Miscellaneous Monday

Hey Y'all!

So I am currently working on my recap blog from my Disney Princess Half Marathon but having picture issues. Hopefully that will be up soon! But I have a few randoms for this fabulous Monday.

I hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day! Now I know most people and festivites occured on Saturday the 16th but I had to work. In fact I had to work all by myself. 70 students plus a guided tour and daily programs...needless to say the day went by fast but it was super busy. After work I ended up staying the night at a friend's house for girls night cause the next morning we were getting up early to head to Savannah!

My OOTD...Green Shorts & Chambray

I was super excited to see Savannah for St. Patrick's Day! We headed straight to Forsyth Park to see the green fountain! Only to be dissapointed :( They took the dye out that morning. Now why on earth they would take it out on the actual St. Patrick's Day beats me but it's still pretty.

I just love this fountain!

Spring Flowers!

 

 

We then headed down to River Street and had a drink from Wet Willie's. We decided to walk up to City Market because there wasn't much going on down on River Street. I'm so glad we went up there. There was a live band playing and so many people dancing and just having fun. We ended up being there from 2-6:30pm. We found our green beer, mulitple times, and just danced the afternoon away! It was the best and something I really needed after all the stress I've had lately.

 

You must have green beer on St. Patrick's Day

 

Buddy pose!

 

Uncle Bubba's for Dinner

 

 

St. Patrick's Day was one of the best day's I had in a long time! A much needed break from work.

 

I finished off my weekend with finding some delicious new snacks and painting my nails with new Essie polish.

 

These are like little cookies. 100 calories for three in a package. So good

 

Essie Play Date!

 

 

I hope everyone had a good St. Patrick's Day & Monday!

 

Love,

Heather

 



 

 



 

 

 

Blog hiatus

Hi Friends,

I realize I've been on quite the blog hiatus lately. Well I've decided it's time to start making it back to my blog. This is just a quick update blog to let y'all know I'll be back. I've got a couple blogs in the works but I want to finish them before posting. Hopefully there will be a new one up by this weekend recapping my amazing journey to The Disney Princess Half Marathon!

Stay tuned....
Heather

Getting ahold of the Classroom

Hi Friends,

So this post is for all the teachers out there. As part of my job I am teaching sea turtle programs classroom style. Today I had the hardest time getting the students to listen to me. I tried all my tricks in the bag and couldn't get them to pay attention. So my question for you teachers out there is....what are some of your tricks and tips for classroom management?

I want to be the best educator that I can and on days like today I feel like I failed. I would love to say that the rest of the day got better but all I could do was process what happened with the group this morning.

So friends, do you have any tips, tricks, websites, blogs, book, etc. that might help me out? I'm willing to look anywhere :)

Source: Uploaded by user via Heather on Pinterest

(I'm asking for help because I want to be all that I can be!)

Love,
Heather

Working things up

Hi Friends,

So as I've been promising here is my update on the move. Things have been pretty crazy since I moved so I haven't had time or energy really after work.

Well when I first got here, I couldn't even move into my house for 4 days because people hadn't moved out. So therefore I was living in Limbo buying things and storing them in my car until I could move in. Once I finally did move in, the whole house was disgusting. I had to do some intense cleaning. Here's an example of the bathroom...

eww...

umm how could someone shower in here?

the shower curtain was moldy! so gross!

 

And here is what the bathroom looks like after I got my hands on it...

So Much Better Now!

 

When I moved in there were dishes and trash all over the kitchen. It was quite horrible. Since I didn't get to move in until I started working, my nights were busy cleaning and organizing. I am somewhat satisfied with the house now. I had been sick for three weeks. The house was trying to kill me with a whole bunch of dust and mold. I ended up getting a sinus infection :(. It's all cured now for the most part.



 So like I said I jumped right into work. Now my position here is only a year temporary but I am loving the job so far. Now the politics surrounding the job and all the other crap outside of it, I'm not loving. There's definitely a lot of crap floating around which makes it weird. I've been doing pretty good at just staying positive. Yesterday though I had a break down.

 

I moved back here hoping to have all these exciting things happen. Not one has happened. Have you ever worked something so much up in your head and then when it happens you feel let down? Well that's how I've been feeling. I miss all the people I used to work with. I like some of the people now but it's not the same and they are all a good 5+ years younger than me. They are still stuck in that partying stage and I am not. I mean I am almost 28 but I feel like I am going on 40 around them. So the social aspect of being here hasn't gone as well as I'd like it too.

 

But on the other side the job part is going well. I love it. I'm starting to work on a project that I'm hoping I will be able to take to grad school. I officially know what I want to do for a career which feels fantastic. Now if I can just get there. That's always the question isn't it? Well at least I am on the right track.

 

With the Holidays here I am having a real time being away from family. I think that's what lead to my mental breakdown the other day. But I am trying to make the best of it and just go with the flow. Spending Holidays away from the family is one of the hardest things I've ever done. How do y'all do it if you are away from family? I'm just decorating like crazy. I'm hoping to do a post about all my decor next week (the roomies won't let me decorate until after Thanksgiving).

