Friday, April 4, 2014

Five on Friday

I'm linking up today with Darci and Natasha from the good life blog and hello! happiness for Five on Friday again!

Grab button for FIVE ON FRIDAY AT THE GOOD LIFE BLOG

Here is the random assortment from my life...

1.  SOY ALLERGY

Two weekends ago a huge group of my girlfriends and I got together for our annual Girl's Weekend in Duluth.  We rent a condo right on Lake Superior, relax, converse, dine out, enjoy some cocktails, and once in awhile we participate  in the popular Fitger's 5K.  


Always a fun time...however this year I. WAS. MISERABLE.  I had a pounding headache the entire time and slept most of Saturday away.  I was in tears on the way home Sunday it was so awful and I was in so much weird pain.  I took Monday off of work and immediately called my chiropractor.  I went in the following Friday and had a major adjustment.  My neck was majorly out of whack.  My amazing chiro also did a food allergy test on me using muscle testing.  One of the most amazing things ever.  Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) in my family has some type of food allergy.  I would think this was so sketch, except for the fact that its made family members live's so much better after discovering an allergy.  I'll post on this another time.  Anyways, the winner (or should I say loser??) was SOY.  At first I didn't think it was a big deal, what has soy?  Upon some research and an attempt at grocery shopping, it was going to be a bit harder than I thought....

Foods That May Contain Soy

These foods often contain soy. You should be extra cautious about eating these foods if you are unable to get a complete ingredient list.
  • Asian cuisine (Korean, Japanese, Thai, Chinese, etc.)
  • Baked goods and baking mixes
  • Bouillon cubes
  • Candy
  • Cereal
  • Chicken (raw or cooked) that is processed with chicken broth
  • Chicken broth
  • Chocolate
  • Deli meats
  • Energy bars, nutrition bars
  • Imitation dairy foods, such as soy milks, vegan cheese, or vegan ice cream
  • Infant formula
  • Margarine
  • Mayonnaise
  • Meat products with fillers, for example, burgers or sausages
  • Nutrition supplements (vitamins)
  • Peanut butter and peanut butter substitutes
  • Protein powders
  • Sauces, gravies, and soups
  • Smoothies
  • Vegetable broth
  • Vegetarian meat substitutes: veggie burgers, imitation chicken patties, imitation lunch meats, imitation bacon bits, etc.
AAAGGGGHHHHHHH!  This week's meal plan has been interesting.  And I don't know how much longer I can last without my favorite thing in the world, chocolate.  I will keep my blog posted :)

2.  MOWGLI TURNS 1!


                           
         
            

He is honestly like my child.  I sang, "Happy Birthday" about 25 times, he got 3 new toys (2 of which are already destroyed-he'd rather chew on an empty bottle), and a plate of his favorite foods!  I've never met a dog who would rather eat apples, bananas, carrots, and green beans over dog treats.  He's a goofy boy and such a monster, but man am I so happy I have him!

3.  DIET BET

Has anyone heard of this??
I feel like I always need a huge motivator to get myself in gear after the loonngggg, boring winter.  Last spring I joined a weight loss challenge at our local Herbalife supplier that really got me on the fitness bandwagon.  I by no means starve myself or limit anything-I need food.  Like, if I don't eat every couple of hours I turn into a crazy person.  My friends can ALWAYS tell when I am hungry and will graciously get me something to eat.  stat.  Anyways, with the newly found soy allergy, those types of shakes are out of the question.  I heard through a friend about challenges you can find online, I didn't get it and I didn't want to take time to look.  Then, a friend asked me to join, explained it, and I jumped on the bandwagon.  It is super easy!  This video explains everything.  Here is my first picture.  Don't judge...haha!


OMG.  I can't believe I actually posted that.  Notice I made it small? :)

The paper on the floor is my "word".  When you sign up, they give you a word to write next to your scale.  You need to submit a photo of yourself on the scale, and then a picture of the scale with you word next to it.  If you meet the goal, you split the pot!  Totally the motivation I need to get my fitness, healthy-eating back on track again.

