What A Week!

I was just about to go to bed when I got the sudden urge to blog. So, here I am!

I have been feeling pretty great this week! I only subbed one day (boo) but I really stuck to my workouts. From I worked out Sunday-Friday, giving myself Saturday off because 1. I felt yucky last night and 2. my body is so extremely sore! My arms are on fire, they still hurt to raise whenever I try to pick anything up.

I am nervous about stepping on the scale on Monday morning. I have been very conscious about what I have been eating this week and I even started taking my multi-vitamin regularly again (along with some extra zinc). I set a goal not to drink pop but I feel going cold turkey right away will cause headaches so I cut it down to pop once a week. Which this week, I stuck to! Otherwise, I've only drank ice water, iced tea, and the occasional iced coffee I make for myself at home when I need a little boost. I have also been making my own pasta whenever my mom makes pasta because I would rather eat my whole grain pasta than the white starchy pasta! I also have been eating my regular Chobani (new found love).

In general I feel really good about myself this week. I put my jeans on and I mean, I'm still not pleased that they are uncomfortable, but I can't expect miracles in a week!

The gym changed up their afternoon classes which I am excited about because now I have more chances for Turbo Kick in the afternoon/night rather than just the morning and one evening. So, if I end up subbing there is always a class I like that night! I've also started walking the treadmill at an incline (2% this week, 3% starting tomorrow!).

That's about all for now... I can't wait for a new week of TV! I am loving the fall shows this year! Has anyone seen 2 Broke Girls? It's so so so so funny! Thanks goodness for the internet, because without it I wouldn't be able to watch half the shows I watch on Mondays!

Favorite part of Glee this past week.... besides Darren's phenomenal arms that make it so hard to believe he's actually a junior in high school....
(whoever made this gif, bless them.)

I mean, if you watch Glee, you know his version of "Somethings Coming" was literally goosebump-amazing. Rumor has it that they are bringing in a new Warbler to stir the pot between Klaine (nooo! I love the Klaine relationship).

Perhaps for my birthday or Thanksgiving Darren would like to join me at Disneyland. ;) 

Until.... next time......
xoxoxo

Life.

Oh life. It's a confusing, confusing little thing!

I am trying to learn to live for me. Not for others, but for myself. I often find that I put everyone before myself. I'm 63 days away from being 23 (whose counting?). I worry what my parents will think, what if my friends where I sub call me to sub and I can't, my sister will be so angry that I'm going and she isn't. Everything that runs through my mind just for a simple week in California with my aunts, uncle, and cousin. Regardless of California, I always do that to myself. I never can commit to things because I am worried someone may need me. What if I get called to babysit? What if we have a random family get together? What if I get called to sub? What if me going/doing/not doing upsets someone close to me?

I always worry about the other person, I never worry about me. I am the "yes" person. Frances always tells me I need to learn to say "no" otherwise I will become the person everyone comes to because they know I will never say "no." She has a point. I always say yes. I give myself extra work because I hate telling people no.

But today, when my mom looked at me and said, "Do your aunts know they have another niece too?" I was fed up. I could have cried right there at the kitchen table. I am almost twenty-three years old REALLY LADY? My sister is 21 in March and we still tiptoe around her feelings. It is not my fault that I am very close with my aunts. I will never, in my life, be able to take a vacation over Thanksgiving ever again because of the profession I have chosen for my life. Right now in my life I am able to take a week off for Thanksgiving, I am subbing, I make my own schedule.

Getting back on track though... really, why does it matter what my sister thinks? It's my life. If she wants to go to California she can save up her money and go too. (Plus, we're going in July/August 2012 anyways so what's the big F deal?)

I decided today I need to live my life for me. It's my life. I only have one. My family members only have one. I get to see my aunts once every two years, if I'm lucky. They are just as important in my life as my aunts and uncles who live 5 minutes away from me.

SO, I got online and bought my tickets. I am going to California for a week. I will enjoy myself. I will get to go to Disneyland on Thanksgiving and wear an "It's my birthday" pin (you have NO idea how EXCITING that is), I will get to spend my 23rd birthday with my aunts, uncle, and cousin (I've never gotten to spend any birthday with them), I might get to go to SAN FRANCISCO (never been there either).

