Thankful Thursday

I can barely put into words how much has happened over the last two weeks, but I'll try. Spring break. Pack. Clean. Throw away. Pack. Clean. Throw away. Pack. Pack. Pack. 10 hour road trip in one day. Pack. Pack. Throw away. B's birthday bonanza. Pack. Move. Unpack. Sort. Unpack. Back to work.

I've moved, and I just LOVE my new home. Love, love, LOVE it! The time had come for me to part ways with my sweet little 550 square foot apartment. Although I have some very sweet memories of my 5.5 years spent there, I do not even sorta regret leaving. My new place is so pretty. And 300 square feet bigger. And everything in it works. And boy, it's pretty...although I may have already mentioned that :)

My new goal is to live life with way, WAY less stuff than I had in my old apartment. I'm pretty sure it's against the laws of...physics? nature? common sense?...to cram that much stuff into 550 square feet. I was beyond embarrassed that I was able to give away 135 articles of clothing and 13 pairs of shoes. I lost count of how many bags of junk I hauled up to the dumpster. Yikes. Between now and the end of summer, my plan is to go through every item I currently possess and decide if it deserves to live here with me. I'm very excited about simplifying my life and am sharing here so that anybody who reads this will be able to hold me accountable. I'm serious...stay on me about it!

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord and some great opportunities for reflection this Holy Week
• my sweet, wonderful B...he tells me very often how beautiful, funny, and talented he thinks I am, and I don't think he has any idea how happy that makes me!
• my family and friends
• the chance to celebrate my sweet Bubba's birthday on Tuesday...LOVE get-togethers with the fam. Happy birthday, Bub!
• my health, and the health of my loved ones
• the chance to celebrate Easter this weekend with most of my favorite people
• a fun birthday celebration for B at Firebirds with Angie and her JJ...the food and company were both delightful
• my job, my darling schoolbabies, my coworkers, my paycheck
• payday right around the corner
• a roof over my head, food in my fridge, clean running water, clothes in my closet, shoes on my feet, vitamins, allergy medicine, electricity, internet, my phone, a dependable car, a salary that provides for my needs
• the 5.5 years I had a washer and dryer provided for me...I'm now saving to buy my own and am realizing how thankful I should've been when I had a washer and dryer at my disposal!
• the gorgeous cherry tree right outside my new living room windows
• my Brita pitcher
• great new lotion
• patience and deep breaths
• a mama who never makes me feel guilty when I vent to her
• a daddy who remembers to fix me chicken when the rest of the family feasts on something disgusting (like shrimp)
• two sweet grandparents who just dote on their grandbabies...love you, Mimi and Grandad!
• starting to feel settled in my new casa
• good sleep
• contentment
• the weekend!
• a trip to Virginia and D.C. that will be here in less than a month
• a really fun date night with B yesterday...pork & grits and sangria at Jim 'N Nick's (way, way yum), lots and lots and lots of laughs...that fella is good for me
• fun plans over the next few weeks
• Pepper Place market opening up soooooon...so excited!
• the unseasonably, unnecessarily cold weather we've had this week, because it'll make me appreciate warmer weather even more
• fun mail
• a life filled with loved ones and opportunities

