did it again this past Saturday, with a final score of 73-21 over the Fresno State Bulldogs! Our second game day in Oxford, MS, was just as fun as the first!

We left Olive Branch around 9 and were in the Grove before 11. Once again, SnapChat tells most of our game day story.

 

Tyler is my sorority sister and one of my best friends. We always pregame in the Grove at her parents' tent!

 

 

This is Amy, the sweet lady I replaced at Byhalia Middle. 

 

Katy is another of my sorority sisters whom I love very much! We swapped hair secrets and talked about our bodies and how thankful we are that we didn't "peak" in high school... Because the Grove is the best place for a heart-to-heart. 

 

 

 

Once we were in the stadium, we went to our seats. We're conveniently located close to my aunt and uncle and their two friends, Marlene and Kenny. We ended up sitting with them because the people below them didn't show up Saturday. We had a great time. Whoever gave me that salted pretzel, thank you!

 

The weather was amazing--perfect for a Saturday watching Ole Miss Football! I can never explain my passion for the Ole Miss Rebels!

Found my sweet friend, Ashley!

 

All the while, Vaught was in New Albany with Eric's dad and stepmother. He had a great time! We picked him up after the game, headed home, and crashed in bed. Ole Miss plays Alabama this Saturday in Tuscaloosa. Two weeks for me to recover before the Vanderbilt game.

How perfect is he?!

College Gameday will be in Tuscaloosa this Saturday... HOTTY TODDY!

 

Fitness Update:: 16 Weeks

It's been about 16 weeks since I restarted my fitness journey and far too long since I've given you a fitness update on the blog! I am so happy to be sharing an update with you on this lovely Monday morning.

Since May 30th, I've lost 25 pounds!
I've lost 57 pounds since delivering Vaught!

I've gone from a size 16 (18 on a rough day) to a very comfortable 14, and it won't be long until I'm moving down again.

I weigh less than I have in years, but that's not what's most important. The biggest, most significant change is in the way I feel... fabulous :)

That's not to say every day is easy because it's so not. Some days are tough. I still struggle, and that's the message I want to share: it is hard, but it's possible. Pushing through those days, those hours, used to be the equivalent of climbing a mountain, but now it's more like a steep hill. The end result is so worth it!

Nutrition
My diet has improved more than anything else. I eat clean about 80% of the time, allowing for a milkshake or some French fries now and then.

ItWorks!
I restarted my fitness journey in  May using products from ItWorks! Global, but I'm no longer using them and haven't in nearly two months. I still drink Greens every couple of days, but I'm not using any more of the products now. I strongly believe the products from ItWorks! work extremely well if used correctly, and I happily endorse them! I never tried any wraps, so I cannot speak for those.

Exercise
If I've slacked on anything, it's exercise. I've been working out only twice a week, but I'm determined to get back in a good routine. In my defense, I do a lot of running around, squatting, and bending over at school and I rarely sit down... That's exercise!

Sold this too-big pair of size 16 Miss Me jeans!

Goals
Okay, stepping out on a major limb, but I'd really like to be down another size by Christmas. There's also a certain number I would love to be under by then... We'll see!

Healthy and happy is and will always be the goal. My message is that anyone can do it. If you are persistent, you will get it. If you are consistent, you will keep it.

I'm so happy with where I'm at right now. I love feeling confident and comfortable in my skin; it's been years since I have felt that way! Wherever you are in your fitness journey, keep going! You'll get there.

Fitness Survey

Borrowed this from a blogger friend forever ago... Found it sitting in the depths of my drafts. Filled it out with my most recent answers. Enjoy!

1. What did you eat for breakfast?

I had a slice of whole grain toast with crunchy peanut butter and a tall cappuccino from Starbucks.

2. How much water do you drink a day?
I aim for 150+ ounces, but I'm probably drinking a little less now that I'm teaching again. I have to pace myself or I'll be running to the bathroom all day!
 

3. What is your current favorite workout?
I'm that weird girl who loves leg day. I'm really into working my legs right now. I hate lunges, but I love how strong I feel after doing a good set of 50! I'm also getting back into running, which I used to love and did all the time. I get stressed sometimes, and running is the perfect way to clear my head. 

 

4. How many calories do you eat a day?

1500, sometimes a little more or less.
 

