Your Fitness Evolved

We got a Kinect for our Xbox this past weekend.  For those non-gaming geeks out there, it's the device in that annoying commercial for Dance Central with the Evacuate the Dancefloor song playing... it's not that annoying since I kind of love that song... just gets in the head all too easy.

Anyway, the point is... the Kinect Your Fitness Evolved game officially kicked my ass yesterday.  One of my kids spilled all her pencils and crayons today and I was cursing my fake trainer as I squatted to assist her.  Seriously though, soreness aside, it's pretty cool.  If you're thinking about this system, it might be worth a go.

There are training programs, gym games and "classes" you can select.  The gym games are great.  There is a virtual punching game that makes me feel pretty good, since I don't punch in real life but definitely have enough stress and angst to punch fake things.  Those uppercut punches really hurt today.  I feel that this system is less inhibited than Wii Fit because you don't have to hold anything or stand on the little platform.  All you have to do is stay inside this green box on the screen.  Also, it will call you out if you don't do the full range of motion.  My fake trainer is kind of a bitch...but I still like her.

I look like a total tool doing the exercises on the screen.  Major tool status.. but I feel that good burn.  I have missed that!  My exercise life has been on pause for the past few weeks.  I have made it to the gym on occasion, but not consistently enough.  I am hoping this will help motivate me... and I don't have to go anywhere to do it!

XOXO,

Nothin' Worse Than a Bad Salon Blow Out.

Oh my Lawd friends.  Homegirl got a haircut.  Lost a couple inches, got some bangin' edgy side bangs...

But I left the salon looking like a Beatle with my ends groomed too much with a round brush and turned under in a bob.  And Matt made little comments and faces when I got home.  I felt like making faces, too.  I went to bed at eight oclock feeling like I made a hugeeee mistake.

How in the hell do people give good haircuts and such crappy blowouts?  If you cut it right, the fundamentals are there.  The next day when I did my hair myself, it was fine.  Not my favorite ever, but definitely not terrible.

Does anyone else leave the hair salon looking like a fool, but when they do their own 'do it looks ok?

XOXO,

A few thangs

Hi friends.

Long time, no blog!  So I knew this, among other life necessities and pleasures, would fall by the wayside during student teaching and it's because I literally eat, breathe and sleep school.  I miss writing, so I am making myself take the time tonight.

Here are a few thangs I am not-so-secretly wanting from a distance, in case you happen to care to see:

1.  Gap Wrap Sweater Vest

2. Bare Minerals Double Ended Lip Gloss and Lip Color in Biscotti

3.  Prime Time

4. Gingerbread scent Yankee Candle

5.  Blackberry Wine on my wine rack

6. one to two pairs of wide leg cords from Old Navy

7.  A new haircut makes a new woman and I need one.

8.  ACC Championship tickets

9. Naturalizer Boots

10.  More time in a day

I have decided fall is my new favorite season, and it is here in full swing.  There is something about it that I am digging more than normal this year.  I can't put my finger on it exactly, but it's definitely a nice time of year outside.

Maybe it's because I have some share-worthy songs and bands that are making reappearances in Pandora and iTunes after long hibernations...  Collective Soul, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Third Eye Blind...  kind of melancholy-ish songs that make me smile.  I don't think I am fully depressed per se, but enjoying these songs, yes.

But I am straight up exhausted.  There is no sugar-coating it or saying it another way.  I'm run down.  School is consuming life.  Saturdays are my only day to do anything I might want to and really, those days have been reserved for others a lot here lately.  I am looking forward to a weekend with my husband and family and some revitalization.  As I excel in school, I feel control on other parts of my life slowwwly slipping away.  As a control freak, that's not okay!  Any suggestions for staying on track, both mentally and physically, in the throws of a crunched schedule? P.S. Waking up earlier to work out is not an option...

XOXO,

Update!

I feel so fortunate to have a few minutes tonight to update my blog.  I feel like it's been dropped like a bad habit ever since I got busy with school and being a professional wedding attendee!  So tonight I am saying a quick hi to you all.

My life is nuts right now and feels slightly OOC.  I am waiting on a day to catch up, but that day just doesn't look to be in sight.  Brightest side of the hustle bustle are the kids.  My students are so amazing and I am loving being in the classroom.  I have become quite the profesh at laminating, cutting, gluing and creating props for lessons.  It's time-consuming, but a lot of fun.  My decision to become a teacher feels completely validated.  I am not looking forward to the day when I have to leave that classroom!  I will truly miss each smiling face.

We had double header wedding weekends and even had to RSVP no to a wedding this past weekend because I was in a different one.  October is totally the new June.  Everyone and their brother has been rocking the fall wedding and I can see why.  Its gorgeous, moderate weather is the perfect backdrop to a big day.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the weddings we attended this month...and they wouldn't have been the same in a different season.  Attending a wedding as a married couple is a wonderful feeling.  Hearing two loved ones commit themselves to each other serves as such a gentle reminder about the beauty of marriage.  It makes me lovey-er and dovey-er than normal!  You just get to feeling so blessed.

I have been doing fair with exercise... I guess.  Literally, unless I wake up at 4AM, there aren't enough hours in some days.  At times, I don't leave school until 4 and I have to come home to let the dogs out, do work for my online class and get dinner on the table for hubs and my lesson plans ready for the next day or I'm heading to the restaurant...  This transition to being a full blown adult who works 40+ hours a week has frustrated me.  I have come pretty far in my weight loss and want to keep progressing.  Celebration is I have been at least 2x each week since school started.  I feel pretty blahhh that I consider that a celebration, given that I was working out 5x/week when I was really losing quickly, but with everything considered, it is a celebration.  I have my gym bag packed for tomorrow and now that the 2010 weddings are behind us, my alcohol intake can go down to almost non-existent..with the exception of the VT/Duke game, which btw, I scored tickets to with a couple girlfriends!  Everyone needs to let their hair down from time to time...especially when you feel slammed all the time.

XOXO,

Snippets That Makes Me Smile

(trying to get response "compass rose"): What tells us what direction to go in?

Student: A GPS?

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Carrying out a conversation about recycling and caring for our planet

Student: "Mrs. Osborne, this is our only Earth and I think we should take care of it.  I don't want to live on Mars because I think spacesuits look awfully uncomfortable."

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Student: "Mrs. Osborne, can you come to my house for Christmas?"

Me: "That's really kind of you, but I will probably be spending time with my family over the holidays."

Student (thinks for a few seconds): "Well they can come, too!"