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord
• my sweet, handsome, patient B...he has been so sweet to put up with a stressed out girlfriend the last couple of weeks...I just lurv him
• my wonderful family and friends
• my health, and the health of my loved ones
• a couple of long chats with my mama this week
• my job, my absolutely precious schoolbabies, and my coworkers
• a very successful, very fun Pi Day celebration yesterday
• excellent behavior from my students on our field trip today
• spring break starting at 3:15 tomorrow!
• choosing a job that allows me to still have a spring break
•  a roof over my head, clean running water, food in my fridge, shoes on my feet, clothes in my closet, enough money to take care of my needs, a dependable and totally paid-off car
• my appliances...they make my life so much more convenient
• my Brita pitcher
• vitamins
• patience, and opportunities to show grace multiple times every day...I need the practice!
• a gorgeously gorgeous early spring day today...spectacularly pretty
• blooming Bradford pear trees
• warm, pretty weather forecasted for this weekend
• sunscreen
• one last weekend to spend in my little home...granted, I'll spend it packing everything up, but it'll be a nice chance to say goodbye
• moving day coming up next week...SO excited!!!!
• being able to time my move with spring break...not necessarily the most relaxing way to celebrate a week off of work, but it'll be so much easier to get it all done without having to worry about work
• spring break
• B's birthday next week...excited to celebrate him!
• sunshine
• the sweet, very smart new student Carrie got this week...I only get to teach him for an hour and a half every day, but I'm happy he's joined our "team"
• getting to spend the day with darling Melynda on our field trip...she's so fun!
• being back in my regular tutoring schedule this week...I've missed it these last 3 weeks and was so happy to get back to normal
• our D.C. trip being planned and ready, for the most part
• spring break
• getting to see Daddy's pictures...I'm so happy we got him that fancy-schmancy camera for Christmas, and it's exciting to see his skills improve
• arms and legs that are strong enough to allow me to do the things I want to do
• laughter and contentment
• sweet memories
• spring break

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord
• my sweet, handsome B and all the fun he brings to my world
• my lovely family and friends
• one week until spring break
• my job, my incredible schoolbabies who keep me on my toes, my coworkers
• a roof over my head, clothes in my closet, shoes on my feet, clean running water, food in my fridge, a comfortable bed, a jacket to keep me warm on these unnecessarily cold days, my phone, my computer, a paid-off and dependable car
• enough money to cover my needs
• my sewing machine
• experiences that keep me humble, like B having to tell me that, while I did a BEAUTIFUL job sewing his patches on, my placement was off...and the only way to fix that was to completely pull the patches off and start over...awesome...color me humbled :)
• my seam ripper
• my Brita pitcher
• prayers
• reminders to keep in touch with my family and friends and to tell them often how much I love them...you just never know, folks...
• The Bible miniseries on History Channel...I'm hooked after one episode and can't wait to see the rest
• laughter
• some nice warm sunshine today!
• springing forward an hour this weekend...will miss that extra sleep fo sho, but can't WAIT to have more sunshine in my life
• one week until spring break
• vitamins
• lotion...winter and my skin hate each other
• a successful D.C. parent meeting Tuesday night...while staying at school from 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM is never on my short list of favorite things, it went well and now I feel like the hardest part is over
• being literate and getting back to my regular tutoring schedule next week
• comfortable shoes
• Pinterest
• the chance to see a sweet friend (and her babes) this weekend!
• a weekend OFF for B and a chance to spend some time with him
• gorgeous weather forecasted for this weekend
• seeing this letter on my door today....basically, I have to have my bedroom closet and my laundry "nook" and my entire bathroom completely empty by next Wednesday so that they can replace the pipes...a crew will be working in every, single apartment to replace the water pipes...looks like they'll still be here when I get home after work...awesome...just the latest in a LONG list of reasons why I'm thankful to be moving out and moving on in 2 weeks
• one week until spring break

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall! Get out there and do something fun!

Thankful Thursday...better late than never

This week has been mind-blowingly busy. I can't remember the last time I was this drained and worn out. VERY much in need of a weekend and so thankful it's finally here!