I need to start living my life. I need to explore things that I won't get to explore when I get older. When I think on it, I will spend the majority of my life putting other people in front of me... aka children. That is if I ever get a boyfriend... get married... ya know how that goes. But really, when I think about it, my mom has been putting me in front of her own needs for 23 years. I need to start doing things for me without worry because one day, I won't be able to just... go.

Excuse my ramblings. I don't know what I am saying anymore. I'm just typing and I feel so better about everything.

I am going to California. I am letting things go. I am living my life.

And now I need to lose 20 pounds before I leave.... aka my gym routine begins tomorrow morning with some Turbo Fire and weights. I have incentive... Disneyland clothing. Did I really just admit that... Oh life!


LAST NOTE. I love Chobani.

and him...

I can't even begin to explain how much I adore him and how HAPPY I am that Glee is finally back. Every Tuesday of my life will be so fabulous now, no matter what!

xoxo

Decisions, Decisions

I have to make a decision and it's a decision I really don't want to make... My aunts want me to visit them in California for Thanksgiving.

I know this is a no-brainer to some people. Hello, California for my birthday and Thanksgiving? Who would pass that up??

Well... I am torn. I love Thanksgiving. We have Thanksgiving at my house every year and it's always fun and delicious. Then my mom and I go on Black Friday and spend money. My whole family comes over for Thanksgiving (on my dad's side). It's always a blast! Now, my only sticking point is A. I LOVE spending time with my family and B. My grandpa isn't getting any younger. But then I think... if Marge is there (UGH.) then I don't have to see her and plus we all see each other for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve.

If I go to California then I would spend Thanksgiving at the happiest place on earth, Disneyland, with two of my mom's sisters and my only cousin on that side. I know it would be a blast. Plus, it's my life goal to be at a Disney resort for every Holiday. I've been at Disney World for Christmas... Disneyland at Thanksgiving would knock one off my list.... If I go though, I have to deal with my sister being a brat about it and complaining to my mom that I get to go and she doesn't... Mind you, I will be paying for my own plane ticket.

I don't know what to do. My parents are zero help, they don't care either way. Thoughts?

Anyways, I am currently cooking a new type of zucchini bread. It has sweet potatoes, walnuts, and dried cranberries in there. It sounded good so I figured I'd give it a shot! Hopefully it turns out great.

I have been slacking on the working out AGAIN this week. I subbed full days every day this week and it's that time of the month, aka I am just plain exhausted. This upcoming week I am going to hold myself to working out more... I have lost -2 lbs just because of how I have been eating though. I have discovered I really like the raspberry or pomegrante Chobani. Deeeeeelicious!

I better go check on my bread. I am babysitting tonight for... a long time. The kids are fabulous though and with the student loans that I'll be paying... totally worth it!

xoxo

Slacker.

Let's talk about slacking...

This week I have slacked in
A. Working Out
B. Blogging
C. Baking/Cooking
D. Life

Oh hey, look at that.

This has just been a weird week. A "Natalie Funk Week" as I like to call them. Weeks were, I just don't feel like me.... Labor Day weekend was SO much fun. I love, love, love spending time with my family. My aunt had a garage sale Saturday and Sunday so naturally, everyone showed up. Give us a reason to hang out outside, drink wine, eat food, and chat and we're all there. I seriously love my family. I couldn't imagine ever moving away from them. I would be lonely and miserable.

Now, I had a job interview on Tuesday for a 5th grade position that opened up. I felt really, really, great about my interview. I worked with the principal at summer school even. I still haven't heard anything... my friend who works there said he said it was between two people. If I don't get a phone call or e-mail Monday I am throwing in the towel. I mean, they need a teacher ASAP. The 5th grade teacher got pregnant and decided she wasn't coming back, the 2nd week of school... so WHY are you people waiting so long!? UGH. I just really want this job. If I don't get it, it's not the end of the world, I'll still have subbing and I have my foot in the door at the school I student taught at. I am trying to see the positive side of things...

