Random ramblings of playing catch-up!

I've been contemplating for weeks really what my next blog post was going to be about. I have a million ideas and things I want to be able to look back and remember as well. So here's is a photo dump of the last month's amazing ness!

First of all, I got to throw two of my beautiful friends a gender reveal party! I knew for 5 whole days before anyone else. Keeping that secret from my best friend was hard, but the look on her face was priceless. This was one of the happiest days of 2014! Here are a few more pictures from that.....

Not much longer a sweet and precious little girl joined the family of Aunt Jena! Here is my newest and only niece thus far- 

Emma stole my heart in a matter of seconds! She is adorable and I even got to get in more snuggles last week! 

We managed to (well almost) managed to surprise Heather with birthday dinner last weekend!

Even had a little snow in the south. 

Overall it's been a less busy few weeks with a lot of fun things happening and new recipes being tried! Check out these things I've been whipping up:

Trying new recipes is one of my favorite things to do. 

Over the last month a lot has happened and even changed for me. Things and people too are constantly coming and going. These are things that I can't control. However I can control how I react and how I let these things effect me, my attitude and what comes next. My best friend and sister Heather posted an awesome blog recently about finding the positive. It really made me think and has allowed me to put forth a greater effort in finding the positive and pushing away the negative thoughts as much as possible! 

Todays good: an awesome work with two people I adore and who help me reach my goals more than they will ever know!

The Sunshine File....

I've been teaching in my own classroom for 5 years. Before that I completed an internship, worked in a childcare center and took part in numerous field experiences. I can confidently say Winthrop did a great job of exposing me to lots of classrooms throughout my education there. 

I was also a member of the Palmetto State Teachers Association. At one of our meetings I remember getting a flyer with a poem about a sunshine file- see picture below

I found a yellow folder and started putting various things in it over the years. 

My sunshine file followed me back home where I started teaching. Today, I was adding to my file when I really took notice of how explosive it was. I took it out and shared its meaning with my assistant. She quickly responded, "that looks like a great snow day activity. You should take that with you!"  

So earlier tonight I opened it up to start to peek through. I made it through the file tonight and was excited and surprised at the things I found and discovered. 

Not only were there years of memories from students but also thank you notes from former parents of kids I had worked with. I found drawings from 2008; astonished that even then I was an Mrs. Oh kids!

I laughed, I cried and enjoyed reading them all. 

There were heartfelt thanks from students; notes that said "you rock" and the never ending "I love yous!" There were kind words from my co-workers, partner teachers, instructional coach and principal. 

Seriously going through those was a complete joy! Here's just a small sneak peek of what I found. 

I never doubted my childhood dream of being a teacher. I don't want any career that doesn't involve children and making a difference in their lives. 

I was talking with my trainer today about how you aren't always sure that you really make a difference in someone's life but when you know it's a great feeling...

That sunshine file really brightened my day, made me thankful for the memories, students and families who I've had the joy to be a part of their lives and the many more to come. 

I encourage you to start a sunshine file. Maybe you don't teach or have random sticky notes that say "I like your new shirt" but there's something that means a lot to you and brightens your day when you're having a hard time. 

Try finding those things and remembering them when times get hard. We aren't promised an easy life; but a life full of God's promises... One worth living!

Love Stories are my favorite.....

I seriously am sorry for my lack of consistency with this blog.  It's one of my goals to try to update at least once a week for the next month in order to help keep myself accountable and help others who might be reading this.

Since the last day of 2013, many awesome things have happened. After celebrating a new year with some friends and family I got the special joy of being a part of one of my best friend's wedding day! I truly consider it a treasure to have such awesome friends like Leigh and Brandi, among others, who have been around for a long, long time.. consisting of good and bad but the truth of the matter is... they're still here!

Leigh and Kevin had a beautiful wedding- Friday night at rehearsal I was the stand-in bride and got to marry Kevin a few times and cut up with Mr. Howard along the way too! It was way less stressful than being the real bride! Saturday I spent most of the day chilling and hanging out with Nathan while the girls go ready, took care of a special covert mission and got ready for my duties of programs/guest book! The wedding was beautiful, everything was perfect and the party after was THE BOMB! (Yes, I know I'm old)
Check out some pretty sweet pics from this event!

Jessica, Me & Brandi at rehearsal

Sweet groom's cake!

The "brides" haha

My "fake groom"

All the girls

Kristen (Kevin's sister), Me, Kevin and Brandi

Love these girls to the moon!

Winthrop girls reunited!

My love for these two travels the seas-- literally!

Party time!

Covert mission complete!

Love love love!

Can't forget Mitchell!

Let's just say- this was an epic weekend full of fun that may or may not be disclosed! Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Bradfield! Love you both!

School started right after this weekend.  It was hard to get back into the swing of things, but I quickly learned that schedule and routine is what keeps me going and happy.  

Monday, the 13th my bestie AkA sister Heather was set to get the gender info sealed up in an envelope about her precious bundle of joy.  I met up with her that night to capture the news and was forced to keep it a secret until Saturday, yesterday... Of course I had to get some help with a few things and had to let a few individuals in on the secret.. but no one at the party knew what the gender was going to be.. except for me! It was truly a joy to spoil my best friend and her hubby and the babes with the party and to get to see the genuine look on their faces when the balloons flew out! Def. one of the most favorite things I've done for someone else!  Doesn't hurt that I love these two so much!  

Stay tuned tomorrow for the gender reveal party update plus more..

Feel free to comment on here or on FB about any particular subjects or posts you want to read about.

January 4th- Leigh's wedding day was my one year marker of this life change... Coming up--- see how my life has changed and what I'm up to!

Love you guys!

All this time I was finding myself and I... didn't know I was lost

It's here.. the end of yet another year is upon us.. within hours restaurants, bars, hotels, people's homes and Times Square will be exploding with people, food, drinks, celebrations and memories being made.  I feel like I for one take some things like this for granted.  I don't overly look forward to New Years.. 26 single years of watching New Year kisses on tv and in person make you a little spiteful sometimes... let's be honest..

Of all the years thus far of my life though, I would have to say that 2013 has been the best one yet for me.  I've been able to experience so many wonderful things.  One thing I am trying to improve on is being more positive all around, whether it be with my words to others, myself or just in general.  Being negative really has nothing great to come from it.... With that being said I began thinking... in the shower none the less- of some of the amazing things that I've done and accomplished but also been a part of.

Let's start with one of the most incredible in my head-- losing 70 lbs.  This dream of mine was just that, a dream that I never thought would come to my reality.  This time last year I knew something had to give--

Ya'll... I love these girls in the pic here above.. but the pictures from this night.. they told me what I knew straight up. It was time to make a change, time to stop neglecting myself, time to feel better about me and time to do what I had wanted for so freaking long. You all already know a lot about this journey.. it got hard, it got easy at times, it got infuriating... I cried, I laughed... the giant list of emotions I feel like in the past 364 days I've been through them all... and they haven't stopped.  But it's been worth every single tear, smile, set back, laugh, run, and fall.  I'm not done.. I'm no where near done, but I'm well on the way to being what I want to be and nothing and nobody will EVER hold me back again!

I also had some great journeys in 2013.  It started by going to Vegas to watch a beautiful girl in Miss America, surely a chance I will NEVER have again.  Thanks daddy for encouraging me to just go!

This has probably been the busiest year I can remember in a while, I journeyed to the beach a couple of times.. and got to make memories with amazing family and friends and my awesome sweet Elliot! Even more trips went down to Savannah and Charleston for bachelorette parties, and visits with friends.  My best friend and her husband moved to Columbia so visits there happened to.  I feel like I traveled a lot and have been "on the go" a lot.  I got to travel to Gatlinburg also twice this year with my awesome friend Samantha and her sweet Aunt Susan who spoiled us like crazy!

I also received my Master's degree in 2013.  I feel like it took me an abnormally long time to get this under my belt, but it sure was worth it when I did.  Even my twin sister Hach got to come watch me walk across the stage with the 4 other people getting their Masters.  It was definitely a day for the books...

Within my exercise and weight loss journey I started attending GRIT classes where I surpassed goals, beasted some major obstacles.. but most importantly learned to believe in myself and made some of the best friends that I could have ever asked for.  These women and men have become so important to me.  They have supported, encouraged, pushed and just listened to me at some of my highest and lowest times in this year.  I could NEVER name them all. I am extremely thankful for Marie; she probably doesn't remember that text she sent me while she was running about 5 treadmills down last January, but it kept me going when I wanted to push the stop button.  Her motivation and support didn't stop there and I am sure thankful.  I ran 6 miles with the help of an awesome friend and motivator, Brie.  I actually ran 6 miles twice in this past year. I couldn't have done all these things without Lauren, Samantha, Libba, Tracy, David, John, Valerie, Christie, Heather, Annette, Becca, Amber, Al and countless others I know.  I had the opportunity to be featured in an article in our local newspaper, and air on a local tv special.  I am so grateful for these outreach opportunities which I hope helped to motivate and encourage someone else.  

Two of my closest friends found out they would be moms in 2013 and one friends sweet baby Grayson was amazing surprise and blessing for the year.  Jessica and Heather will become mothers in 2014 and I can't wait to meet baby Emma and baby Mac! Aunt Jenny is excited to extend her love!

I also go to attend some beautiful weddings in 2013, Dave & Allison, Mary & Andy and my cousins Corey & Amber.  It's awesome to watch to people who love each other so much join their lives together and know there is nothing to separate them.  I am super thankful for the marriage of Corey & Amber.  Amber has come to be one of my best friends and I love her dearly-- so glad Corey found such a great catch!

I could literally go on and on about this year and the great things I've done, learned, enjoyed and been a part of.  And no matter how much I write I'm going to leave something out.  Chances are, if you're reading this you have an important part in my life.  I have gained so much more this year than I ever imagined.  I lost a huge chunk of weight but found out so much about myself along the way.  I found out who I really wanted to me and never realized how much I had really lost myself.  This year I was able to make some of the best friends ever.. I know it's all been meant to be, Lauren and I have the same thoughts about 90% of the time, except when it comes to black eyed peas! If had never started this journey I might not have ever met her.  

In closing, I am forever grateful to my uplifting family and friends who do amazing things for me and with me. It's not easy, but it's a little easier with these people by my said to know that "God's promises are bigger than my problems." This year I kicked some bad habits that kept me down, and allowed me to think less of myself and not give myself what I deserved and I'm learning slowly but surely better.  I have faith in the unseen and I know that all the hopes and dreams that I have for my life God has them too, but ten times bigger.  I'm thankful for all of you.  Reminiscing over the last year has been more fun than I expected.  I have high expectations for 2014 and I know I won't be let down! :) 

Enjoy a little photo dump of some other fun times from the last few months!

Cheers to the Freakin' Weekend!!

Just a little weekend recap here! This long weekend of Thanksgiving break was just what I needed! Friday morning I got up and ran some errands, grocery shopping, etc.  I spent the entire afternoon and evening on the couch watching movies.. and I even turned my phone off just to enjoy it all! (P.S. Thanks Hach for the advice) totally awesome!

Saturday- Battle of the Palmetto State football day! I prepared by getting my bootay up and heading to GRIT before our departure... rushed around and still managed to get to our meeting spot before the other weary travelers!  

After meeting up with Blake, Brett, Sarah and Taylor we headed on to the state's capital where the rest of the day and night was a toss up! I'd be lying to say I wasn't nervous about the territory, outcome and crazy people we'd be around!

Here's a photo dump from our afternoon/night there!

While waiting to meet up... I decided I'd just ride in style with these folks ;)

                                                   

These two are by far two of my most favorite people and the best couple ever! Love them to pieces!

Post-game fun!

Enroute.... me, Sarah & Taylor....

I think this is the BEST photo bomb ever! I seriously didn't know it was taking place ;)

My absolute life-long best friend who I am so grateful for! I know he always has my back!

These boys mean the world to me!

Mrs. Graydon!

and Mr!

So glad I got to spend the day with so many fun people! Granted... the outcome wasn't the best but I had an awesome time hanging with old and new friends and seeing people I hadn't seen in a while.. in particular Brett... Who totally made my day by telling me out of the blue how proud he was of me! Day made!

Today was officially Monday... my kids worked like busy bees.. talked all day but also are the best! Two awesome workouts in the books today! 

Have a great week ya'll!