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord
• my handsome, wonderful B and the new things I learn about him nearly every day
• my silly, precious family and friends
• the realization that, not only can B cheer me up out of a serious funk, but he can be really honest with me in the sweetest, most supportive way possible...LOVE that about him
• 6 months next week :)
• my job and my wonderfully go-with-the-flow schoolbabies...I don't even want to think about them leaving me in May :(
• the tremendous effort that has gone into planning our D.C. trip...we've been pouring all our energy into it, and I know it'll pay off
• springing forward an hour next weekend...I'll miss the hour of sleep but am SO ready for extra daylight
• a roof over my head, clean running water, food in my fridge, clothes in my closet, shoes on my feet, my phone, my computer, the dishwasher, a place to get in out of the cold, a soft place to lay my head at night
• the cold snap we're having this weekend...SURELY this is winter's last gasp and springtime is around the corner, right???
• deciding to pray for grace this week, and many opportunities to practice showing it
• the arrival of March, because it's the birthday month of some of my favorite people!
• no more night shifts for B until May...woohoo!!!!
• my sewing skills, which allowed me to sew new patches onto B's shirts...makes me feel useful, which is one of my favorite ways to feel
• vitamins
• lotion...winter and my skin are not friends
• spring break in TWO weeks!
• paying my last rent today for my current little home...this time next month, I'll be in my new abode and I'm SO looking forward to it!
• long walks
• sunshine
• getting to catch up on Justified with B last night
• getting back into my lesson planning/paper grading groove
• a very fun science experiment with my students yesterday, and a ready-made opportunity to show a little grace
• being literate and being able to get back to my regular tutoring schedule after next week
• contentment
• laughter
• spring break in TWO weeks!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord
• my wonderful, handsome B
• my sweet, goofy family and friends
• my health, and the health of my loved ones
• my job, my sweet schoolbabies, my coworkers, and my income
• a roof over my head, clean running water, food in my fridge, shoes on my feet, clothes in my closet, a comfortable bed, a budget and the ability to stick to it, enough money to take care of my needs, a fuel-efficient car
• the fact that I am literate, and the opportunity to work with a gentleman every week to help make his literacy dreams take shape
• spring break in 3 weeks...thanks for the reminder, Carrie!
• a couple of good, long walks this week
• the ability to sew
• vitamins
• grapes and apples, which I have been eating with wild abandon lately
• feeling left out, because it reminds me that there's more to life than being like everyone else
• my phone and computer, because they keep me connected
• the sun shining later into the evenings
• the enthusiasm my students have for the American Revolution these days...makes my history-loving heart happy
• a duty-free lunch tomorrow
• all the boxes that have come my way lately...I love things that make packing easier, and for free :)
• Downton Abbey, even though the season finale made me oh so sad
• getting to catch up on Justified with B this weekend
• silly, sarcastic senses of humor
• Pinterest
• answered and unanswered prayers
• contentment
• a fun weekend to look forward to
• spring break in 3 weeks...I'm pretty sure it bears repeating :)

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!

Thankful Thursday, now that it's Friday and all

When Thursday involves an ice cream sundae party for 27 fifth graders, your first Valentine's Day with your handsome boyfriend, cooking up a homemade feast for said boyfriend, and trying to track down your social butterfly grandmother to wish her a happy 29th birthday, it's okay to do Thankful Thursday on Friday, right?

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord
• my handsome, thoughtful, wonderful B
• my sweet family and friends
• another birthday for my sweet Mimi yesterday, and the fact that I was finally able to get her on the phone about 9:30 last night...I adore her and I hope she plans on having many, many more birthdays
• a roof over my head, clean running water, food in my fridge, clothes in my closet, shoes on my feet, hot showers, soap, a comfy bed, a paid-off car, enough money to take care of my needs, my computer, my phone
• being literate and an opportunity every week to help a hard-working, upbeat gentleman improve his reading skills
• my job, my sweet (and very active) schoolbabies, coworkers who make me laugh every day
• the fact that my Valentine's Day supper turned out well...braised beef short ribs (fall-off-the-bone deliciousness), homemade mashed potatoes (lumpy perfection), corn (B loves it), and Oreo balls (um, yum)
• the swoon-worthy handwritten message in my card from B last night...he made sure the message in my card was nice and long and heartfelt because he knew it was exactly what I wanted...he couldn't have gotten me anything I would've loved more! 
• a wide-open weekend to look forward to
• finally feeling well and back to normal...praise the Lord!
• moving day in one month!
• my tiny little home and the memories I've made here over the last 5 years...I know I'll be a little sad to leave, but sometimes change is a very good thing
• vitamins
• long walks
• great music
• a new issue of Food Network magazine in my mailbox yesterday...awesome idea for a Christmas present, Maw and Paw!
• the incredibly fun tax game I played with my students last week and this week...they hated having to give their Skittles to Queen Johnston, but I know they enjoyed the game (especially when they finally got to eat their Skittles today)...hoping they learned something from the experience!
• the sweet, sweet Valentine's Day cards and goodies I got from my schoolbabies yesterday
• pretty daffodils and tulips and chirpy birds that remind me that spring is just around the corner
• a bit of beautiful weather to end the week after days of rain
• the COLD weather forecasted for this weekend...I'm determined to enjoy it even though I'm so ready for sunshine and 60 degrees 
• Downton Abbey
• inspiration to re-read Redeeming Love...Nicole, thanks for reminding me how awesome that book is
• a birthday lunch for Mimi and Mama planned Sunday
• the chance to rest and relax and read and clean and catch up on life this weekend

