Thing 4- Advice

I missed a day on my 30 day challenge. :( Work is just too hectic at times!  Well thing 4 is all about 10 pieces of advice I'd give my 16-year old self!

1. Take any travel opportunity you can! The working world you get for the rest of your life!

2. Spend as much time with your family (Aunts and Uncles) as you can! ...you never know when they won't be around!

3. Enjoy mom's cooking to its very most! Even if its oober healthy...you won't find better.

4. Never quick singing and playing the piano!!

5. Develop a sense of self worth...it doesn't matter how well others think you are doing...its all about being proud of yourself.

6. Be spontaneous! You don't need to be planned a month in advance!

7. Friends will evolve as you do...THAT IS OKAY!!

8. Don't go to bed mad at your friend....it's so not worth it!

9. Enjoy your brother every moment you can....it's not as much fun when you are big and no longer living in the same house.

10. Take shop class....mechanics is actually a super cool thing!!

These are a little random! I'd like to hear what you would have told yourself.

Side note: So last night I made a deliciously wonderful supper...but then I wasn't hungry anymore... so it became a deliciously wonderful lunch today! I will try to post the recipe tomorrow! You must try it!

Much love! From your very own tired out Canadian girl!

Thing # 3- Family

Describe your relationship with your parents...this was the original question, but I'm changing this to family.

I am very close with  my family! I feel very fortunate that we are all so close! I am not one to talk on the phone for hours, so living 5 hours from my parents and 4 provinces away from my sister and 8 hours from my brother is never easy. Growing up my brother and I were what you would call besties...so it is especially hard having him so far away. For the most part my parents and I see eye to eye...except for the odd thing. What I know though is that they are always there for me...whether it is dad giving me money or car advice, or mom giving me relationship advice. I am VERY lucky to have the parents I have.

Also...this challenge is not my own idea, so I must give credit to its creator...http://cherishinghopesanddreams.blogspot.ca/2012/01/30-things.html

Side story: Today a girl fell asleep in my class!! Legit! We were laughing hysterically and it still took a minute for her to wake up! I didn't realize I was that boring of a teacher! :D4

Tomorrow: Thing 4 and a tasty recipe!

Thing 2

Today's thing is : List 3 legitimate fears you have an explain how they became fears.

Fear #1- I am scared of bees and wasps. ....I must say I have developed some strategies of how to deal with this fear, but it has taken 20 years to figure develop these skills. When I was 3, we were saying goodbye to some company outside, my mother holding me. I don't know how, but a bee flew in my mouth. I think I was stung, but to be honest I really can't remember. But since that day I have been so scared of bees etc. I used to screen and run away...this  I did for many years...even to the point of crying. Now I just close my eyes and hope and pray that the bee or wasp or hornet just leaves me alone.

Fear #2- Having someone close to me die. I don't know how this fear developed, but I do know that I am sure it is because I become attached to people so fast. I am a person who feels things deeply. When someone else is sad...I hurt.

Fear #3- I am scared of hurting myself snowboarding. I have seen and heard of so many freak accidents. I hate wearing helmets, but I know they help so much. When I don't have my helmet with me, I take it easy, but pray that I don't take a random tumble that cracks my head. I am not too scared of breaking bones, but rather getting a concussion or worse, a head injury. That being said I still go hard at it every time I board!


No extra thoughts today....gotta rest up before getting back to work. :S

30 things

I am trying a thing I found on Pinterest...its called 30 things. I am going to try to write a post each day with one thing about myself...I would encourage you to join!! Write yours as a comment or even do it on your blog. If I get time I will also post some cool recipes! With my day off tomorrow I am going to plan out a healthy week meal plan with NEW recipes! 

Well here goes my first item of the 30 things challenge...List 20 random facts about yourself.

1) I have never been on a cruise before.

2) I didn't own a cell phone until I went away to University (Kids nowadays have them by the time their 10!)

3) I started piano lessons in Grade 2 and Singing lessons when I was 12. 

4) I get more nervous performing in front of people I know than a large crowd of unknowns.

5) I LOVE Pinterest.

6) My bedtime routine is : Scramble with Friends, Words with Friends, Draw Something and Pinterest!

7) The furthest away from home I've been : Kenya. 

8) My birthday is ALWAYS close to May long weekend...or part of the weekend!

9) I love FIVE gum.

10) I could look through showhomes all day long.

11) I love sending and receiving snail mail...I need to be better at sending!

12) I used to be a big tom boy...inside I still am!

13) If I had the money, I would drive a truck with a 6inch lift.

14) I have been a maid of honor twice.

15) I used to want 6 kids.

16) I've always dreamed of adopting. 

