February Currently

Happy February to you!!! 

I'm linking up with Farley to share what is currently happening. 

Listening: We had the worst game ever played in the YUM! Center on Saturday. It has to be better tonight against North Carolina. At least I hope so! 

Loving: I cannot believe sweet Lillian Rose is 1 today!!! Since my nieces have come along, I have definitly realized the meaning behind....the days are long, but the years are fast. It's CRAZY how fast the past year has gone. Yesterday we celebrated with the most adorable and fun party. 

Thinking: Holy cow...am I really training for a marathon?!?! Yes! The answer is yes!

Wanting: Wow! It's warm and I like it. Minus the severe storms that will head our way tomorrow evening.

Needing: There is always something school related!

Swooning: Still on cloud nine. Not sure this feeling is ever going to go away. I'm okay with that.

Hope all is well with you!

XOXO-Kim

A Year of Running

I set a goal (not a resolution) on January 1, 2015 to run 650 miles in the calendar year. I wrote...(5. In talking with my sister-in-law she was telling me about how one of her friends had a goal to run 1,000 miles in 2014 and actually ran about 1,400. I thought this was super cool and was instantly intrigued and wanted to set a cool goal like this! I started running mid-July and ran 237 miles up through Dec. 31st. This included almost 3 weeks of slacking and the beginning building-up weeks. My goal is to run 650 miles this year. That's breaks down to 12.5 miles per week. That should be totally manageable and I hope to surpass that goal. Day 2 and I am 6.5 miles in...only 643.5 to go. :))
I want to say loud and proud that....I MADE it! It wasn't easy, it took a lot of time, but it was SO WORTH IT. At first I was a little disappointed that I met my goal exactly, but I instantly shot those thoughts down. That's silly! I set a goal and met it. I enjoyed talking about my goal and sharing my progress with others, but ultimately I held myself accountable. I tracked my miles on a calendar in my kitchen and kept a journal. My 2.0 journey has definitely been one I have fallen in love with. If it's possible to fall in love with a hobby. I'm not really sure what my WHY was my first go around back in the day. I feel like my why now is to be a better person. Yes, running makes me a better person. I all around feel better when I run. I may not be fast, I may not be stick thin, I may not set records, but I can proudly say, "I am a runner." I don't want to lose that.

True statement.

Here is what my December calendar looked like. Top number is what I ran. Bottom number is how many miles I had left to 650. This is the only month I counted down. You can tell that last week before break was tough. So much going on and daylight was scarce. I had 4 days to spare and wanted to reach 650 before heading to Nashville. 

My year in review:

Monthly Miles:
January: 58.10
February: 51.0
March: 52.7
April: 61.75
May: 24.90
June: 53.20
July: 62.20
August: 52.50
September: 50.10
October: 78.80
November: 48.10
December: 58.30
Total: 650.65

Completed Races:
Anthem 5K (PRed from Fall 2014)
Rhodes City Run
Papa John's 10 Miler
Derby Festival Mini-Marathon
Pure Tap 5K (PRed from Anthem 5K)
Great Pumpkin 10K
Urban Bourbon 1/2 Marathon
Iroquois Hill Runner 5 Miler

This was on the wall at Fleet Feet and it struck a chord.

I look forward to what 2016 will bring. I'm already signed up for 5 races and there are some other ideas brewing in my head! I don't have a mileage goal yet and I'm not even sure I'll make one. My main focus is the marathon, I want to PR some of my distances, and I want to run a few new races is a few new cities. I want to collect a few new medals and make some more lasting memories. 

Top left: 1st 1/2 Marathon Spring 2008

Center Left: Start of my running 2.0 journey Fall 2014

Bottom Left: 1st half of 2.0 journey Fall 2014

Top Center: The time I accidentally completed a 1/2 marathon in Nashville Fall 20110

Top Right: The weekend I completed a 1/2 marathon on a Saturday and then again the next day. I fell off of the running wagon right after this. Spring 2011

I hope you join my cheering squad on April 30th! ;)

XOXO-Kim

November 1, 2015

It's been a while because life has been swamped in such a good way! I'm sorta off tomorrow because of Professional Development and Tuesday is Election Day. That means I have a tad bit of extra time tonight. :) 

Listening: I'm over the news. I just needed to check the weather for the week to be able to plan when I am going to run. :) Looks like clear skies until Friday!

Loving: Making the switch to 3rd grade may have possibly saved me from quitting my job. Okay, I may be exaggerating a bit, but not much. It's no secret that I spent the first 6 years of my career pretty much miserable in 5th. Now, I feel like I am living a dream. Literally, I pinch myself daily just to make sure I am awake. Switching grades is a challenge and a lot of work, but it's pushed me to become a better teacher. I love what I do and my fingers are crossed it stays this way for years to come. 

Thinking: I cannot get enough of, "I can do anything and everything," on a Sunday.

Wanting: I'm trying to be patient. Scores were released on November 15th last year. I am so anxious and excited. Whatever happens, life will be okay.