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!

Thankful Thursday

I'm still under the weather. I'm tired. I'm tired of functioning at just 70 %. I'm ready for the weekend. Still, I'm so blessed. I'm officially done complaining. To quote the Lumineers, it's better to feel pain [sinus or otherwise] than nothing at all. Well said, guys.

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord
• my handsome B and the way he makes me laugh every. single. day.
• my dear family and friends
• a roof over my head, shoes on my feet, clean clothes in my closet, food in my fridge, clean running water, a comfortable bed, a dishwasher, hot showers, soap, a fuel-efficient car, enough money to cover my needs, a new budget that reminds me how unnecessary most of my "wants" are
• my job, my sweet little schoolbabies, the supportive parents of my schoolbabies, and my precious coworkers
• the fact that my "colonists" haven't yet staged a revolt, even though evil Queen Johnston has been taxing them Skittles all week long
• Career Day coming up tomorrow...one of my favorite days of the whole school year!
• a nice, long chat with Sash last night
• getting to catch up with Mimi and Grandad over the phone...love those two crazy kids
• a phone call from my darling Bub the other day...he makes me prouder of him every time we talk
• my phone and the way it helps me stay in touch with my people
• a visit to the ol' Johnston homestead (and a visit with sweet Mr. Steele) last Saturday
• a weekend off for B and a couch date planned to catch up on Justified...the perfect evening :)
• vitamins and Advil
• the memories of all those times when I felt really great...still waiting for this sinus pain to pack up and leave me the heck alone
• my fuzzy slippers
• the EXCITING news that I'm moving to a brand new little home next month!!!!!!! Well, it's certainly not brand new, but it's new to me. I'm so excited!
• orders for a birthday banner and some burp cloths this week...I better get to sewing. Extra moolah? Yes, please!
• lotion and Cetaphil face wash
• a gorgeous, sunshiney day yesterday
• a long walk yesterday afternoon...I enjoyed it even though it led to a coughing fit that only lasted, you know, all night
• the opportunity to tutor a very hard-working gentleman every week...his reading skills are getting better and better, and I just love getting to see his confidence level increase every session. What a blessing!
• getting to take some pictures last weekend
• the delectable treat I made this afternoon...it sounds so simple that you wonder how it could be anything special, but trust me...it is. Way, way yum. Simple and tasty is my kinda food. Thanks, Pinterest!
• my Brita pitcher
• contentment
• great music...the Lumineers are currently making my musical world go 'round...I think they're just about the coolest (after Mumford and Sons, of course)

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord
• answered prayers and unanswered prayers
• my handsome B, who wants to spend time with me even when I'm under the weather
• my darling family and friends
• a roof over my head, food in my fridge, clean running water, shoes on my feet, clothes in my closet, a cozy bed, a place to go to get out of the cold
• payday today...woohoo!
• sunshine, even though the temperature hasn't quite gotten the message
• vitamins, Mucinex, Airborne, my Neti pot, and Breathe Right strips
• my sinuses, even though they're currently not pulling their weight...makes me appreciate all those times when they actually do
• my job, my sweet little schoolbabies, my fun coworkers, and our lovely building
• a nice little dinner date with Sash tonight
• a wide-open weekend just around the corner
• fun lessons and new ideas to teach my students
• my camera, although I'm sure it's feeling quite neglected these days
• emails and phone calls from sweet friends
• finding something other than junk mail in my mailbox...I love fun snail mail!
• my XM radio
• blue skies after all the rain we've had lately
• the start of a brand new month tomorrow
• happy news today
• getting to hold sweet Baby Cole this afternoon
• laughter
• contentment
• the pretty daffodils I saw Teri carrying this morning...they always make me think of Mama and springtime

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!

