Top 10 List and Parfaits

Why yes I am in fact including two pictures of myself taken from my computer within an hour of each other in the same post.

Photo on 3 21 12 at 7 27 AM

I need to invest in some bobby pins.

I hit snooze 41 times this morning and finally got up in time to fit 4 miles in on the treadmill.  I was looking forward to watching a Biggest Loser this morning but Hulu was not working for some reason.  “I am not going to let such a ridiculous thing ruin my day” (repeated 15 times in my head this morning).

Meet my favorite parfait container (actually it is my moms but she forgot I had it).  Layers of grapes, yogurt, apples and granola.  I like to shake mine up like crazy, it is really fun.

Photo on 3 21 12 at 7 50 AM

Snow Monday and t-shirt weather today?

Billy, in case you were wondering why we go through string cheese at an alarming rate it is because just 1 isn’t the serving size, try 2 or 3 at a time.

Photo 24

This is one of my snacks lately that I would probably start crying over if we ran out of it.  I try to plan it out perfectly so that I have enough cheese per pretzel.  Eating one without the other would just be wrong.

Since it is going to be in the 70’s here this weekend and I only have approximately 42.3 days of school left I thought I would do a top 10 reasons I cannot wait until summer list.

These are in particular order, #1 being the best.

1.  Grilling every single meal that I eat.  Perfect timing for my desire to eat 4 lbs. of beef a day.

2.  Swimming DAILY with my sis and her kiddos while trying to convince billy that spring/summer classes are optional and that he should join us.

3.  Going to bed late.  I am such a party pooper and go to bed early because I need to be ‘alert and a good employee’ during the school year.

4.  Going to Arizona and Kentucky to visit two of my brothers.

5.  Flip-flops and running shoes are the only shoes used for 4 months.

6.  Hiking.  I am forcing my sister to get into this with me this summer.  Time to explore.  I also want to walk everywhere I go, I don’t know why I have such a strong desire to do this but I just do.

7.  A few races and cheering for Billy at LOTS of races.  I want to see what that kid can do in a 10k….he is ridiculous.

8.  Gas station fountain drinks with the little block ice cubes.  Lemonade.  Homemade Orange Julius.

9.  Donuts.  Just go with that one.  Not that they remind me of summer but I will have more time to go and buy them.

10.  Being around friends and family.  AKA the real theme of my blog:)  Silly jobs trying to keep us from spending every second of our days with our peeps.  Okay, so this is the #1 thing I am looking forward to…but the grilling one is a close close close 2nd.

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What do you look forward to most for spring/summer?

Any other teachers out there?!? Don’t you just love summer:)

What was your snack today?

What is the next race you will be CHEERING at?

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107 comments

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I would looooove to be a teacher! I have wanted to be one fo-eva but just haven’t found the time to get my credential. Or maybe a masters. Sigh. With all of the teacher layoffs here maybe it will have to stay on the back burner a bit longer. So jeal of your summer vacay!

I will be cheering on elite runners next weekend at the last of the Carlsbad 5000 races. They end with the super fasties and they are amazing to watch.

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P/S I though of you last weekend when I had…wait for it…YONANAS!! You need to add that to the summer love list. Yonanas :) YUMMM!

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AHHH You had a yonana…so so so good. Wish I could come cheer with you at the Carlsbad 5000, that will be a blast!

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I love everything about summer! Especially BBQ’s, ice cream (which is a year round thing but oh well), and just being outside all day long. I’m a teacher-in-training and I look forward to busting my butt all school year long and enjoying the well earned summers. :)

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Yep…that is the best part of teaching, you will love it. Oh and ice cream IS a year round thing:) have a great day Megan!

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I used to be a teacher!! Now I am a stay at home mama and love it. I taught middle school and there is NEVER a dull moment!
I definitely look forward to Summer because that means nights hanging on the patio and playing in the sprinklers.
I will be cheering at the socal Ragnar relay! Just signed up to volunteer. Should be fun!!

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I can’t imagine some of the stuff that probably happened when you taught middle school ha! AHHH playing in the sprinklers is the absolute best. That is so great you will be volunteering at the Relay!