5. What are your favorite healthy snacks?
Plenti Greek Yogurt by Yoplait is my current obsession! I also love mixed nuts (unsalted), toast with peanut butter or a piece of fruit with peanut butter or Nutella. A cold glass of milk holds me over too :)

 

 

6. What do you usually eat for lunch?
Two lunch options: dinner from the night before as long it was a healthy dinner OR peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread.
 

7. What is your favorite body part to strength train?

LEGS. I love how strong they are.

 

8. What is your least favorite body part to strength train?
Back.
 

9. What are your “bad” food cravings?
Salty things like potato chips and buttery popcorn. I also have an unhealthy relationship with dips, especially rotel dip!

 

10. Do you take vitamins or supplements?
I take a multivitamin when I can remember. I use Cellucor Cinnamon Swirl Whey Protein for post-workout recovery, Cardio Cuts for pre-workout.

 

11. How often do you eat out?
Too often. Three, four times a week sometimes. We're working on it.
 

12. Do you eat fast food?
Not really. Maybe once or twice a month I get something from a fast food restaurant but it's rarely an entire meal.
 

13. Who is your biggest supporter?
My mother and mother-in-law. They read my blog religiously and are always encouraging me. My husband is my biggest fan when it comes to fitness: he's always pushing me to lift more, run faster, train harder. And of course there's you all... My readers are amazing and so supportive!
 

14. Do you have a gym membership?
Yes! I love ATC Fitness!
 

15. How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
6-8.
 

16. Do you have a “cheat” day?
No, but I allow a "treat" meal once a week. I would never spend an entire day (all three meals and snacks) eating poorly. I've done it before and always feel so crappy later!
 

17. Do you drink alcohol?
Rarely. In the fall, I drink at every Ole Miss game. It gets a little shambly.
 

18. Do you have a workout buddy?
Sadly no, but if you live in the area and want to work out together, please get in touch with me!
 

19. What is the best thing that has changed about your life since committing to a healthy lifestyle?
The best thing happened just a few days ago when I tried on some jeans I've not worn in two years... I know my body has been changing, but I didn't realize how drastically. Two pair of size 16 jeans swallowed me. It was an amazing feeling. I have so much more energy now and though I can get a little stressed from my job, I'm genuinely happy. Being able to say that means so much to me.

Never thought I'd be able to wear Rock & Republic jeans!

 

20. What was the last healthy thing you did?
I walked away from the pantry last night when I reeeeally wanted a big bowl of cereal. Instead, I drank some water and sat in bed blogging. Much better use of my time than late night snacking!

Our First Game Day of 2015 (As Told by Snapchat)

Early games are our least favorite, but we're Rebels; it's never too early for Ole Miss Football!

As you know (or have figured out), we are ridiculous Ole Miss Football fans. Like, it's crazy. We were married on campus, had our first child in Oxford, and named him VAUGHT, after the legendary John Howard Vaught, who coached the Rebels for thirty years. Eric and I don't agree on everything, but we say that we agree on the most important thing: Ole Miss Football. Yes, we're extreme.

The Rebels started their season at 11 o'clock Saturday morning. We got up at 5AM and got ready. Yes, 5AM.

I made a skinny screwdriver using Taaka vodka and light orange juice. It was 6:15.

 

 

We dropped Vaught off with my parents at seven then drove on to Oxford.

We were in the Grove before 9 and drank mimosas in my friend Tyler's tent until it was time to go to the game.

L-R: Me, Tyler, Lindsey, Katy (all Phi Mu sisters!)

This is our fourth year being season ticket holders. It's a small but meaningful luxury we allow ourselves each year, saying that no matter what happens, we will always have our Ole Miss Football tickets! Per new box seats put in Vaught Hemingway Stadium, our seats were moved this year. We are further up, in the right hand corner of the south end zone. We're not entirely impressed with our new location, but it's only a year; we can change them next June.

61,000 of my closest friends

It was HOT, in case you can't tell! My arms are still burnt!

I snapchatted score updates throughout the game, but I forgot to save them before they automatically deleted after 24 hours. The Rebels dominated the Skyhawks and won the game 76-3!