Thankful Thursday, Sunday-style

An inexcusable amount of time has passed since my last post. I won't even try to catch up in words. Instead, for your viewing pleasure, here ya go.

{Bub gave me a beautiful, precious sister-in-law.}

{Most of the members of the Johnston clan came to celebrate the first Johnston grandkid nuptials.}

{This handsome fella made a girlfriend out of me.}

{Bub and O brought sweet baby Molly home.}

{This happened.}

{We made it to Auburn for one of the 3 wins this season. Still love them Tigers.}

{We gave thanks.}

{I bought a new dress and got to wear a pretty corsage and got to show off my pretty parents.}

{B spent 5 days in the hospital slaying a blood clot. I spent 3 nights with him, the last of which was a very stressful, completely sleepless one in the ICU. The nurses fell in love with him and made him a crown.}

{We Christmased.}

{We celebrated the end of one year and the start of another.}

Life is good. Busy, and often less than perfect, but always good.

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord and second (and 5 billionth) chances
• my sweet, handsome B
• my goofy, supportive, lovely family and friends
• all of B's family members, on both sides, who make me feel welcome and loved and like I'm part of the gang
• my job, my ridiculously sweet 27 schoolbabies, coworkers that light up my days, and our wonderful building
• a roof over my head, shoes on my feet, clothes in my closet, clean running water, food in my fridge, enough money to cover my needs, a warm and cozy bed
• my newly-implemented budget...while it has cut out nearly all of my fun money, it's for the greater good (or so I keep telling myself!)
• our upcoming school trip to D.C.
• vitamins and Mucinex-D
• Downton Abbey
• good, long phone conversations this week that helped me stay connected to my people
• a fun day out on the town with the parents last Saturday...they make me happy
• our FriendshipFest Lite in Montgomery last Sunday...I love my friends!
• green smoothies
• a potential new home in the works...crossing my fingers but trying to be content with what I have while I have it!
• a nice warm-up this weekend...it's becoming clearer to me every winter that seriously cold weather ain't my thang (I enjoy a good, cozy fire, scarves, hot chocolate, and all that jazz, but I'm never sad to see the 50s return.)
• 8-hours-of-sleep kinda nights
• lotion
• laughter
• contentment
• learning something new each and every day

Happy new week, yall!

Thankful Thursday

Dear merciful heavens. I just realized it's been nearly a month since I posted, and that makes me a bit sad. Life is unrelentingly busy right now, and while it's mostly a good busy, it's still just a busy busy. I'm working every single day to keep my head above water, some days more successfully than others. Life is so good, but I'm just trying to hang on right now. Maybe things will slow down soon, and then I'll get to complain about being bored. :)

