I'm back and ready to rock

It's been awhile since I've written. I have no excuse other than I just haven't. Things have been crazy though. I started the new job and I love it. I got A's in my classes last semester and a very easy A in my summer math class. Now I'm back in school for the fall. I'm taking anatomy and physiology and chemistry meaning with lecture and lab, I'm in class 4 nights a week after work. Fun, right? I'll be crazy busy and will have to find some time to have a life but I'm excited. I've really slacked in the healthy living dept. I'll hold myself accountable and let you know I've hit 169lbs. That's not okay. But with having class like I do, I have to pack dinner as well as lunch or else I'll end up at the drive through. I started that this last week when classes started (and added the gym back in). I already feel better. I made 2 meals to eat for dinner for the week, a pasta dish & a potato leek and sausage soup. They were good. This week I'm going to make a chicken bacon ranch pasta and lettuce wraps with the hibatchi soup. I hope they turn out as good as they sound! I've been religious once again inputting everything into myfitnesspal. I do so much better when I'm tracking my food and exercise. The second I stop, it all comes back. I set up a gym schedule for myself. The calendar on my iPad has become my best friend to keep my schedules straight! My off gym days are Mon and Tues. those are the nights that I have class til 9:30. At that point I'm ready to sleep. But the rest of the week I'm making my gym appearances. I'm easing myself into the next two weeks with walking and the bike. Then I'll up the intensity slowly. I just don't want to hurt myself or wear myself out right away as I get into my new schedule. Well I had better get moving on some more homework and dinner prep for this next week!

SB 2012!

Spring Break 2012! Woo Hoo! Now how did I spend my spring break you ask? I worked! Well, I worked the first 2 days. I took Wed- the following Mon off work. On Wednesday I took a trip to the Mall of America with Austin's Momma to see the Princess Diana Dress Display. It was very interesting to learn about Princess Di. It was a nice little trip and a fun way to start the break! :) Thursday was spent trying to convince myself to be productive. I finally convinced myself to go up to the Com Co and take the math and english placement tests so I may enroll in those classes if I choose to do so. That was a waste of 2 hours! Then Friday morning we were off! Austin and I took a trip out to San Diego to see our friends Mark and Mandy and their sweet little boy. Last time we had seen him he was 3 weeks old. Now he's 7 months! It was such a fun weekend! We chilled most of the weekend, celebrated St. Pat's Day with some of their friends, and visited the San Diego Wild Animal Park. I really enjoyed it. I fall even more in love with SD each time we go out there! Here are some pics from the weekend:

Me and Austin as bats.

Me & my Boo

Rhino

Just gorgeous out there!

Giraffes trying to snack on plam tree bark.

Porcupine

Cheetah (sorry for the poor pic quality! It was hard to capture this guy since the lighting was weird and she kept moving!)

 

 

Me and the cutest baby around :)

Our return trip was a bit on the chaotic side, but I returned in time to go to class and take a quiz. I had my last 2 days at the daycare, and am officially done there. I am going to miss the kiddos but I am so excited to start my new job tomorrow! I had a massive test tonight and have another one tomorrow. Talk about a crazy week back from Spring Break 2012!

Best Day Ever!

Today was an awesome day! It was fantastic outside! We seriously couldn't have asked for better weather. Couple that with the phone call I got at lunch and you've got a Fantastic Day! This morning at work dragged on. The assistant that they decided to throw into my room on MWF seriously has the personality of a wet mop. She's nice as can be but oh goodness gracious! I'll be honest. She doesn't do much and doesn't say much. That doesn't work well with 16 two year olds in a room! By lunch I was in need of some chit chatting with my friends. Lunch had barely started and I received a phone call. It was my new job. The position they offered me was available for full-time now! Would I like it?! Heck yes! I'm going to be working full-time, making more than I do currently, and I will have health benefits!!!! OMG!!!!! Words can not describe how ecstatic I was! I hung up and bouncing in my chair, squealing, and very much near tears! Things are falling so fantastically into place! From there, nothing could ruin my day! I also got the flight reservations made for my day trip to the Mall of America with Austin's Momma on Wednesday :) Then San Diego on Thursday (if not, Friday)!!!