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Flip flops and flats for sure! Iced coffee, fro-yo, golfing, beach days, gardening, hiking and I also have this desire to walk everywhere all of a sudden… too many things.
My snack was a orange and grapes.
I will cheer on some friends at the first half marathon in my city in May – I ran it 3 years in a row, two the half and last year the full. It will be/is tough not running it this year!

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Teach me how to golf. Seriously, doesn’t walking everywhere just sound amazing. Hoping the acupuncture really helps you get better fast!

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I only pretend to know how to golf ;) Thank you, I am hoping it helps too!

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Pedicures & strawberry limeade from Sonic. You want good ice that’s were it’s at, you can also buy a bag of it which I plan on doing…..Donuts just go with it, that’s a good motto. :-)

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You are SO RIGHT about Sonics ice…how could I forget!? I will be getting the big bag of ice too and donuts:)

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I love summer for grilling meat, making spritzers (mint, cranberry, raspberry, etc…) and wearing flip-flops. Nice list. ;) AZ… I’d rather hit in spring. pretty hot there in the summer.

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SO FUN!!! How hot does it get where you are at in the summer?

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Well I celebrated my backyard wedding in 116 degrees, but its about 101 in the summer. But I’ve been to Phoenix in the middle of summer… oh boy is it toasty! ;)

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That made me sweat just reading that….holy cow!

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Flip flops, ball tournaments (usually just a spectator – but I’m a very important cheerleader), and being able to eat out on restaurant patios!

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I beet you are the best cheerleader ever. I love that you said eating on restaurant patios..that is the best!

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ahh i LOVE grilling too! it’s definitely one of my favorite things about summer. we’re having our first real barbecue this weekend with friends, and i can’t wait!

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SO SO FUN!!! Enjoy every second Ashley:)

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I love pretzels and eat them with most snacks… dipped in yogurt (preferably greek), with York peppermint patties, with Peanut Butter Tagalongs… just to name a few. I never buy string cheese but had some in a race packet over the weekend and it rekindled my LOVE for it! I think I need to buy some at the store, stat!!!

I am excited for my husband to run his first race this summer! It is the Warrior Dash! I’ll finish before him and cheer him on as he heads to the giant mud pit at the end! I am hoping he falls in love with running after crossing the finish line. Although, I don’t think that will happen. haha!

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WOW…you have the best ideas to eat with pretzels. I think you do need to buy some pretzels. YAY for your husband, that is so exciting…he will love it:)

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I will have a new niece this summer and THAT is what I am looking forward to! August will be a great month for this little on to come!

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Lauren, that is SO SO exciting!!! Nieces are the best.

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Wait what happened to all of the bobby pins from when you cleaned out your car? (Don’t worry, I always remember some odd thing)

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BAHAHA and this is why I love you:) They went missing again in the black hole that is my house.

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Running outside in the morning, BBQ’s, seasonal fruit, my list could go on and on. I love Summer. You are not for going to Arizona in the Summer though. My brother lives there too and I went once in July..never again. Since then I have usually made my trips down there to visit in December or April.

Your parfait sounds awesome! My snack today was strawberries, granola & a choaboni apple cinnamon yogurt. I seriously could eat that every day and be very happy. I need to try this string cheese with pretzels. I like to eat 4 chocolate chips with each pretzel. ALMOST as healthy as the string cheese! Ha!

And are you talking about the small balls of ice or the cubes. I looove the small balls…my sisters and I call it ‘poop ice’ cause it looks like rabbit poop. No we are not 5 yrs old…technically…

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What sports bra are you wearing in that pic? It’s so cute!

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Thanks! It is the brand champion and I love it!

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The summer means that my husband and I will be back in Michigan with our friends and family! I CANNOT WAIT!!!! It also means that I’ll be hitting up several “long distance” runs: a 15k and two half marathons!

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Summer = Swimming in Lake Michigan!! Seriously, the best of living in Northern Michigan is how close we are to so many lakes!! I live 2 blocks from a lake, work a 1/2 mile from a lake and about 40 minutes from Lake Michigan.

Ohh…and walking to the ice cream shop rocks too :)

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OHHHHHHHH Katie, you’ve got me all twitter-pated for Michigan summers!!!! My family has a house on Lake Michigan, and I plan to camp out in their backyard as much as possible!!!!