 

After the game, we went back to the Grove for a snack before heading home. I posted the picture above to Instagram as my "victory photo." I got a little happy with my morning screwdrivers and fell twice: once while walking in front of the liquor store we park behind (irony at its best) and once in the Grove. I swear, no one even noticed. That's what I love about "Ole Miss people." You just get up and keep on going. If anything, someone will shout, "You okay? Hotty Toddy!" Also, the dress I wore, a size LARGE from the Lauren Conrad collection at Kohl's, had a partially open back with snaps. I had two wardrobe malfunctions: one involving the snaps and one where I accidentally flashed my bra (the front of the dress was lower than it looks).

Speaking of my dress, YES, it is a size LARGE. Not extra large, which is what I've worn in the past. I've always loved LC's Kohl's collection, but in the past couple of years I've noticed that I could not hardly wear anything from it. I tricked myself into thinking her sizes had gotten smaller, when really, I had just gotten bigger. I had just two days to find a white dress for Saturday's game, so I got this dress in size large and extra large. I had tried on the extra large in the fitting room and was surprised at how big it was on me. It was wearable, but loose in the chest and back. So, without even trying on a large, I grabbed one of those too and took them both home.

Standing in front of my mirror in the size large, I was so proud; it fit like a charm! Much better than the XL! I felt pretty and confident, even after my falls :)

Vaught had a great time at my mom and dad's. We picked him up around four and were home by five. Vaught slept from five until seven Sunday morning. We are so blessed to have such a good little sleeper!

This Saturday's game is another home game against Fresno State. They're a pretty decent team from California that we've played several times in the past. I've never seen them play in person, so I'm excited for this game! We're looking forward to another great season, Hugh Freeze's fourth as head coach. Hotty Toddy, Rebels!

And Happy Labor Day!

Did you watch any college football this weekend?

A day in the life...

… of a sixth grade English teacher. Welcome to my world :)

5AM
My alarm goes off and most mornings I am out of bed pretty quickly. Sometimes I'll hit snooze until 5:20, but I know I'm off to a rough start if I'm not up and moving by 5:30 at the latest.

6AM
I've already made my breakfast and loaded everything I need into my car. I wake Vaught up, get him dressed, and have a bottle ready for him to drink on our way to daycare.

6:15AM
I'm sitting in the Starbucks line for my morning cappuccino or latte for hopefully no longer than five minutes.

6:25-6:30AM
Vaught is dropped off at daycare.

6:45AM
I get to school and sign in then head down to my classroom to get ready for the day. Usually I am already prepared, but this gives me more than enough time to set up my PowerPoint, hole punch, and lay out documents for my kids, and do any last-minute adjustments to my lesson.
Oh, and sometimes I take my daily selfie for SnapChat...

7:10AM
First bell rings and the kids file into the gym. Luckily, I'm not on duty until second term, so I get another twenty minutes to get my life together.

7:30AM
Second bell rings and students are dismissed from the gym. I have hallway duty and monitor as kids come into our building.

7:40-9:37AM
This is my first and second period. After second period, I walk my group of students (each teacher is assigned a group) to their activity period then come back for my planning time.

9:45-10:37AM
My planning period is just under an hour, but it seriously feels like twenty minutes. If I'm lucky, I get a few copies made for the next day, and I tweak my lesson a little. Most of my planning is done at home or after school. Don't think for a single second that teachers' jobs are over once that final bell rings.

10:37AM-3:13PM
Teaching, teaching, teaching. By three o'clock, my throat is raw, and I'm ready for a nap. I've tripped over fifteen backpacks in the middle of the floor. I've corrected a sixth grader who threw himself out of his seat (no reason, just because). I've handled friend drama and settled "he stole my favorite pencil" disputes, but my day isn't nearly over.

3:15PM until...
I usually stay at least an hour and work. I am most productive during this time in the early afternoon. If I'm working out before picking Vaught up, I leave by 4:15. If not, I'll stay until 5:15 or 5:30.

5-5:30PM
I pick Vaught up before 6PM (childcare center closes at 6) and head home to cook supper. Between that and other mom/wife duties, I try to play with Vaught and get household things done simultaneously. At first, I tried so hard to be Supermom, and I was so exhausted that I was sick at nighttime with nausea and a headache. It didn't take long for me to realize that I'm just going to have to do a couple of things each day instead of trying to keep our home spotless constantly. I realized that I can't put a five-star meal together every night either. I enjoy doing those things for our family, but the time I get to spend with Vaught and Eric at the end of the day is precious to me.

