I'm Picking Strawberries

Yesterday the entire first grade took our classes on a field trip to the strawberry patch. It was so much fun to interact with the kids outside of the school building! 

All smiles on the way! This turned into naps on the ride home. 

Hay Ride!

Picking strawberries 

Just milking fake cows

By the end of the school day it's safe to say I was a wee bit exhausted. Thank goodness today is Friday! 

I also did a little birthday celebrating with my best friend. We went to see the Dueling Pianos who are absolutely amazing! Happy 22nd Ashley! Yesterday was her actual birthday but since we both had work in the morning we are doing our big celebration tonight. 

Target Danger

It is no secret that Target has become one of the most dangerous places I can venture to in my town. Not because of crime but because of the danger it does on my wallet! Y'all . it is IMPOSSIBLE to walk out with only what you came for. I'll give you the breakdown of a normal Target experience.

You walk in, expecting to pick up that one thing but then

The Dollar Section happens 

Please look at these cute plates and napkins 

I had a cookout at my house Tuesday and low and behold just happened to find these plates when visiting Target. Of course there are a million things in this section I just have to have for my classroom, things I must have to cook (like the cute new spatulas), gardening tools, the list goes on. It's game over at this point. The buggy is getting pretty full already. 

You finally find the will power to step away and run smack into the bathing suits. Uh. Your willpower is still at the dollar section leaving you and your imagination to run wild with all these cute (affordable) swim tops. 

Moving along, workout gear. Whats one little workout top going to do? No harm. Oh and that cute running skort.. 

Thinking to myself- "okay, it's time to go but lets just check out the shoes since they are RIGHT there." $20 for flats- in they go

On good days I make myself leave at this point. On the not so good days lets's check out the jewelry and home decor as well.

I might need to pick up this book while I'm there 

Props to whoever created the red bulls eye logo. It's mesmerizing. You win target, you win. 

Wilmington Picture Recap

Best Chicken Salad

Happy Saturday! I'm posting from Wilmington where it is absolutely gorgeous. There is something magical about waking up at the beach! My aunt that lives in Alabama made the trip up to join us for the girls weekend. I am SO excited because she brought me the chicken salad recipe I have been drooling over for years. It is seriously the best chicken salad ever! 

Chicken Salad 

5-6 Chicken Breast 

(Cook in chicken broth with celery, onions, and onion salt) 

2 large Granny Smith Apples, cored and chopped 

2 cups chopped pecans 

1 small jar sweet pickle relish 

6 eggs, boiled and chopped 

1 cup chopped celery 

2 cups mayonnaise or to taste 

Mix ingredients and enjoy! 

Simple enough and melt in your mouth yummy. 

Now I'm working on scoring the apple pie recipe I was just introduced to. (;

Finally Friday and It Feels So Good

How in the world I have made it to Friday I'm not quite sure. It has been a crazy busy week for me! The other teachers I work with didn't warn me the week after spring break compares to a mad house. Cumulative records, report cards, field trip receipting, book fair, family night, field day- whew! Busy, busy, busy. It is OKAY though. I didn't mind the long work days one bit this week because I knew come 3pm I would be on my way to the beach!! Since I knew I would be beach bound and my hair was getting rather out of control I figured it was the perfect time for a little highlighting/trim. Whatcha think?! As always, please ignore the mess in the background. 6am getting ready doesn't leave time for much clean up. 

Before I jump into my weekend plans I have to share my adorable class at field day yesterday. It melted my heart to see them have so much fun! I think I've grown rather attached to these kiddos for sure. 

Tug of war fun! 

Okay, moving on. As much as I adore my babies I also adore pulling out of the parking lot and heading south to the beach. This is an extra special trip because I'm meeting my mom, aunt and sister for a girls weekend. Whew who!! We are heading to Wilmington where the Azalea festival just so happens to be going on. There are so many fun events going on this weekend including performances by the Avett Brothers, Colt ford, garden and home tours, beach music, and so much more. We were planning this trip before we knew the festival would be going on but it has made it that much more exciting. The weather is supposed to be nice so I'm hoping I can break out a few spring clothing purchases I've made! I just love weekend getaways! Will anyone else be attending the festival? Have a lovely weekend!