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I’m looking forward to vacations to CA!! When are you coming to AZ?? I would love to go running with you!!

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Yes please!!! The beginning of June:) we are driving down so we don’t know the exact date yet!

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Awesome! It will be hot (I’m in the Phoenix area, I think that’s where you’re going), but June’s still bearable :)

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Let’s go really early in the morning and then cool off with froyo afterwards:)

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Deal!!

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I have that tupperwear container too!!!

What do you look forward to most for spring/summer?
Grilling, Sun Dresses, becoming Tan without trying, going to stay at the lake with my mom and sister.

What was your snack today?
Im eating deep fried artichokes. shh dont tell anyone
What is the next race you will be CHEERING at?
Whatever next marathon john does!

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I’m graduated with my M.ED in August but oddly enough, don’t think I’m gonna teach :) Although, I kinda have the reverse schedule now and get Dec-February off work, so I’ll take that too :)

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I love walking everywhere. We moved to a small town last summer and walking (and biking) is how we go most places. I can’t wait to go hiking, there are trails and waterfalls everywhere in North Cal. Going to the lake is up there too.

I had mini saltines with dill havarti cheese and a cutie. Delish-

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Four months?! Are your school holidays really that long? In the UK it is 5 1/2 weeks and teachers get such stick from other people about their “really long summer break”! Wow. I would be doing all of the things in your list!

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5.5 weeks….that is CRAZY talk?!?! Sorry, I meant to clarify that…we get a little less than 3 months off but I meant that the weather is good enough for about 4 months to do that:) Have a great day.

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Ahhhh I LOVE Summer too!! Grilling, swimming, skirts, more sunshine, carefree feeling, FRUIT, boating, and lots of fam time are my top few!

Cute shirt btw!

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I’m so jealous you get the summer off! I wish I was a teacher just for that reason ;) I love summer anyways though! I can’t wait for the berries they are just so much better in the summer!

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I am looking forward to my first summer in a new city and hopefully decorating our new house … once we actually have a new house. ;)

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Don’t you love being a teacher? It is the BEST job for being a mom too. I teach high school math and love it and also love my summer break. I worked full time for 7 years but last year went to part time once our 3rd son was born. Now I just work a couple hours every morning then come home to the kidlings (that’s a job in itself, but a fun job).

I love being able to walk everywhere in the summer, load my kids up in my double BOB jogger and try to keep my oldest safe while riding his bike besides us (he’s only 4 but he’s pretty good on his bike) and walk to the park, fro-yo or just enjoy the weather. Sounds like Utah has some CRAZY weather right now, its rainy here and in the 50’s. No chance of 70 anytime soon:(

Are you going to teach next year?

Have a great Wednesday!

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The hubby’s first bike race in a month. I love CHEERING at those.

I am so excited you have a hiking desire. It is my #1 love when done in the mts. Running is actually #2. Can we still be bffs? I promise to come hike with you.

Summer vacation = love.

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Being a teacher is the best!!! I always remind myself of summer on days that are hard!! I cannot WAIT!! I love staying up late, sleeping in, being tan, and swimming!!! Sun makes me happy!!!

When do y’all find out about law school?

Have a Great day!!!

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I am a high school teacher too! One week after school let’s out I am getting married! So excited for school to let out but not in a hurry either! And I love wearing only flip flops or tennis shoes all summer and my favorite thing about summer is that the dogs don’t track mud and snow inside all the time!

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In the parfait container pic I thought your sunglasses were a tiara at first. I was like–why in the world is she wearing a tiara?! lol Clearly I need my eyes checked.

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Spring break is next week and I couldn’t be more ecstatic!! Although I love my job and my kiddos, I do love summer as well.

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Where in KY? If you are close, I’d love to meet up!

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Snack today: Fire-roasted tomato/olive oil-flavored Triscuits with provolone cheese. SO ADDICTING.

For spring/summer, I look forward to being able to walk outside and explore neighborhoods on foot. I also look forward to being able to go to restaurants and sit outside. All food tastes better when it’s eaten outdoors in nice weather, in my opinion!