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord and His tremendous patience with me...maybe someday I won't test it so much!
• my precious family and too-good-to-me friends
• my sweet, sweet Daddy and the fact that he decided to be born today some years ago...I think you hung the moon, Paw, and I can't wait to celebrate you this weekend! Happy birthday and I love you bunches!
• my health, and the health of my loved ones
• some good news from Mom yesterday
• my job, my absolutely wonderful students (I seriously mean that...they're incredible), coworkers that keep me laughing, and our lovely building
• a new MARRIAGE to celebrate in exactly one month...I am so excited for Bub and Olivia I can hardly stand it!!!!
• my (currently...ha) tidy little home
• a roof over my head, shoes on my feet, clothes in my closet, food in my fridge, clean running water, a paid-off and very dependable car, enough money to take care of my needs
• eyes that see, ears that hear, a nose that smells, hands and feet and arms and legs that work the way they're supposed to, a brain that thinks like it should
• words of wisdom from Mimi and Grandad...I love them more than they'll ever know
• Tuesday afternoon tutoring sessions...they very often make the rest of my week sunshiney 
• the arrival of glorious fall weather this week...this lifts my spirits like very little else this time of year
• a fun day planned at school tomorrow...Fun Run...Staff vs. Students volleyball game...water balloon over the head for yours truly
• the excitement my students have over being able to pop a water balloon over their teacher's head...they have been waiting for this for weeks :)
• my students wanting to call Daddy today and sing "Happy Birthday" to him...they loved it, and I think he loved it even more
• the Monday morning prayer group that Renita leads...what a great way to start off the week!
• being able to open my windows and turn off the AC
• laughter
• fun plans over the next handful of weeks
• peace and contentment
• grace
• fun plans this weekend

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall! Get out there and do something fun with it!

Thankful Thursday

I'm back, after a very unintentional hiatus. School has started back and I have an INCREDIBLE class (yay!), but I'm still working to get to the point where my head is above water. I'm not there yet...maybe soon!

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord and His endless love, mercy, grace, wisdom, and patience
• my family and friends
• my health, and the health of my loved ones
• my job, my incredible coworkers, our lovely building, and the fabulous little people I get to spend my days with...I can't describe how much I adore my new class
• a long weekend coming up
• clean running water, food in my fridge, a roof over my head, a lovely bed to sleep in, shoes on my feet, clothes in my closet, hot showers and the feeling of being clean
• my aching feet and legs, because that means I have them
• the complete and utter exhaustion that has come over me this week, because it means I'm giving all I can to my students
• a brain that remembers everything I stuff in it, eyes that see, ears that hear, hands and arms that do exactly what I need them to do
• a long weekend coming up
• payday tomorrow!
• all the growing and learning I've done in the last 365 days; I hope to keep growing and learning and to never get back to that place
• clarity and contentment (working on that one each and every day!)
• the kickoff of Auburn's football season in TWO days...War Eagle, friends!!!!
• some really, truly dependable people who swoop in around me when I'm feeling discouraged
• thoughtfulness...have you done something thoughtful for someone today? If not, get after it!
• a long weekend coming up
• getting to tutor an adult learner every week...I've gotten past the nerves and look forward to it every single week...such a blessing to me!
• early bedtimes...if being in bed by 8:30 is wrong, I sure don't wanna be right
• the fact that, unlike this time last year, I don't look like Garth Brooks
• funny church marquee sayings
• a few chances coming up to celebrate my brother and sister-in-law-to-be...I love them like crazy and I'm so excited for them!
• the fact that Hurricane Isaac wasn't any worse than it has been...I know the flooding is a huge bummer, but at least it seems like that's all it will be...prayers to those who are in the path
• my Brita pitcher
• my commitment to wearing a dress or skirt every day this week...so far, so good...and SO much more comfortable in the 1,000% humidity than pants
• vitamin C
• my computer
• emails and texts that make me smile
• blog friends who still love me when I disappear for weeks at a time
• a chance to sit and rest and just BE this weekend...very much-needed...praise the Lord!
• a long weekend coming up
• this song, which has earned lots of playtime in my world this week...(Kate, I'm so sorry if this makes you want to pour bleach in your ears. I know you despise Sugarland and I'm not a huge fan myself, but I do like this song. You're gonna have to build a bridge, sweet girl!)

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!

Whole30 recap

My Whole30 adventure wrapped itself up on Sunday, and I've got lots to share! Thanks so much for all the support, well-wishes, and love during this journey. It means so much to me!