Anywho... Then Wednesday I woke up and my teeth were hurting so, so, so, badly. I couldn't take it anymore. (I had work done on a tooth like, a month ago and it still hurts but that's another story). So I drag my butt to the doctor. My doctor is walk-ins. I got there at 9 am and she told me it was already a 2 hour wait. SO, I went home and waited and when I got there  at 11:20 they called my name, wahoo! I didn't get out of there until 1. By time I got my medicine filled it was two. Then my mom called me and my sister had been in a car accident and her car isn't drivable (she's fine).

Thursday... I got called to sub. It was horrible. I dislike 8th graders. The teachers were interesting, they played into all the students drama, rudeness, horrible attitudes. The teacher I subbed for, he up and left last week. So they are scrambling to find a teacher for them. They asked if I'd like to interview for it, I turned them down. I am not meant for middle school, at least not at that school. Good lord I'd be gray haired and crazy in a year. I DID go work out Thursday, YAY ME! I took Zumba and then Turbo Kick and my body felt like jello.

Friday... I slept through my alarm and missed my turbo class, so I was not happy. Julie is the best, best, best turbo teacher. I hate missing her classes.

Which brings us to today... I've been doing a lot of sleeping on this medicine. While I have been feeling better it's really killing my energy levels. I am hoping to wake up in time for Zumba tomorrow morning. Lately though, it's just taking a lot of energy to get up and go. Since I gained weight this summer I just feel like a hopeless cause. I have been struggling with weight since I can remember and it never gets better. It's a constant roller coaster and I'm really sick of it. However, I am determined to get it off by time Camp comes around.

I want to break out of this funk. This funk of self-doubt and self-pity I have going on this week. Hopefully Sunday Zumba will do it... If not maybe Monday Turbo (if I don't sub, otherwise I'm not sure what's on the schedule for Monday evening).

It's hard not having someone pushing you. All Summer I had a friend who went with me and now, well that's a whole nother blog to bore you with later...

I feel better just getting that off my chest...

Also, seriously, I love following Curt Mega on twitter. Anyone, if anyone, reads this, follow him. His tweets sometimes are just what I need to make me think about my life, smile, laugh, etc. It always seems to hit home. He seems like an overall wonderful person.
Today's favorite?
"I don't always know what the future holds but I am ready to take it on with an open heart, ready to learn & grow :)" (like seriously, this is exactly what I needed to read this morning when I woke up).

xoxo

Whoops..

I haven't blogged in a whole, almost, week!

Overall, I have been keeping up on my workouts. Not as great as I'd like to though! I would like to go everyday but I find myself only going 3-4 days now. I need to get myself back into gear and even if I miss my morning class still get up and go! I slept through one of my favorite classes this morning and I was so mad with myself! I have been sleeping more and more this week and I fear it's because I am stressing myself out about life. Trying to learn to let things go...

This past Saturday was a blast! I went into Chicago to see Pinocchio with Cady and it was wonderful! We were the only ones that didn't have children there but I'm pretty sure we enjoyed our word search and crossword the most. After the show we went and got lunch at The Chicago Diner, aka best choice we ever made?! It's a vegan/vegetarian restaurant which was a leap for both of us seeing as how we aren't vegetarians. We ended up sitting at the counter which was, once again, the best choice we ever made! We made friends with "The Shake Master" Alex. Every shake he made, Cady and I would get a a 1/2 cup full. At the end of an hour we had drank at least 1 full shake, 4 different flavors. They were all AMAZING. I couldn't decide my ultimate favorite... so I had an ultimate, ultimate which I still dream about: it was like a grasshopper mint chocolate chip deliciousness. The peanut butter cup one was the ultimate and then the other ones were amazingamazing delicious. Even our "Chickn Bacn" sandwich was amazing. Best mac and cheese ever... Then we had gelato, which was also amazing.

That Saturday Cady got me hooked on the show, "How I Met Your Mother." So needless to say, since I haven't had any sub calls all week, my schedule usually looks like this:
breakfast, workout, small snack, shower, watch "How I Met Your Mother," eat lunch while watching "How I Met Your Mother," eat dinner, watch tv shows for that night (Project Runway, Millionaire Matchmaker, Housewives, Drop Dead Diva, Auction Kings, Storage Wars...) And then some more "How I Met Your Mother."

SERIOUSLY I need a life. Where has this show been all my life though? I'm watching the episodes in order. This show is hilarious, hilarious, hilarious.