17) I am currently highjacking a parking stall...FOR FREE!! ...been for months!

18) The last time I moved houses was all of 1 1/2 blocks away.

19) I love people watching!

20) I love Sunday Drives. 

There you have it! Hope you enjoy and check back for tomorrows! 

March Madness

For all you crazy NBA fans...this post IS NOT going to be about basketball. I titled this post March Madness because I feel my life in the past month has been a whirlwind. I have disappeared from the blogging world due to a GIANT monster called report cards and parent teacher interviews. Thank goodness teachers also get this life saver called Spring Break! I have been able to catch up on all the lack of sleep that accumulated during report cards. I have got ALOT accomplished over my spring break but I will highlight just a few. 

Top 5 moments of Spring Break:

1. Not getting out of bed until noon on my first day of break!

2. Running 9.22 k with my sista!

3. Seeing my nephew turn 5 years old (I can remember when he was born!)

4. Doing my income tax on my own

5. Changing my laces on my hockey skates to PINK!!

I have also mastered a hairdo that my wonderful co-worker Stephania has been training me to do. My hair is thin so I have figured out it works best when it is crimped. Its simple, braid one braid and flip it over to the other side of you head, then pin it. Do the same to the other side. What you end up with is like a head band of two braids. For all you Pinterest peeps....this milkbraids hair do is found on Pinterest!

Now onto some recipes...the other day I made my favorite salad. It is my version of a greek salad. 

Here is what you need :

You can basically put what ever veggies you like into the salad. I dice then in bigger chunks than a normal salad. As well I cook cubed chicken breasts on the frying pan. I add Montreal Chicken spice and a bit of garlic to my chicken. When the chicken is cooked I add it to my salad. Add some feta cheese and....VOILA! I find it tasty with a balsamic vinaigrette. It is probably my MOST favorite salad for summer time...and well....I am convincing myself that summer is just around the corner!

Last but definitely not least....I found out about an hour ago that my uncle passed away. It is hard to imagine that he is actually gone, but I know it is for the best. For those of you who don't know...Uncle Alvin was about 60 years old and was diagnosed last summer with ALS (Lugerix disease). He has been in the hospital (or what he called prison) since January. He was an amazing man. Even though he had to sit day in and day out in the hospital, he approached the situation with great humility. I can only hope to be half the person that uncle was. Love you with all my heart and will miss you dearly.

Okay...this is becoming long and very sporadic tonight! Will hope to catch you up on my half marathon adventure SOON!

Goodnight friends!

Half Marathon Madness

Once upon a time, a girl named Maralee got asked by her sister to run a half of marathon. This girl Maralee had been wanting to run a 5K or 10K for over a year. This girl also really likes challenges, so she said YES to running a half marathon.


This little story all started on January 24, just over a month ago! Since then I have been training in the gym and outside, trying to build up endurance for this LONG run! 


I went out to Lulu and bought a midlayer for running outside. It has been perfect for the few early morning runs I have done. I also bought a Nike &Ipod sensor that goes with an app on my Iphone. As I run it tracks how far I'm running and it will tell me everytime I run another Km! I love it!!


So far I have been running 5 Ks both inside and out. I have been pushing myself to run everytime without stopping. This has happened almost 100% of the time! Today was an exciting workout day because I ran 7 K! I have been doing 5 in about 35 minutes and today I did 6.5 K in 40 minutes! In the next few weeks my goal is to push past the 10 K mark. 


One thing that has helped the training has been my diet. I have been ensuring that I am eating a healthy breakfast and bringing healthy lunches and snacks to school. What is the biggest challenge for me is when I go out to restaurants!! 


This has been probably the BIGGEST physical challenge I have given myself, but I am really excited to accomplish this BIG goal! I give credit to any of you who may run a full marathon!!


And my happily ever after ending is....can you guess?? ....Yes it is corrections, corrections corrections! Until next time!

A day of learning :)

Today I am attending my annual Teacher's Convention...This past week I have been trying to think of ideas of a final project for my students' book clubs. The students have been in groups reading different fantasy books. Along with that I have been reading a fantasy book to the class called The Tide Turner. Today I have found the inspiration to my final project! They are going to have to do an Animoto video! Attached is the link to the one I have created. I have yet to do a few changes, but check it out and enjoy!

http://animoto.com/play/EtdiDlDRwKiRiSLYB73V1g

Today on Animoto, I also found a video I have created in the past about Kenya. It brings many many warm memories to my mind. I have included the link as well if you want to share in my walk down memory lane!

http://animoto.com/play/WF1txi4B6JPQZzfalQKn9Q

This weekend my goal is to post a little bit about my half marathon training! Goodbye for now!