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I am looking forward to visiting family I haven’t seen in 10 years, especially my grandmothers!!
I am going to be working on my teaching credential soon I hope I get to enjoy summers the way you do.

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Warm weather! Yes, I cannot wait! Love flip-flops and shorts. Good-bye layers!

I just had my snack. A spoonful of Dark Chocolate Dreams from Peanut Butter & Co. So good it’s wrong.

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I SOOOO look forward to spring and summer because it finally stops raining (well, mostly…it IS Oregon and the rain never really stops, but I’ll take what I can get). I love the smell of fresh-cut grass, I love making sun tea, I take long walks with my hubby, and I go to Saturday Farmer’s market every week. Also, I’m excited because I turn 3-0 this summer! Ack! I need to join you and get on the baby train ASAP!

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I am a speech language pathologist, but I work at a school district. So I am pumped for summer too! My husband and I love spending time on the lake in our boat, but I also love hiking and gardening too! Or just reading a good book outside.

I had a hard boiled egg and an orange for a snack after lunch. I usually have like 3 snacks a day haha!

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Those pretzel-cheese-pretzels are so cool! I must try them! I like everything about summer and summer is actually here in the midwest right now. The oak tree right outside our living room is LEAFING. more than a month early. I know it will go back to 40s next week, though. :( Great list!! Hope you are feeling great this week.

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Summers off would be the one thing that could convince me to be a teacher. So jealous!

It has felt like summer here for the past week. Right now it’s 8 pm, the windows are open, and I hear frogs and crickets outside. It’s March not July! I’m not complaining. I broke out my flip flops yesterday. Woot woot!

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I’m a teacher (on Spring Break right now and loving it) – and I absolutely LOVE summer! Even though I still work 4-5 days a week in the summer (teaching fitness classes, personal training, and the such), it’s so nice to get to sleep in past 5 a.m. and do my workout pretty much whenever I want. I also love getting to hang out at the pool, take vacation (back to Cancun!!!!), and grill out allllll the time.

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I love grilled food (especially steak)! I love long days, hot weather, beach days, sleeping in, baseball … OK, just about everything about summer! I need the summers off.

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I’m student teaching right now and though I’m LOVING it I can’t wait for summer to be here!
This afternoon during my prep I snacked on a clementine and a cherry pie larabar : )

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I LOVE SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Teaching rocks! Summer is the best! I feel badly for people who don’t get to enjoy a couple months of sun all day every day!

This summer: My first marathon! Graduate with my Masters in Education! My wedding to my best friend! Yay summer!

CONGRATS ON BABY! Sooo exciting!

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We got a grill for Christmas, so I’m really psyched to actually put it together to use it soon!

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I have a ritual that I cannot get through a viewing of the Biggest Loser without eating my nightly ice cream. It makes me feel superior and v. very evil. I’m a bad person. But then I run 9 miles and I’m ok with it. Because then Conda runs her mouth and I want to punch her and Chris in the face.

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This is the best comment ever. I just laughed for five minutes after reading this. I do the exact same thing, we are both bad people. Conda is insane.

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Ugh… hate Conda! Glad I’m not alone!

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Favorite thing about the summer? It’s definitely not the weather, because I dislike anything above 60 degrees, but I do love all the outdoor seating at restaurants and being able to wear dresses.

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I dread the summer here in Texas. We broke way too many records last year with triple digit temperatures and since we’ve had like the 4th warmerst winter ever recorded this year, I don’t think we’re in for much relief…….But I do enjoy airy dresses, going to the river, and munching on fresh watermelons and cantaloupes!

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oh, and btw, I can eat a string cheese in like, three bites. Definitely not enough.

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Summer!!! Magic words! I love summer b/c I can get in long runs in the morning after my aerobic classes and not have to wait until the afternoons to squeeze in a long run before afternoon gym classes. Did that make sense? Basically I can run and w/out all day during the summer! Heaven!!

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summer is by far the best, and at the beginning of this one, I’m moving and starting a new job! it’s a huge change, but I’m really excited to fine a passion again, and actually like work (for the most part :)
I’ll be cheering myself on in a few weeks at the local 10-miler…just wanna finish with no injuries!