After navigating through the first few "give me carbs before I kill you" days, I really felt the best I have in a long time. I had more energy, and I felt stronger, lighter, and bloat-free. You know how you sometimes feel like you're stuffed to the gills when you eat a carb-heavy meal? I never, ever felt like that when I stuck to meat and veggies. It was much easier to stop eating right before I was completely full. That was a nice surprise! I also noticed that I was better able to concentrate, I felt more productive, and I slept really well. The purpose of this challenge is not to lose weight, but it was a welcome side effect for me :) Over the course of 30 days, I lost 14 pounds...without anything but walking for exercise. This has also completely changed the way I look at food, eating, and preparing meals. I really, really don't miss many of the foods I used to eat, and I'm actually still eating mostly Whole30-approved foods.

I highly recommend the Whole30. I also recommend jumping in absolutely head-first cold turkey. There's no way you'll be successful on this plan if you "ease yourself in" or allow cheats. No way at all. It's only 30 days. Suck it up, buttercup!

Helpful hints:

• Have a blender handy. Mine got a near-daily workout.
• You'll be washing lots of dishes. Ready yourself...or your dishwasher.
• Eat plenty of protein and good fats (avocados, olive oil, nuts). This will keep you from being hungry an hour after you eat.
• Use lots of spices to jazz up your veggies. My faves were cinnamon, onion powder, salt, and red pepper flakes.
• Try the Cinnamon Steak. And the Avocado Chicken Salad. And the Ropa Vieja. You won't be sorry.
• Find and make lots of new recipes. It'll keep you from getting bored.
• Eat way more veggies than fruit. Fruit is really good for you, but it's gots the sugar. And sugar is sugar, no matter where it comes from.
• Figure out a way to enjoy the large amount of food prep that goes along with this. You'll be spending a lot of time in the kitchen, so you might as well get a kick out of it!
• Do your homework before going out to eat. Chipotle was my go-to place during my adventure. I honestly think it's just easier to not eat out while you're eating this way. It may not be fun, but at least you know exactly what you're eating if you prepare it at home!
• Plan your meals ahead of time. I literally planned out all of my breakfasts, lunches, suppers, and snacks for a week. It made me feel more confident to know exactly what I was going to eat and when, and it took away the fear of that "Oh no, it's time to eat and I'm ravenous and the only thing available is deep-fried mac and cheese with donuts on top!" moment. Not that that moment ever happened, mind you, but it could. Gotta use your noggin. 
• Keep a journal detailing what you ate and how you felt. That's what I did through my blog. It was interesting to see what I had eaten on the days I didn't feel great. That helped me to make quick and easy changes.

I'm planning to not stray too far from this way of eating in the future.  I have eaten a few non-Whole30 foods this week, and while I haven't gotten sick, I don't feel as light and bouncy as I did during my challenge. I need to get back on track! If you have any questions, PLEASE let me know. I'd love to talk you through all of this. And if you decide to dive in, I'll be there to talk you off the ledge when the fried rice cravings push you to the brink :)

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

• the good Lord and His never-ending grace
• my family and friends
• my health, and the health of my loved ones
• one last, precious weekend of summer break
• a wonderful job to return to next week
• new kiddos headed to my classroom in two weeks!
• a roof over my head, shoes on my feet, clothes in my closet, food in my fridge, clean running water available any time I want it, a dependable car, electricity, internet, my dishwasher, my phone, enough money to take care of my needs (and every now and then, my wants)
• the decision to tackle the Whole30
• a very fun dinner out with Sasha tonight...much-needed, and I'm already looking forward to our next "date night"
• FriendshipFest'12 right around the corner!!! Excited for a weekend with my friends!
• a fun, very quick trip to Atlanta with my Mimi at the beginning of the week...this will get its own post soon
• getting to visit with Cousin Jerry while in Atlanta...he's one of my favorite people on the planet, and I'm so very proud of him
• the fact that Bub and Olivia were able to find a new venue for their reception after their first one cancelled on them...two months before the wedding...yikes
• friends that share their joys and their heartaches with me...thinking of you, sweet friend (you know who you are)
• a comfortable bed to climb in at the end of a long day
• my Brita pitcher
• the two tutoring sessions I have under my belt...I never would've guessed how much I would like teaching adults, but I just LOVE it and am already looking forward to next week!
• clarity and insight
• summer break
• an interview for a dear friend tomorrow...I know she'd love some prayers at about 10:00 AM tomorrow!
• the way the good Lord is moving and shaking in my life these days
• some reminders to get out of the way and let Him drive :)
• taking a lunch break in my classroom with Lauren today...I think she's pretty awesome
• a brain that works like it's supposed to
• arms and legs that can handle doing what I need to do every day
• hears that hear, eyes that see, a nose that smells
• contentment that grows every day
• summer break, for just a little while longer :)

HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!