Wordless Thursday

Running

I'll start by saying this post will probably have lots of gramatical errors and ramble a bit. I'm so sleepy but I just have to blog! (Because I love blogging, duh!)

I have recently developed a new obsession and it's an obsession I don't mind keeping around for a while. RUNNING. If you have followed me for a while you know that I've been a "yo-yo" runner. I'm on, I'm off, I'm on, I'm off... I just haven't ever been able to really stick with it. I am happy to say I think the tables have finally started to turn. 

I havent't caught you up on the Color Me Rad 5K I participated in over spring break! It was the day before Easter and unlike the mountain weather later in the week it was absolutely gorgeous outside!! Perfect temps for such a FUN run with the best friend! 

pre color 

Finish Line 

Since I have returned back to real life, aka back to work, I have discovered a new Iphone App that is really motivating me to lace up the shoes and head out for a jog. Does anyone else use Map My Run? I am loving it. It is so neat to see just how far you have gone on a route as well as other information such as average pace, time, calories, etc. I'm going to share a screen shot of my first Map My Run. Caution- This is a judge free zone! I'm in no way claiming to be a "runner" .. more like a beginner student in training(:

With the warm weather we have been having I'm excited to get out and keep it up. I have seen a HUGE difference in my overal energy/stress level since I have started eating healthier and exercising more. I made spring goals here where I committed to eat healthy, exercise, and even run a 5K which I did! yay! Since making these healthy changes almost 4 months ago I am so much happier!! Running is all part of me trying to change into a healthier person. I could do a whole post about how it has improved my overall energy level. It has made my job teaching first graders so much more FUN. I have energy to really carry out through the day and not crash after lunch. Happy happy teacher! 

I need some advice before I head out. I LOVE running skorts! I think they are just adorable.  I haven't purchased one yet but I'm very tempted! The problem- all my close friends think they are for tennis only. Not true!! Right?! I think I'm going to ignore them and get my run on pretty skort style. Do any other runners out there wear them? Happy Wednesday!

The Not So Springy Spring Break

Well spring break is officially over. (Insert sad face) I made it back from my little get away to the mountains! It was an absolutely wonderful trip with the best friend and her family. In college when I thought of spring break my mind went to beaches, partying, friends, etc. Not anymore! Being a full time teacher a week off to relax in the mountains was just what I needed. It wasn't warm relaxation though- it's April and we saw snow. No joke.. I need spring to arrive and stay put! 

We left the Monday after Easter and spent the first day checking out the area and really just taking it easy. The rest of the trip was full of shopping, eating and napping. Those 3 things took up the majority of our time and this girl is not complaining. There were outlets less than a mile away from where we were staying so we spent an entire day doing damage there. We also did a little sweet tooth damage at Mast General Store which has every type of candy you could possibly imagine. I saw candy I haven't seen since I was at least 10!

Ashley's family has a way of scoping out the absolute best restaurants when they go on vacation. I am positive I gained 10+ pounds this week! I wish I had taken pictures of more of my meals/restaurants but I get super awkward sitting at the table trying to inconspicuously snap a picture of my plate. I don't know how so many bloggers get all these good meal pictures!  I did manage to get one of the BEST salad. It had strawberries, roasted cashews and an assortment of other things in it. The bloody mary to drink made it that much better! (Side note- that is my all time favorite type of drink)

Ashley and I ventured into Boone on our snow day to do some shopping and explore ASU. While I was in the area I had the pleasure of meeting the sweet Melody from Sweet Like a Song. It was SO nice to put a face to the blog! She was an absolute joy to meet!!

That night I went out with an old friend from high school that currently attends ASU. I love checking out other college towns! 

It was an absolute PERFECT get away!! Now that I've had that last dose of winter lets pretty please move onto spring!

Easter Recap

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter! Mine was absolutely perfect spent with family and friends! I started off Easter at church. It was a wonderful service that really reminded me the reason for Easter Sunday. It's so easy to get caught up in time off work, food, presents, etc but it's important to take a step  back and remember that Jesus died on the cross to save us of our sins. He then rose from the dead. He is alive. 

"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24

After church mom cooked a huge lunch for the family and we had a small picture session. 

After lunch Ashley came over and we enjoyed the 

rest of Easter with wine, a fire pit and girl talk. Perfection for sure

We're now off to the mountains for the week! Ohh I love spring break!! (: