Friday Faves a few hours late

I had a great week! Here's a few of my favorites, meant to be published on Friday to make the alliteration work, but coming live on Saturday morning :-)

1. Book Club Book
I finally have a great book club book after like five months of just ehhh books. We're reading The Nightengale and even thought it's just beginning, totally holding my interest. Holocaust story that flashes back and fourth between 1940 and present. Every chapter ending will have you staying for just one more!

2. Building Relationships at work
Few weeks ago in common plan, one teacher jokingly called me a buzzkill when I insisted we work to the #lastbell and finish up a rubric for book clubs. It's these little things - jokes with teachers who once were strangers and now are friends - that make my work as a coach so wonderful!

3. Yoga on friday night
Best Friday night ever? 6pm hot yoga, cool shower, and then reading myself to sleep as the rain comes down. In case you didn't know, I'm kinda introverted and after being with people all day, every day, I need quiet time to myself to unwind and recharge. Perfect way to do it!

4. Love Letters
Got a note from a friend at work and it reaffirmed why I do what I do to the Nth degree. In case you didn't know, besides being kind of introverted, I'm also a Words of Affirmation person, so a hand written letter or note is 100% the way to  my heart!

5. Friends who got my back
My best friends would lay down over hot coals and let me cross on their back if I asked. And then other times, they do things for me just because they care for me and know me so well. Thank you for being in my life when I need you, besties!

6. Laying down boundaries
Did you read my post the other day about boundaries? I wish I knew what I know now in my 20's, I would have been a totally different person. If you really want to care for yourself, let the people in your life know what is okay and what isn't. It's hard to do, but so worth it.

7. Writing Marathon
Took the bloggers to the park this week and we did a mini writing marathon, which involves writing for a short amount of time (10 minutes to begin) then a share, then increasing to 20 minutes, then a share, and then powering through a 30 minute writing session. The kids are awesome and have a few new stories to publish on their blogs this summer. Just love writing along side students - and my writing friends who are adults, too!

and I'll end with an awesome commencement address via spoken word poetry...

8. Harvard's Graduate School of Education Speech
I love this time of the year when great speeches get online and go viral because they are amazing writing. I hope one day, in my composition notebook or here on my blog, I'm able to weave such beautifully metaphoric writing into something so good it brings tears to the eyes of the people who read or listen to it. Enjoy this beautiful poetry! and thanks to my principal for Tweeting it to me!

Best part of your week? Please share!

up up & away

A few weeks ago I saw a video with Brené Brown and she was talking about boundaries. I've been thinking about it ever since for a lot of different reasons: I continue to reflect on my last relationship, I'm thinking about possibilities of new relationships too, and deciding what is and what isn't acceptable. I'm in relationships with lots of other people too - family and friends, colleagues at work. The more and more I think about boundaries, the more I'm coming to realize it's in my best interest do draw a line in the sand: One side is okay with me, the other side is not.

Before I go any further, take a few and check out her video:

I have learned so much from my friends, and one thing from Katie and drastically improved my life: Be honest and upfront when people piss you off, and then it's over.

So last year, when my ex brought up something that had been on his mind for months, years even, I totally understood what it felt like to be left in the dark, and I decided I didn't ever want to do that to someone because it wasn't fair. I am be honest with my family and friends and get things off my chest because I would want the same in return.

It's not easy to tell someone you care about (or maybe even someone you don't care about) things they are doing that are crossing the line. Talk about vulnerability - that's it right that. But the thing is that once you do, you feel lighter. Then, the other person knows where you stand and this really creates the space for self-love. They can choose to do what they want with the information, but then it's off your chest and I'm not even kidding when I tell you that you feel like a balloon, drifting up, up, up, so high above everything, feeling light and happy and having nothing bring you down.

Thank you, Brené for reminding me of this.

Your thoughts?

Protein Shakes for Breakfast

I'm a creature of habit. With the exception of about 10 lunches, I've eaten salads every day for a whole school year. Breakfast wise, I spent half the year on egg whites and apple with peanut butter, and now I'm on to Protein Shakes. I want to tell you about how I am making them now, with awesome new products I've found with Arbonne!

To begin, you're going to get a bunch of berries - I've been using strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Then, your protein powder - the Arbonne brand offers 20 grams of vegan protein, and more than 20 vitamins and minerals per serving. I also throw in another product I've recently started trying: Digestion Plus.

Digestion Plus is a supplement including prebiotics, probiotics and enzymes that support optimal digestive health. This also:

• Supports extensive digestion of carbs, fats, proteins, fiber, and lactose
• Supports healthy digestion to help minimize gas and bloating
• Promotes balance in the intestinal tract
• Supports nutrient uptake from the foods we eat

I top all of that off with fresh squeezed OJ and a little ice. Blend it up and you're set until your afternoon salad!

How do you do your favorite protein shakes?

A Breakup & Some Lotion

That's what brought me to Arbonne. Let me explain.

About 9 months ago, I ended a good relationship because I knew there was something better out there for me. My ex was nice, he was funny, smart and he liked me, but not enough to marry me. For the three and a half years that we dated, I seriously thought that we would get married. I figured that I'd move in, we'd get engaged, and the rest would be history. But things did not go as planned, so I went and got all my crap out of his place when he was at work, left his key, and that was that.