Whole30 : Day 22 - 26

Day 22 (8/4):

• breakfast -- scrambled eggs (1 whole, 2 whites) with spinach and cherry tomatoes, one peach
• lunch -- Avocado Chicken Salad
• snack -- four baby carrots (not very hungry)
• supper -- Ropa Vieja (made it without the cauliflower "rice") with wilted spinach, one peach

Day 23 (8/5):

• breakfast -- leftover Ropa Vieja with wilted spinach
• lunch -- family Sunday lunch...steak salad (greens, grilled steak, squash, sliced tomato, homemade red wine vinaigrette), watermelon
• supper -- leftover Avocado Chicken Salad

Day 24 (8/6):

• breakfast -- leftover Avocado Chicken Salad, one peach
• lunch -- Orchard Salad (no cheese or dressing) from The Vineyard Cafe 
• snack -- 1/2 Cherry Pie Larabar (split it with Mimi)
• supper -- Roasted Turkey Cobb Salad (no cheese or dressing) from Yard House

Day 25 (8/7):

• breakfast -- Justin's Almond Butter and a Cherry Pie Larabar (This was to avoid having to eat the hotel's continental breakfast. I didn't see anything that fit in my guidelines, so I improvised.)
• lunch -- grilled chicken breast with pico de gallo and steamed green beans from Lone Star
• snack -- watermelon
• supper -- leftover Ropa Vieja with wilted spinach

Day 26 (8/8):

• breakfast -- scrambled eggs with spinach, baby tomatoes, and baby carrots
• lunch -- leftover grilled chicken from Lone Star, sliced tomato, watermelon
• snack -- two handfuls of walnuts/almonds
• supper -- leftover Ropa Vieja with wilted spinach, one peach

I can't believe I've only got four more days left!! Day 24 and 25 were a bit tough, only because I was out of town. I took a quick, very fun trip to Atlanta with my Mimi, and we did most of our eating at restaurants. Eating out is the only time I feel a bit of despair over my Whole30 commitment. Sometimes it's hard to find meals that you can eat, and even if the description sounds Whole30 compliant, you have no idea how it's being prepared. That led me to some salads with no dressing. Not my favorite in the whole world, but you do what ya gotta do!

The Ropa Vieja is seriously tasty. My only complaint is that the cut of meat called for in the recipe produced more fat at the end than I enjoy eating. I was able to skim much of it off, but I'm going to research leaner cuts of beef that would still work with the recipe. I did LOVE that it's made in the Crockpot. That'll be perfect for when I start work again (uh.....next week).

I would like to try the cauliflower "rice" that's part of PaleOMG's Ropa Vieja post, but I couldn't find any fresh cauliflower. I'm thinking that's more of a fall/winter veggie.

I'm still feeling GREAT and I'm actually planning to not stray far from my Whole30 lifestyle when my 30 days are over. I plan to allow myself a few "cheats" every now and then, but I feel so good and don't want to undo all my hard work! Four more days :)

Update : Operation Death, Destruction, Gloom, and Doom

I posted Sunday about being completely, totally overrun with ants. Okay, "completely, totally overrun" is a bit dramatic. But I did have ants, and I wanted them gone.

I'm here to report that the Borax/jelly worked like a charm! I set the little baits out Sunday night, went out of town yesterday, and returned today to an ant-free home. Yay! I'm going to put out fresh ones tonight to kill any hardy little survivors, but I'm feeling pretty optimistic that this idea is a keeper. Thanks a bunch, Make It Do!