So yeah, I really have nothing new to report otherwise. I am anxiously awaiting teachers getting sick/having to attend meetings so I get sub phone calls. I have also discovered the joy of sugar free jello or sugar free pudding... what a fantastic snack with very little guilt! Chocolate fix? No need for cookies, I'll get the pudding thanks! Aching for a snack? Oh I'll have that jello with fruit instead of those chips! and hey just this small change is helping! -2lbs in a week!

My sister has been driving me crazy this week. Extra crazy. I will never understand why my parents put up with her attitude and the way she talks to them. God bless their patience. I am getting seriously annoyed with it. I just keep to myself when she is home, it's simply easier this way. I need these sub calls to start rolling in so my car and student loans can start dwindling... I would love to be out of this house as soon as I can be!

Well... I think that's all for now. Sorry for the boringness. Maybe something exciting to report later... probably not. Friday will bring lunch with Frances (yay!), baking zucchini bread, and possibly seeing my Aunt?

I miss teaching daily :(


This is one of my favorite poems. This man came to my high school when I was a junior and since then this poem has stuck with me! It's so wonderful. Enjoy :)

Until next time...
xoxoxo

Crazy Friday

I like to have things planned. I can be spontaneous but I find it hard because I worry. I am trying to work on it, but I am just such a cautious person...

I had my Friday planned Thursday night. Bring peanut butter balls to school, see old students before their school day began, head over to the gym for 9:15 turbo, 1/2 hour extra cardio/weights, home, shower, pick up pizza and meet friends at school for lunch and then a pedi with Lisa. MY FRIDAY WAS PLANNED!!

And then the phone rang at 7am. (P.S Darren Criss, I love my "One Fine Day" ringtone but I need something more loud and obnoxious...) It's the sub caller. WHAT? It's the 3rd day of school... I was not planning on getting called until at least after Labor Day. Of course I took it, I'd be crazy not to! I have been DYING to get back into the classroom and I need to get my name in the district. So there I am at 7:15 calling my two friends from school letting them know I'll still drop off peanut butter balls but can't do lunch. They were excited for me, I was nervous as allll heck.

I subbed for middle school today. 6th, 7th, and 8th. It was fairly simple. Home Economics. Woo! 8th graders were great! I really enjoyed them. When the 6th graders showed up (I had 3 periods of 6th graders) I got a welcome surprise. A LOT of students that were at the school I student taught at last year were in the class I was subbing for!! It was so exciting! Some highlights:
"oh man, my sister is gonna be so jealous when she finds out you were my sub!"
"miss p! what are you doing here?!"
"miss p is so cool you guys, you don't even know."
"hey miss p! rumor was you were here so I had to pop in to see if it was true!"

I love these kids? They weren't even kids I taught! Just kids that I helped out with after school at homework club, siblings of kids I taught, and kids that I overall just said hello to and they were comfortable enough to ask me for help when they needed it.

I love my job. I can't wait to teach full time. However today I realized that subbing will be a wonderful experience. For instance, as of now, 7th grade... no thank you!

So even though my planned day went down the drain, it still ended up successful (and I got my pedi). I didn't go to the gym... I should have. I know I should have. I just couldn't motivate myself to after getting home. I should have thrown my bag into my car this morning... live and learn.

Tomorrow I am going to see Pinocchio with Cady! I am crazy excited! It looks so good. This also means no work out but... I will be walking around Chicago so it semi-counts. I just know I have to be more conscious of what I eat and Sunday work a little harder. It's worth it!

Still frustrated. I feel like I look the same regardless of how hard I am working out. I know eventually it will pay off. The only decent thing is that I feel like my legs are toning up, still flabby but less flabby than before.

I better get some sleep. I have an 8:25 train to catch!
Also, I am annoyed with everyone making jokes/thinking the song is called "Come on Irene" because of this hurricane. It's "Come on Eileen" and my middle name is greatly offended you can't get it right!

It won't let me post a video tonight. It won't load. Oh well! Also, it keeps showing the time I posted 2 hours behind. How do I fix this?