I bring this up because I was banking on having more money for myself when I finally moved in with someone again (I haven't had a roommate since 2010). For all the years even prior to us meeting and dating, after I moved out with my last roommate, I knew I'd be living paycheck to paycheck on my own -- totally okay with it! -- but paycheck to paycheck until I moved in with the man I was to marry. My thinking was that I wouldn't have money - I mean, I have money - but I wouldn't have a cushion until I got engaged.

But then we broke up. For a few months after the breakup, I thought I was back to square one, looking for someone to help make my financial dreams come true.

Meanwhile, the holiday season was approaching, and one of my best friends, who makes a lot of her own skin care products, asked me if I wanted anything she was making for Christmas, and so I asked for body lotion. I had started paying more attention to the ingredients in my lotions and cosmetics - I was going to all this trouble to eat clean by avoiding GMOs, chemicals, antibiotics, and pesticides, but at the same time, I was putting chemicals all over my body in the form of Jergen's body lotion and Loreal's face cream. So, when Holly asked me if I wanted lotion, I jumped right on that.

Fast forward to Valentine's Day, and my friend Mary had posted on facebook asking for people to comment with their favorite Arbonne lip color for a chance to win one. I had heard about Arbonne before, but a long time ago, and so I was pretty unfamiliar with the company, but who doesn't want a free Valentine's gift? (Especially us single girls!) So I commented, won, and then went over to Mary's one February afternoon to pick up the lipstick and learn about more of the Arbonne products and what she had to offer.

One meeting, I was sold. I didn't purchase right that moment because I'm a teacher and I'm poor, but a few weeks later, I ordered the FC5 skin care line. Loved it! A month later, I upgraded to the RE9 line and also got the protein powder; I did all that as I signed up to be a consultant, which brings me here now.

You see, I love my teaching life - I love coaching teachers and working on reading and writing with students. But, as much as I love that, I know that my teaching life will never allow me to have the kind of financial independence I so desire. I have a whole summer off, to travel, one would think. But, I can't afford to leave home. I'm 35 and still renting a place - I want to own a cute place in Chicago Proper! I want a Golden Doodle and I want her to have her own yard. I want to go to Cabo! I want the financial freedom to be able to visit my family in friends who live out of state more than once a year....and maybe take them all on a trip. How am I going to realize all those dreams on a teaching salary? I most certainly am not.

Enter Arbonne. Great products that are Vegan and clean, and a team of women to coach me on how to share that joy with people I meet. And teaching on the side... until I make enough money to go part time... I could never give it up!

No more waiting on a guy to make my dreams come true. I'll go ahead and take care of that myself.

Totally not trying to come off arrogantly, but some lucky fella is going to be living the good, good life when our paths cross!

Rat Race

My alarm went off at 5:20 this morning but I was already awake. Because I went to sleep at like 8:45 last night. Because I was so tired and I still hadn't prepped five chicken salads for the week so I could have healthy lunches.

I got out of bed, showered, fired up the little grill on the stove, started cooking chicken and chopping lettuce, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and green onions. I got everything divvied up and I got my hair done, makeup on, made a protien shake and was out the door at 6:50, with a coffee in my hand (and the trash I had to take out.)

Drive to work. Get to work. Finish up a book list inventory, deliver books and inventories, remember I have to get some kind of presentation ready for tomorrow, realize I didn't make those AIMS Web copies, finished the slides for my 9:00 writing lesson, made some other copies for kinder teachers and ran them over, got the chart paper, my lesson plans, and laptop and hustled to fifth grade.

Nine am writing class and they were loud. I mean, not crazy loud, but too loud for a stressful Monday morning, and this is how I felt:

I have been teaching long enough to know I could bring the kids down from the noise, so we did some deep breathing while I tried to reconnect the wifi (as if my Monday wasn't annoying enough.)

We went on to have a good lesson, but all day I've just been thinking: Is this it? Is this life? Please don't misunderstand, I love teaching. Being with those writers today, and talking one off the whiny ledge, "I'm just nooooooooot goooooooood at writing memoirs." It's totally rewarding.

But you know what else it is? A mental and emotional beat down. Today at lunch in the lounge, everyone said how tired they were. And then went on to say they went to bed so early...myself included. It's Monday. MONDAY!

I know what you're going to say. "Oh, you teachers complaining all the time. Did you forget you're off all summer?" Well, no, we didn't. And that's part of our current problem... May is stressful and busy as hell wrapping everything up. Yes, I'm off all summer *and I should have the funds to get myself to a beach every year. And this year I can't because of the new car (I'm thankful) but I should get both. Because I work my ass off and I deserve it.

There's got to be a better way. Something else.

And there is. Plans are in the works. Stay tuned.

Whyyyyyyyyyy

Seriously. I cannot.

Met a cool guy at the beginning of April - first guy I actually liked since the ex. For two weeks things were really good. He pursued, like a lot. It was nice and exciting and fun and I loved it.

Then, he tells me, "I have to be really committed to my work, so I don't have time to date you."

What?

Why did you text me all the time asking me about my day and why did you have me Facetime your niece and tell me a bunch of personal stuff?

Whyyyyyyyy?

One of my girlfriends had a second date on Wednesday, so I texted her to ask how things were going and I guess the dude texted her after date number 2 saying, "We need to slow down. Maybe we should wait to talk again until after my test."

What?

How come guys can't say, "So, I'm really busy with ___, but I want to see you too, so how can we make it work?"

Why is dating so black and white with them?