Needing: I just don't really want to clean, but it will happen on Tuesday! 

Yummy: Love my mom's stuffing on Thanksgiving! 

I hope all is currently well with you! 

xoxo- Kim

Check out more Currently's at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade.

{Currently-August} {8/2/15}

It's a new month and that means a new link- up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade! This new month brings so many mixed emotions. The sadness of summer closing and the excitement of a new year are two of the many. 

Listening: I really enjoy living alone. I do not take the quietness for granted. It's a plus after a long day at work.

Loving: My nieces are A-mazing! Period. End of story. That is all.

Thinking: I am going to make sure I find the perfect balance of enjoying the last bit of summer and making sure to accomplish some necessary school tasks. Our school is being renovated so the classroom set-up will happen in speed mode a few days before the kiddos arrive. It will be crunch time for sure, but it's nice that I am essentially being forced to stay away. 

Wanting: To keep trucking on my goal to run 650 miles for the year of 2015. I fell behind my monthly average in May, but was able to make up some of the miles in July. I'll need to average 57 a month to reach my goal. I've got this! 

Needing: I met with my new teammate and instructional coach last week to plan some for school. It's one of those things that you know what you are going to do, you just need to prep and get it done.

B2SRAK: I enjoy helping some pretty close gals set up their classrooms. Give me a task and I'll get it done. It's different in someone else's room because you do not become so easily distracted or scatterbrained. 

Happy August Ya'll!

xoxo-Kim

{July Currently: 7.24}

Linking up a little belated with Oh' Boy 4th Grade for July's Currently Linky Party. I may be a little late in the month, but that's okay, It's still July. I've been a little MIA via blog, but that was rather intentional. I've been enjoying summer and soaking up all of these memories and fun moments that I really haven't had time or the desire really. 

Listening: So it's Friday evening and I'm watching Harry Potter. I'm not ashamed either. I've had a jam packed week and the weekend is pretty busy too. I wanted a night to just chill. My SIL sent me a text telling me HP was on. She knows me so well. I'm trying to reread all 7 books before school starts. I'm about 1/2 way through Year 5. It's going to be close on if I finish or not.

Loving: That it is still actually summer. Less than 3 weeks before school begins and I haven't done much in terms of getting ready. It's kinda hard because our school is being renovated and we cannot get in. Fingers crossed we get in sooner than the day before the kiddos come. I am going to try and create a list of things to do, but that's always so hard when everything is in boxes. I meat with my new team this week so thank goodness we will have come planning taken care of.

Thinking: I'm excited to spend the next few days with friends and family!

Wanting: Some of my family is heading to the beach the week after school begins. It makes me really sad that I am not going, but it just didn't work out. At least I was able to go see the mountains. That's kinda like the beach, but different...right?!

Needing: Yea, I am finally admitting that I should accomplish a few school items this week. I'm going to send post-cards out to my new kiddos. That's a start.

All Star: I consider myself and all-star organizer. I get rid of things I do not use or need and usually come up with some type of system or place for other things.

I hope you all are enjoying your summer and are having a great July. See ya'll in August. 

xoxo-Kim

June Currently

Linking up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade to share what's currently happening with me, myself, and I in June. 

Listening: I do not watch EVERY Real Housewives, but I do enjoy Orange County. I wish it was more like the olden days, but what's on will do. I have always wondered how much of these shows were scripted. The longer the show lasts the more scripted it seems. It's summer and I have some TV time to waste. 

Loving: IT IS OFFICIALLY SUMMER!!!! We had to go to school on Monday and Tuesday for closing day, planning, and professional development. Then today I took my National Boards assessment. So as of 10am today....It's summer. Here's to 9 weeks off give or take some. We all know that it's actually shorter than that with professional development and setting up. 

Thinking: I will be thinking about this for the next five months. It's crazy how long it takes for scores to be released. I left today feeling like I HAD to have done better than the same assessment last year. I just know it. It was probably better off that I scored a 1 on that portion because if I bump that up to a 1.5 I pass. I am so glad that I made the decision to retake one portfolio entry and one assessment. Between the two I need about .20 of a point to gain my weighted 4 points. Thinking POSITIVE here! I want this so bad. 

Wanting: I am going to wait until at least July, but I am so excited I am moving to THIRD grade. I still cannot believe it. I've taught 5th grade for six years. I have asked to move out of 5th grade five of those six year and was turned down every time. I am not sure it's going to hit me until I have plans set in stone and it's the first day of school. I can wait another 9 weeks for that to come though. ;)

Needing: I'm pretty content right now. Thankful for that feeling.

Summer Lovin: Stay tuned to see how summer unfolds...

Happy Summer Ya'll!

xoxo-Kim

{Sunday Scoop 6.7.15}

Things are finally starting to slow down. Two more work days until SUMMER!!!! Yahoo! I've missed the reflective part of blogging and had a few minutes to jump back into things. There's no better way that a quick Sunday Scoop with the Teaching Trio.

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Hope you all have a great week!

xoxo-Kim