:)
xoxo

Zumba Wednesday

Over the summer I have started referring to my days based on the classes I take at the gym. As you can see, today was Zumba!!! I love Zumba. I love it. LOVE it. It's so much fun, the time flies! At first I was a little self-conscious there is a lot, and I mean A LOT, of booty shakin and hip whippin'. After a while though, I realized, it doesn't really matter. No one is watching ME and besides almost every single person in the room is at least double or triple my age.

Which brings me to my next point... usually there is someone who is my age or younger at the Zumba Wednesday morning class. Today.... not so much. It was me and all the moms and grandmas. Which is totally cool, except the fact I felt like I was being judged for not being at school or work or something of that nature. It feels weird NOT being in school. I feel like I'm breaking some law not being there. It's where I am supposed to be... someone please call me to sub soon. I need something to do! I miss being in the classroom!

Regardless, my workouts have been going well but I am getting annoyed. I work out at least 5-6 days a week. By this I mean, I take a class almost every day.
Monday- Turbo
Wednesday- Zumba
Thursday- Hip Hop Heat
Friday- Turbo
Saturday- Turbo
Sunday-Zumba

After each work out I walk/run on the treadmill and depending on my mood, do the Arc Trainer. Which comes to usually, a grand total of 1 1/2- 2 hours of working out. Yet, I can't shed a pound. NOT A SINGLE POUND. I refuse to step on the scale. I have not stepped on the scale for 2 1/2 weeks. It was bringing my mood down, down, down. Those NUMBERS. Ugh. Maybe in a month I will step on the scale. Maybe.

Once I start subbing my workout routine will change a little. All my classes I can take at night (thank goodness!) but then I will have to start calling my days by different things. I don't care because 1. I want to work, I need to work, I miss school and 2. I love my classes and I get to see my favorite Turbo instructor more (she reminds me so much of Chalene, she is so great and motivating).

So there you go. Maybe one day I'll let you know how much I actually weigh, you know, when it starts going down to numbers I like again.
/end my obnoxious rant.

I had the house to myself today until 2:30 and I loved it. I love being home alone. I can do whatever I want without people, aka my sister, making snarky, rude, hurtful comments. After lunch I decided I would bake. Now, if you know me, you know I love to bake. I've been told that you can taste the love in my food. I just enjoy baking. I would bake all day. I absolutely savor being able to turn on my itunes and start baking. It makes me feel like nothing else matters in that moment except for what I'm making (and what I'm singing along to!).

I made some delicious banana nut muffins! They are super easy and virtually no mess! I got the recipe from this blog: http://www.abicyclebuiltfor2.com/ Check it out. Her recipes are healthy and pretty easy! (Tip: I find frozen bananas make better batter than unfrozen! I also add 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon!)

We've had a zucchini sitting on our counter for a week now. We got it from one of my neighbors and my mom wasn't quite sure what she wanted to do with it. So I decided, before it molded and went bad (which it would have before my mom got to it!) I would take a stab at zucchini bread. My oh my. No one told me grating zucchini would be so tediously boring! In the long run, it was VERY easy to make and it's CRAZY delicious. I was so proud of myself! The batter made two loaves, which is good because one loaf is already half gone. It's so moist and yummy... just thinking about it I have to stop myself from cutting a slice. I used this recipe: Mom's Zucchini Bread make it. You'll be happy.

This is turning into a long blog. I better wrap it up... tomorrow I am making my infamous Peanut Butter Balls. They are originally my Auntie B's but I was given the recipe and replicate it often! A bunch of ladies from work, well it's not work it's the school I student taught at but I call it work out of habit, have been texting me asking me to bring a bowl in this week. During the year I student taught (yes, I student taught for a full school year) I would bring them in periodically and they would be gone before lunch time even hit. They have become such a staple that they are being requested as a "Friday Treat." I love everyone there so of course I'm going to make them... plus a little sucking up never hurt anyone!

Okay, okay, I'll shut up now! Music of the day... man you're going to get sick of Darren Criss if you actually watch these videos. I don't actually know if anyone watches them but I enjoy them as a nice little parting gift. Here's one of my favorite, favorite, favorite oldies, "One Fine Day." When I first heard him cover this song I couldn't believe my ears. He made a reference that many people wouldn't know this song... um is he crazy? I grew up listening to the oldies!

One fineee dayyyy... sigh.

Until next time..
xoxo