spring cleaning

Ahhhhhhh. Long weekends. A cornucopia of possibilities. Barbecues, movies, long walks, and spring cleaning with the husband.

OK...maybe spring cleaning doesn't sound that exciting. In fact, if I were still living with my parents, I would be rolling my eyes at the very mention of it. For some reason, though, once you have your own place, spring cleaning doesn't seem so bad! It's revitalizing...rejuvenating...a chance for a fresh start. On the docket for Spring Cleaning '11:

1. Cleaning out and rearranging closets. I used to work in retail, and something about folding clothes so the edges line up just so makes my heart flutter. Arranging them in rainbow color order. Ironing the hanging shirts. Lining up my shoes all nicey-nice. And the part I'm most excited about...getting rid of half my wardrobe! Let's face it...when you're teaching high school students, but you still have tank tops and dress pants from high school, it's high time for a change. (Sisters...if you want to see any clothes before I sell or give them away, let me know. I wouldn't recommend it, though...not cute.)
2. Scrubbing down every nook and cranny of the house. I'll spare you the sordid details.
3. Deep cleaning the laundry room in the basement, and setting it up for the newest addition to our family. No, I'm not preggers...who puts their baby in the basement? Justin and I are getting a yellow Labrador puppy in just  2 weeks! We'll be setting up the kennel, raiding the dollar store and PetsMart for a plenitude of toys, and picking out a cute little leash and collar set for him. Now we just need to pick out a name. Take a look at the cutest lil' bugger you've ever seen:

 After this weekend one more week of teaching before SUMMER BREAK. Ahhh teaching is the best job ever. 

Here are some posts from other bloggers I enjoyed this week:

1. Frugal Dad's take on paying for children's college education. I struggle with this same issue.
2. Ciao Bella's portrait of Jennifer Lopez's hair and makeup. I. Want. That. Hair.
3. My sister Molly's Fitness Week. It inspired me to eat healthy, think positively, and hit the gym hard this week. 
4. Elle's Would You Rather post. I love day dreaming about where I will travel next.
5. Sammy's moving adventures. I can definitely relate, transitioning from carefree college student to "responsible" grown up.

Have a great long weekend. Relax. Celebrate. Refresh.

Keep Dreaming, Dreamers!

whirlwind weekend

What a weekend! At the cost of abandoning the ol' blog, the past few days have been a whirlwind of activity!

Primero, I took a mental health day on Thursday. Substitute teaching is great money, but it really drains me mentally, emotionally, and even physically. Babysitting a group of 30 ten-year-olds who refuse to listen, do work, or stand in a straight line without talking, and whose names I don't know, is NOT the same as teaching. Every time I walk into a foreign school to sub, I repeat my mantra to get me through the day: money for travel, money for travel, money for travel.

So on Thursday (I only sub Tuesdays and Thursdays), I decided that it was going to be a personal day. I was still feeling icky from Tuesday's job (and other happenings in life), and couldn't figure out how to shake the blues. After an hour of journaling, Bible reading, and prayer, I was ready to do something positive, and accomplish something on my life list!

That's right. I bled my own blood for the American Red Cross. It was so easy, and I'll admit, I felt like it was a selfish way to make myself feel better, but if someone got some good, clean blood out of it, I guess it turned out ok.

Movin' on to Saturday. I finally got a chance to see my baby sister play some volleyball! She was playing in a tournament about 1.5 hrs away, so Justin and I made the drive to see her dig the ball like crazy. She's a great little libero, and getting better by the day!

She's a beast!

I'm always talking about being a tourist in my own city, and trying to be more a part of the community. Well, Justin and I had a wonderful opportunity to do just that. Some friends invited us to run alongside them in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K. It was my first 5K, and I was kicking myself for not adding "run a 5K" to my life list, just so I could cross it off :)

We had the perfect weather (oh so rare in Minnesota) and enjoyed exercise, sun, and good vibrations with about 50,000 other people! Way to go Metro Twin Cities! It was so uplifting to see so many people come together to raise money and awareness for breast cancer.

The guys - still have energy after running 3 miles

Finally, happy belated Mother's Day to my beautiful, hard-working mother! A more selfless example was never set. She's our mom, teacher, driver, secretary, party planner, chef, cheerleader, maid (sorry), and life coach. Thanks, Mom, for never accepting less than our best. You still teach me so much about what it means to be a faithful wife and mother.

Mommy and her girls

Happy Mom's Day, also, to my mother-in-law (probably the best one out there), and to Nana and Grandma. I've got a lot of great moms in my life :)

So much to be thankful for. 

How do you get involved in your community?

What's the greatest thing your mom has taught you?