Changes :)

I am a happy, happy girl right now! This last week has been an interesting one that includes a mild stomach flu, laryngitis, a second interview (those 3 all in the same day. It was awesome... not!), getting the job, putting my 2 weeks in, and the last day of classes before spring break. I am very excited to say that I will no longer be working in daycare! I have accepted a position in data entry at a medical supply company. I start in 2 weeks! I'm stoked!! And what makes it even better? It is only 4 days a week, so I have 3 day weekends! As much as I will miss those kiddos, I will not miss the stress of the job, being sneezed, coughed, and spit on, or the drama of working with all girls!!! The second interview for the job was interesting as I decided it would be great timing to get laryngitis and a small bout of the stomach flu. Thanks to meds I was able to keep the tummy bug at bay but no matter what, I had an awesome, froggy voice. Thankfully they liked me!
My spring break is here! Classes are going fantastically! I have a 100% in my Human Biology Lab (not to brag or anything!). I'm doing really well in Human Biology as well. I'm surprised as to how much fun I'm having in it! I think that cements my nerd title right there. So what do I plan to do for my spring break? Well, work the first 2 days and then the fun starts! On Wednesday the BF's mom and I are flying to the Mall of America for the day to see the Princess Diana dress display and do a little shopping. Thursday morning Austin and I are flying to San Diego to see some friends of ours! I can't wait! San Diego stole my heart last year when he took me. If I had the ability to move out there, I would in a heart beat. But right now, I'll settle for trips out there!

Today, I slept in. Until 10:30am!!! I don't know the last time I did that! Sleeping in had become 8:00 or so. Man I needed that sleep! I felt so much better when I woke up! It was absolutely gorgeous outside today so instead of hitting the gym, I hit the pavement. Walking/Running outside is so different than doing it on the treadmill, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! After that, it was gym time for strength. I have biceps muscles now. Who knew? I also finished my first crochet project. I think it turned out nicely, if I do say so myself!

 Now to put together my to do list before I leave for my vacay!

I got it

I got the job!!!! No more daycare for me in 2 weeks!!!! More details to follow class :)

Waiting & Eye Twitching

I'm going to just say it. Waiting sucks. What am I waiting on? A potential new job! I should hear back by tomorrow afternoon. I'm really hoping that I get this new position! I'll talk more about it if I get it! I had the second interview for the position today and I thought it would be fun to get laryngitis as well! Always nice to make a good impression ;) This last weekend was a fun one! The BF came home which is always nice but he took me to the Peabody Opera House to see the new Broadway musical from Green Day's American Idiot! We sat 9 rows away from the stage! The show was fantastic! If you have an opportunity to see it, I highly suggest it! The only thing I hate when Austin is in town is that fact that my healthy eating just flies right out the window! Same with working out! Ugh. I need to get better about that before he comes home for summer! I really enjoyed having him home though. He helps keep me sane. Work has become so stressful and throw some classes on top of that = one very stressed out Steph! My eye is now regularly twitching. I'm thinking I need to slow down a bit. I've decided to drop my online class. It ended up being more involved than my other 3 classes combined! That combined with this (hopefully) new job should help out immensely! Now I just have to convince myself to make my lunch so I'm ready for work tomorrow... I'm not sure I'll ever be ready to go back to the daycare!

Glitz and Sparkle

I can't believe this weekend is almost over! And who could ask for a better way to end the evening than to watch the Oscars? I don't really care who wins, but I watch for all the pretty gowns. I love the glitz and sparkle! Speaking of sparkle... I wore one of my new headbands all day today and not one slip! It held my hair in place quite nicely!

I'm wearing the thin ice pink! I love it!

You should totally check out sparklysoul.com and take a gander at their head bands. It stayed in place well and I never felt like I had to mess with it while I was out for a walk/jog!
*Please note I received zero compensation for this review, I just thoroughly enjoyed the headbands and thought I would share my opinion.

After getting up and having a nice big bowl of quinoa flakes, I hit the books for a little bit. From there it was errand time. I cleaned out my car (dude, I seriously have no clue how on earth I let it get that bad...), got my oil changed (it was fantastic to hear that everything looked good under the hood after all the crap I've gone through with this POS car!), ran by the office store, and finally the grocery store. I love the grocery store. I could spend hours there looking at the produce and the cool products in the gluten free section. I really wish there was a Whole Foods closer to me. I don't feel like a 45 min drive each way is really worth it... Oh well. Since today was so nice out, I decided to hit the pavement instead of the gym. This was a first. It's harder courtesy of the little inclines and such that you really don't notice when you're driving, but I got a nice 30 min 1.81 mile walk in :) 

Tonight I need to finish up the dishes and get my food all ready for tomorrow! I have a Bio Lab Exam tomorrow, although I think I'll be okay. And I HAVE to watch the Oscars! :)