 

I've had some fun adventures along the way. I will try and blog about a couple of those soon. I just wanted to let everyone know what was going on. Super busy loving work, hating the politics, my house is trying to kill me, missing holidays at home, but staying positive! I'll leave you with one of the positives to living on an island...

Going to the beach! :)

 

 

Until next time,

Heather

 



NYC at Christmas

Hi Friends,

Long time no talk, I know. I promise to have an update on the move coming soon. Things have just been crazy busy and I've been battling a sickness for three weeks = lack of energy. Before I bring you the update on the move, I need some help.

I get the opportunity of a lifetime. It's been on my bucket list for as long as I remember. I get to go to NYC during Christmas time. I'm actually going the weekend of Thanksgiving. I will really only be there for about a day and a half meeting my mom but I'm so excited.

I need y'alls help. What are your top things to see in NYC at Christmas time? I am starting to form a list of my top priority things to see and would love your help.

Thanks Loves,
Heather

And I promise an update by next week :)

It's Official!

Hi Friends,

Guess what? It's Official! 

Source: google.com via Heather on Pinterest

I am signed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon on February 24, 2013!!!! I am registered and doing it! I can't even believe it. I mean I decided I wanted to do this but now that I am registered, I am REALLY doing it. 

It's going to take so much from me as I am not a runner. Well I don't consider myself a runner. But I saw this quote this morning on Runners World Magazine Facebook Page...

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." ~John Bingham

I loved this because it spoke to me. I am a runner because I try to be a runner. I may go slow. I may think people are staring at me thinking "what the heck is she doing". I may not be the fastest. But I am a runner! I can do this! It's all a mental game. 

My grandfather is 80 almost 81 and he still runs. If he can do it, so can I. I just have to put my mind to it and I definitely have. 

Source: bing.com via Heather on Pinterest

13.1 miles seems like a long distance. But I know I can do it. When I worked on the beach two summers ago I walked that and more just for work. I can do this. I think I will probably be doing the run/walk method that Jeff Galloway talks about. I think because of past knee injuries and just beginning this will be the best method for me. That is how I am training. 

I've been reading blogs on the race and it sounds amazing. Sounds like their are characters all along the way. My favorite part that I've read is people just having so much adrenaline from being at Disney World that it pushes them through the race. I am counting on that. I love me some Disney and am always on a high when I am there. 

I have a friend doing this with me and I am sure that will help as well. She's a great encouragement for me. Are any of you doing this race? What are your favorite parts about a race? Training tips? Anything? I am just super excited for this adventure. It's going to be a great 28th Birthday present to myself. 

And I can't wait to see these two....

Source: communities.washingtontimes.com via Heather on Pinterest

Love,

Heather

A Little Surprise

Hi Loves,

**This was actually 2 weekends ago but my computer has been having issues :( 

So last week was kind of crazy for me. Because of my moving there is a lot of family that I wanted to see before leaving for the great state of Georgia!

So last Tuesday/Wednesday my Dad and I drove up to Washington to visit my Dad's side of the family. It was a great visit and they all said they would come visit me in Georgia! We will see if it happens or not ;)

Then on Thursday, I don't remember what I was doing but I got a call from one of my Besties, Carissa. She asked me what I was doing that weekend and I said I had just planned on spending it in our pool. "Nope, you're coming down here and we are going to the Jamboree!" My thoughts were, "WHAT? IS THIS A JOKE?" Ha. So the Oregon Jamboree is a 3 Day outdoor Country concert in Sweet Home. 2 Stages, 22 Shows, 3 Headliners!

I had originally planned on buying a ticket as soon as I learned that Brantley Gilbert was going to be playing. However when I learned that I was moving to Georgia I just knew I couldn't afford it before moving. I was really bummed because I fell in love with Brantley Gilbert 2 years ago when I first lived in Georgia and had been dying to see him ever since.

I was so excited when Carissa told me I would be going. She and her Husband, Shaun, agreed to buy me a ticket as a Thank you for all I did for their wedding recently and as a going away present. I was so thankful and couldn't believe it because tickets aren't cheap.

So Friday morning I had plans for lunch with my cousin but afterwards I headed South for the concert. Friday night we made it in time for Charlie Daniels Band...

The last song they played of course was Devil Went Down to Georgia and it was great. Unfortunately because we were so late Friday night we were way in the back but the 3 screens let you see really well. Carissa had her son Cohen (4) with us the whole weekend. This is the only photo of the three of us that I got.

Does anybody know how to make iPhone pictures not so pixil-y at night?

After Charlie Daniels Band there was an hour break and as we were waiting for the next band the moon was rising behind the stage. It was so much better in person but this is the best shot I got.

The headliner of Friday night was.....RASCAL FLATTS!!!