Vaught gets a bath and is in bed before seven, sometimes a little earlier depending on my afternoon. I'm so thankful that he sleeps the whole night through! He sleeps until I wake him up to leave in the morning.

Once he goes to bed, I usually have papers to grade and lesson plans to work on, so if you've been adding everything up along with me, it comes out to something close to a fifteen hour day for this mama!

Some may read this and think Bless your heart. I'm so glad that's not me! And I totally understand, but I love my job and enjoy what I do. I love the time I get to spend to myself in the afternoon. I love that time with Eric once Vaught's in bed. And my weekends are absolutely precious.

Teaching is not meant for everyone, and yes, it gets tough sometimes--mentally, physically, and emotionally for sure. But I love my job; I wouldn't trade this crazy, busy, fun-filled life for anything!

"Who are you and what is wrong with you?"

I rolled out of bed Friday morning, looked at myself in my "selfie mirror" that hangs outside my bathroom door, and said these exact words to myself.

"Who are you and what is wrong with you?"

I didn't care that I was already running ten minutes late (welcome to my life, seriously). I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about me. Something was wrong.

I didn't realize it at first, but not having Eric for a week (he was at a training in Indiana) changed me. Initially, I was okay with it. Whatever, I can deal. I like being alone sometimes. By the end of the week, I felt drained. Empty. There was nothing left in my tank.

I stayed up late Friday night. Like, really late, for me at least. I think the last time I looked at my clock it was after two. Luckily, Vaught slept from 5:45 that evening until 8 the next morning, so I still got a decent amount of sleep.

Stress from work has been getting to me, to the point where I collapse on my desk in the afternoon. No, I'm not miserable. I love my job actually. I'm just so exhausted by the end of the day that by the time I have a chance to catch a little break I start stressing about the next day.
So I gave myself all the time I needed to get caught up Friday night. I drank three cups of coffee and did a few jumping jacks when I felt tired. I have lessons plans made for the next two weeks and I am almost done with all of the PowerPoints that go with them. Knowing that the only thing I need to do for the rest of the week is make copies and grade my kids' daily work takes a load of stress off of me. So there's that.

Such sweet comments from a lady who observed me teaching one day!

But me without Eric... I have always prided myself on how independent and self-sufficient I am. I swore I married him because I loved him and no other reason. I swore I didn't need him, just wanted him there. I mean, is that okay? It doesn't mean I have to be this whiney, clingy wife who can't function without her husband nearby. Right?

I have never missed anyone so much in my entire life.

No, it wasn't because I had Vaught all to myself. He's such an easy baby and actually was in bed before seven each night. I didn't have to cook all week and the only "cleaning" I did was sweeping the kitchen floor and a bit of laundry by the middle of the week. But the achiness and emptiness I felt without Eric there... I can't even explain it.

By Thursday, I was ready to call and beg him to come home. I had never felt so alone.

So, while sitting at the kitchen table grading lesson plans Saturday night, my heart skipped a beat when I heard the garage door opening. There was only one person it could be.

My Eric.

He walked in, and I ran into his arms like a child. We stayed up talking and visiting and doing other fun things for hours. We woke up Sunday morning and went to church together. We held hands on the drive there and on our way back. We made a quick, simple lunch, and I finally unglued myself and went to the gym.

Once there, I felt a little more peace settle down within me. I started to feel like "old me." Eric told me to take the afternoon to myself, get coffee, grab any groceries for the week, so I did. I went to Starbucks where I worked on some more stuff for school for two hours. A lady I used to work with at my first high school came through the drive-thru; I texted her and she came inside and visited with me for half an hour. It was awesome catching up, Amanda!

I went to Aldi (my very first Aldi outing) and got everything we needed for enchiladas Sunday for--wait for it--$15!!! OMG. We've had an Aldi for nearly two years now, and I can't believe I've just now shopped there. Definitely going back!

I called my sorority sister and "Groving" friend Tyler and we made plans for the game this Saturday. I went to bed Sunday night feeling happy and peaceful and totally at ease.

If you every have those days (or a few weeks) where you feel stressed out, crazy, and completely out of your element, take it from me: hang in there. Say a prayer, grab your rope, and hang on.

Give it time. It gets better.