4.  MICROSOFT SURFACES

At the elementary school I work at, there was a 1:1 initiative this year for 3rd and 4th grades.  Each student has their own Surface to use!  As a 2nd grade teacher that LOVES trying new things, I was jealous.  super jealous.  


Word on the street is...2nd grade is up for this same initiative next year!!  We received 4 to try out in our rooms for the rest of the school year. 



Super fun!!  So far I let them visit sites like abcya.com and such, we've researched a couple of "I wonder?" questions, and my high reading group used it to find fact about WWII and Hiroshima (VERY protected searches might I add).  Tomorrow we are going to research types of weather to make posters for our hallway.  Here's hoping EVERY student in my class has one next year !!

5.  FLOOR PLANS

Literally....I shared on Wednesday the actual floor plans for the whole house we are hoping to start building sooner rather than later.  We also have been looking at real life floor ideas.


This is the only one we've agreed on thus far.  I am loving the grayish tinted wooden floors, but wonder if those will be "out" in a couple years?  I like darker floors, but Travis is all for the light.  You can't really tell in the picture, but this sample has it all--dark, light, gray, and warmer tones.  Who knows what will actually end up happening.  Our plans have only changed about 439279543248093 times in the past month! :)

Speaking of wooden floors....and wood....



That is a LEGIT chunk of wood (aka a sliver) that I, that is right IIIIII, surgically removed from my finger on Tuesday morning before school.  The world was sure playing a real funny April Fool's joke on me that day.  It looks small, but people it was enormous!!  I still can't stop talking about it.  Yes, I may be dramatic, but it was a very dramatic, horrific experience for me.  :)

Hopefully next time I link up it will be with a huge, "SOLD", sign in front of my house...cross your fingers!


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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Get Pin-Spired--Newbie

Here I am!

And I am linking up with the Mix and Match Momma and friends for my first month of getting Pin-spired!  
I am super excited and this is going to be super random, but YAY for trying something new :)

Now let's begin....

I've always loved me some stripes!!  Like, my eyes immediately zero in on anything with stripes.  However I NEVER wear them because of the ole' fashion tip about how stripes make one look large and in charge.  Recently I decided to throw that out the window and I went for it!  I bought myself a COUPLE different striped shirts.  Along with stripes, I am into all things Spring!  

Even though spring is no where NEAR :(


ANYWAYS--Loving the Spring-like colors lately, like coral.  Now put the two together, and you have some majorly cute, Spring outfits.


Annnnnd my take on combining the looks.  (please disregard the awful lighting)

Even though it is still cold and snowy, I can incorporate some coral color and stripes to make my (warm) outfit think spring!


Speaking of Spring, I've been swooning over Sperry's since last summer!  

Look at how trendy/adorable/comfy/goes-with-anything/must-have these are!




Thanks to my loving parents, they got me a pair for Christmas this year!!  

Unfortunately because of this looonnnnnnnngggg Minnesota winter, I can only try them on once in awhile, and walk around my house in them, and take pictures of them on my feet in the closet as you can see above.  I guess I MAY have worn them to school once or twice, after lugging my big, winter boots with me as well.  I can't wait for warmer, non-mud threatening weather so I can bust these babies out every. day.  


My last Pin-spired pictures are dedicated to my needs wants for the house we are preparing to eventually build once our house finally sells.  I realized through this process I am not a very patient person.  Our house has been on the market for less than a month, with multiple showings a week, and I am already sick of it.
If you happen upon my little ole' blog and you see something in my plans that you think "NO WAY-don't do that!" I beg of you to comment and let me know!!  Otherwise, these are just ideas and hopefully someday (SOON!!) they will be a reality.




And there we have it--my first Pin-spired!  What a fun way to post after my short hiatus :)


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