Carolina you keep calling me home

If you are from NC I know you can relate to this one. We go from snow to 70 degree weather in a week. And no, I'm not exaggerating .. We had early dismissal for snow on Friday and the following Tuesday and Wednesday have been in the 70's. 

With that being said I am now ready to blame NC on my year long sinus infection. I am currently laying down exhausted with body chills, killer sore throat and a pounding headache. 

But I don't want to be a debbie downer. In reality I'm actually kinda obsessed with North Carolina. It's obviously the best state ever! (unless I could be from Savannah, GA.. then GA might win) 

Even though the 70 degree weather popped up out of no where at least we got it in January right?! That's enough to get me smiling! 

Beach? Mountains? Outer Banks? No problem, we've got it all

North Carolina has more craft brewers than any other Southern state (or so Southern Living says) Cheers to that! 

Our BBQ- seriously the b.e.s.t

Andy Griffith, Mayberry is in NC
Need I say more?

Sinus Infection or not- My roots are proudly in NC. As Eric Church said- 

Like a phone call from my baby, 

Saying honey I miss you like crazy
Kinda like a siren song
Oh Cara-lina keep calling me home

WILW

I haven't linked up with Jamie from This Kind of Love in seriously forever for What I'm Loving Wednesday. I think it's time to hop back on the band wagon because there are certainly lots to love today!

I'm loving that the high today is in the upper 70's 

I'm loving how excited my first graders are over learning about maps .. 

They are seriously so happy and I love it!! 

I'm loving Lilly's new spring line 

I'm loving that I have developed a super close

 bond with a group of young teachers at my school 

I'm loving I get to go HOME this weekend to see my mom. I'm homesick y'all! 

I'm loving that it's my roomies 23rd birthday today! 

(we celebrated this past weekend but it's actually today)

What are you loving?

Just Laugh

Did anyone else see Tierra's evil grin when Sean walked away to get the rose last night on the Bachelor? That girl has got.to.go... Just my opinion though. Anyways...

They say laughter is the best medicine of all.  Here are some recent pins that have me grinning up a storm. Hopefully they can bring a giggle to your Tuesday as well! 

Weekend Recap

With the cold weather we have been having I have been spending many of my weekend low key, bundled up at home. This past weekend I decided  to spice things up a little bit. It was my roommates birthday and I also had a few friends in town. 

My weekend started with an early release day at school because of the weather. The teachers had to stay but that was okay because I was super excited to have a chance to catch up on plans and still be out of the school building by 2. Friday night I went out to dinner with my friends that were in town and and then we headed out on the town. 

Not the best picture but the only one captured for the night 

Saturday I spent the day grabbing lunch with some friends at a local Tavern. I don't normally go into detail about my meals 0n here but this one was too perfect not too.. A cheeseburger with homemade BBQ sauce, friend green tomato and pimento cheese paired with a bloody marry. Heaven, seriously... can we say southern comfort food?

After lunch we went to the back of the tavern where they have a beer and wine shop. This place also has a self serve wine tasting machine. It was the neatest thing- you can pay $10 for a card that you swipe above the particular wine you would like to try. The machine then pours you a taste of that wine. You can try as many as you want as well as reload the card if need be. Needless to say of course we decided to try a few wines and relax for a while. After almost three hours at this restaurant we headed out to get ready for my roommates birthday oyster roast! 

We threw her an oyster roast for her 23rd birthday at our house. It was very cold but couldn't have been more fun. Look at us girls go (; 

birthday girl!

my sister came by too! 

Sunday left my exhausted with very little energy to do anything productive. I managed to get to church and cook lunch but the rest of the day was spent on Netflix. I'm now halfway through the first season of Parenthood. I hope y'all had a nice weekend! 

Just For Fun

Haha, just for fun. I got a giggle in and thought you might too(: 

(I know you will mom!) 

I'll be having wine for dinner.. in addition to oysters! yum! I'll be back later with a recap of my roommates 23rd birthday oyster roast! 

Words to remember at work

A while back I downloaded the Verse a Day app on my Iphone. It is an app that post a bible verse each day for you to read. What a great way to start your day right?! Well after seeing the notification pop up along with text messages, instagram notifications, twitter notifications  school, blog, and personal emails, along with the other 20 things that give you notifications on your phone it became easy to "clear" my notifications and not read my verse a day. 

Well last night I was browsing through my phone and decided to open up my Bible verse app. I'm so glad I did because there was a verse that really spoke to me. You know how sometimes you hear things that really apply to you more than other things? Y'all... that's obviously the good Lord talking and you better believe I am going to listen. This is what it said.. 

I have never looked at my job as if I'm doing it FOR the Lord. I have looked at it as, I am taking care of his children but not that the actual work is for him. It is easy to get caught up in the demands of teaching and work countless (almost everyday) major over time hours all the while still bringing work home. I love my job but anything requiring that much time can be exhausting. This verse taught me though that the work I do isn't just for my kids or my school. It's for the Lord and that is so much more important! Talk about inspiration to not want to slack off..