My nighttime photos didn't turn out that well unfortunately. Now I've seen them in concert before and they are great but this night was so much better than I'd ever seen. They didn't play off a set list. They asked the audience which songs we wanted to hear and they played them. I thought that was great! Cohen's favorite movie is Cars and he was so excited to hear "Life is a Highway" but he fell asleep before they played it. So we woke him up when they started playing it and he was all mad at us at first and then he realized what was playing. He was so cute dancing, smiling, and singing to the song. He was so happy and they played parts of the movie on the screen so that got him excited. Rascal Flatts was a great end to Friday night.

Most people camp/RV in fields for the Jamboree but luckily Carissa and Shaun live in Sweet Home so we were able to stay at their house. Friday night we didn't get home until almost midnight and then were back up at 530 the next morning to get in line for our General Admission seats.

I tell you being in line was some of the best interaction and people watching. You definitely made friends with the people you were sitting around. I loved it.

We were actually at the beginning of the second line so not too far behind

The second day we were ready to get good seats and we definitely did. We set up our seats and then headed back to the house for showers and some Biscuits and Sausage Gravy for breakfast. We knew this day was supposed to be super hot so we tried to drink lots of water before heading back. I was itching to get back though because Saturday was when Brantley Gilbert was to play and I was hoping to accidentally run into him (wishful thinking, ha). The days line-up included Morgan Frazier (didn't see her we were still at home), The Kentucky Headhunters (you know the ones that sing..."Let's all go, down to Dumas Walker"...), Neal McCoy (he was also the MC), Brantley Gilbert, and Wynonna. It was quite the day of performances. Mind you this day was super hot....

Yup you're reading that right. 102 Degrees in Oregon. That just doesn't happen that often. Needless to say we tried everything to keep cool. Luckily they have a covered bridge that provides shade as well as a shaded kids play area. We took this guy over there a lot on Saturday...

We kept spraying his hair and him to keep him cool. He ended up losing it this day and about 6pm just started crying uncontrollably because he was so hot and tired. We laid him down on the ground with ear plugs in and he passed out. Here are a couple pictures of the performers...

Neal McCoy is hilarious! If you ever get the chance to see him you definitely should. He kept inviting himself back to the Jamboree for next year. 

 

Oh Mr Brantley Gilbert! Loved him. I have so many pictures and videos (where I am singing horribly in the background) of him. Great performer in person! So glad I got to finally see him

Wynonna...well what can I say other than we left during her performance. It drove me nuts that she never opened her eyes. 

So we left during Wynonna and were all starving so we went to McDonald's (yuck, I am not a fan but was starving). We all pretty much passed out after eating because we were gonna be back up again the next morning. 

That brings us to Sunday, in line at 530am again. This time we were at the end-ish of line 1. Meeting more people and chatting with the same from the day before. At one point two tour buses and the 18 wheeler pulled in. Everyone wondered who they belonged too. I should have gone to see (more on that later). So today we got even better seats! And then again headed home for some breakfast and showers. 

Sunday's line-up included Eden's Edge, Steve Holy, Chris Young, and Dierks Bentley. We knew it was going to be another hot day so we spent most of the morning/early afternoon over in the shaded kids area letting Cohen play. We ended up trying to go back over for Steve Holy but it was too hot and we went back to the shaded area. Not to mention he wasn't the best performer :(. So around 4 we headed back to our seats for Chris Young because I wanted to watch him. Let me just say, MY OH MY, I could marry that man. So glad we went back for his set. Gorgeous dimples!!!! He put on a great show. If you ever get the chance to see him don't miss out. Such high energy. And gorgeous sexy voice!!!! I fell in love, if that's even possible. And as I mentioned before about the buses...they were his. Should have gone over to see. Darn it! Ha. Dierks Bentley was AMAZING as well. I had never seen him in concert either. He said earlier in the day he took his jeep up to the lake and then to the local coffee shop. I think I would've crapped my pants (not literally, but you get it) had I seen him driving around. He puts on a great show and played for almost 2 hours. At the end of his set and the end of the concert a rainbow formed over the stage. It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend. 

My pictures from Sunday aren't that good because I only had my iPhone and it did the temperature thing and shut off and my pictures aren't very clear. But here's a couple from Sunday...

Cohen made a visor in the kids section

Gorgeous Chris Young! So sad it's so pixily

Okay Country Fans, who does this remind you of?....If you said Eric Church you are right on. This guy is in Chris Young's band. Crazy resemblence. I said something to Carissa about how he looked like Eric Church and then like 5 seconds later Chris said "My Eric Church look-a-like". Ha, great  minds think alike :) 

Mr Dierks Bentley! Closed down the show with 2 hours of playing! Loved it

It was an AMAZING weekend! I can't believe I have never been to the Oregon Jamboree before. If I ever am back in Oregon around this time I am definitely going again. Thank you so much Carissa and Shaun! 

I've always known I've loved Country Music but this concert made me even more in love. I love Country Men and Big Trucks and fantastic MUSIC!!

Love,

Heather