I knew I needed to post about the verse because it's not just for teachers. It says "work willingly at whatever you do" I take that to mean any career from doctor to waitress. I also take that to mean things other than work. Are you in school? Someone that goes to the gym often? A stay at home mom? I think we are supposed to work hard at whatever we do. 

I hope this gives you a little more encouragement to do your best at work this Wednesday! 

Brrr

Of course I posted yesterday about having Spring Fever as I am greeted with a high of 35 today. Brr, that is COLD! Here is how I keep warm during those cold cold days. (My friends that are from Boone and other much colder than Eastern, NC places are probably laughing at my dramatic-ness to cold weather. I simply can't handle it!)

Cable knit sweater 

pea coat

gloves

scarf 

boots 

and of course steaming coffee.. Is anyone else as sensitive to cold weather as I am? Happy Tuesday! 

Spring Fever a Little Early

Uh oh, I think I have caught Spring fever and it's ONLY January. There is no doubt about it, I am a spring/summer girl. Fall takes a close third but winter is dreaded in my book. Seeing as I am cold in 60 degree weather you can only imagine how I feel when temperatures reach 30 degrees. Lucky for me we have had quite a few upper 50's sunshine days and a couple even warmer than that at times! The pretty weather, talk of beach trips and spring line previews have me itching for spring time. 

Seeing as this so called spring fever has hit so early it is probably going to make for a long winter. While that part isn't fun the next part is! Spring always brings out a renewed sense of energy in my opinion. It makes me want to eat healthier and lighter, it makes me want to work out, clean everything, and puts me in an altogether wonderful mood! (Just wait until April, I will probably be bouncing off the walls) 

I did not really make New Years resolutions this year. I never seem to keep them and found it to be almost a waist of time. I did start the New Year off though on a positive note looking forward to what 2013 would have to bring. Since I did not make New Years resolutions I've decided to make more short term goals. I'm going to call them my "spring goals". Much more fun for the girl who loves even saying the word spring.(:

So here they are.. 

My spring goals 

1. Eat healthy. Simple as that.. no crazy diets, no cutting out carbs, no saying no to dessert forever. Just eat healthy and smart. I think I can use my common sense with a little bit of portion control on this one. 

2. Drink more water and less soda. I don't drink soda all day everyday, but I have developed a bad routine of opening a coke when my students leave at 3pm to give me that extra boost of energy to work for another couple of hours. Not healthy and I want to stop! 

3. Keep up with my gym regimen. Especially to help with the next goal.. 

4. Run a 5K! I am SUPER excited about this one. The above goals will hopefully help accomplish this one. I'm not sure which one or where yet but there are SO many options out there I'm sure I can find one for me. 

5. Take a concealed carry class and get my permit. Random? yes. The issue of guns is so controversial right now I'm not going to go into details. I would like to get my permit though and what better time than this spring?! 

6. Find a new job and city.. and NO I'm not leaving teaching!! I still plan to teach and if all works out still teach first grade. I would like to move to a new city though and get a place by myself. I was offered a job teaching right out of college still in my college town. It has worked out great for this year. I honestly don't think I was ready to move away at the time. I AM ready now however and desperately want to start a new chapter somewhere else. Raleigh and Greensboro are two of the main cities I am considering. 

That's it! Six not so crazy but very important goals I would like/need to accomplish. Let's hope for the best! 

My heart is taken..

Girls, my heart is taken. It has been stolen by that perfect, gorgeous, sweet, did I say perfect? amazing fella named Sean. 

I think I could go on for hours about how perfect he is but if you have seen The Bachelor i'm sure you already know. If he's not going to be with me, sigh, I hope he will be with one of these girls who I also happen to adore. 

Sarah 

Kacie B. 

Lesley 

Who are your top picks this season?

Hodgepodge

My oh my, I didn't realize I haven't posted in 2013 yet! I have been so busy it seems. Busy in a good, new and exciting way though! The kiddos returned to school last week so needless to say work has been in full swing. Look at all that emotion going into one read aloud. I think my face says it all. (; 

 I have also been on a mini health kick with some healthy eating and gym sessions. I am LOVING the small changes and feeling healthier than ever. Let's hope I can keep it up in time for bikini season! 

If the weather keeps up the way it has this weekend bikini season could be here sooner rather than later. This weekend has been an absolute tease with PERFECT 70 degree weather. I am not complaining a bit though. Boat rides in January make for one happy girl. 

I think we have one more day of the pretty sunshine before we dip back in the 40's. I promise you I will be enjoying it by hightailing out of work asap to go on an outdoor jog! 

and the last thing that has been keeping my mind occupied so far in 2013 is my Kindle Fire! I had to start reading ASAP of course! I'm currently reading Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. It's definitely a fun light read that keeps me laughing!