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Haha…I was just thinking about how badly I feel for all those non-teachers who have to work during the summer. I can’t wait! The being able to go to bed and wake up whenever I want is probably my favorite part…aside from the extra time with family of course.

My snack was a PB sandwich…LOVE!

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Snack was dark choc with sea salt….yum!

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Whoa girl, your hair looks awesome in that second picture! :)
This summer, I am looking forward to some picnics with friends and going to the cottage. Urgh, days at the beach, I can’t wait! I’m also excited to just hang out more, read some books, and cook delicious things more regularly.
My snack today was grapes, almonds and a Godiva truffle. Yes.
I will be cheering my Dad on at the Chicago Marathon in October – super excited for that one! I’ve never been to Chicago and I’ve never seen him run a full before!

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Flip flops and runnings shoes!! Love thinking about how that’s all I’ll be wearing in a few months :)

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Since iced coffee & ice cream are a year round thing – I’m looking forward to enjoying them without mittens (ok it’s actually been really nice in NYC). I look forward to dining outside!

Pretzels & string cheese are my new pre-soccer snack << — I feel like a little kid again.

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What do you look forward to most for spring/summer?
– rain, cute shoe wedges, frozen yogurt, and a better variety of fruit!!

What was your snack today?
– I totally forgot my lunch/snack at home for work today, so my snack was flavored water and pez.

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HA! I like your string cheese style! And your lack-of-bobby pins style…
I can’t WAIT for grilling season and for strawberries, peaches, and figs to be in season. I love summer fruit!!

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What about becoming a MOM!!?!

And as for summer- cannot wait to be tan! I am really sick of the whole pasty look I’ve got going on right now

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HAHAH Valid point…definitely the best part of the summer. Oh girl, I hear ya on the tanness issue. I can’t wait:)

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I love spring/summer. I love the sun, although it gets extremely hot where I live. I’m looking forward to wearing shorts, sandals and dresses. I have so many new dresses… I cannot wait to wear them. My husband and I grill all year long. Besides slow cooking a roast, grilling is the only way we cook our meat. I snacked on Jet-Puffed marshmallows today… they are addicting. My MIL sent them for the kids and I have eaten about 2/3 of the bag. Oops.

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Yay for teachers:) This is my third year teaching 2nd Grade… I used to want to teach high school but I don’t think they would do my daily cheers, songs, or frequent hugs and “You’re the best teacher ever” comments like sweet 8 year olds do. Every holiday is also like my birthday because the kids spoil me with cute notes and gifts. But as much as I love it, I love summer even more! So excited for sleeping in, running trails, eating out of our garden, and living stress free. I have definitely amped up my tanning lotion routine just because I am so excited and you must at least look tan right!?
Favorite snack today- the best crispiest grapes ever (well worth the eight dollars) and I dipped them in a mixture of whip cream and strawberry white chocolate yogurt… so easy and SO yummy. I actually thought to myself as I was eating it..”I bet HRG would love this” :)

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Where will you be in AZ? If you’re in the Phoenix area, we should get fro yo and talk about how crappy stress fractures are! J/K, but we should get fro yo. We’re moving there from so cal next month and I’ll be missing my running buddies.

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HEY ASHLEY!!! We will be in PHOENIX…..we have to meet up and get froyo pretty please with sugar on top!! Good luck with the move!!

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Sounds like an awesome parfait to me!
I like keeping mine layered, funny it’s the same thing after it goes in the mouth lol

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I munched on swedish fish aqua fish…75 cents a bag.

Just to let you know, you can watch The Biggest Loser on the NBC website (I have to do this often). You can also watch others show from ABC and TheCW on the respective sites too! :)

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I love eating pretzels dipped in Laughing Cow Cheese! So good!

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I am really looking forward to daily walks to the ice cream store in town (actually I went there twice this weekend and missed my little cousins going last night by like 10 minutes.. I contemplated driving there just so I could have a soft serve but then decided against that idea) grilling outside, running outside in the mornings before work, hanging out at my boyfriends pool after work and dresses :-) I seriously love summer dresses!!

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Summer used to mean rodeo season for me. I always feel ike I am still supposed to be looking forward to that. Otherwise, (if I am healed) running, softball, shorts, cabin time. :)
I don’t have a snack packed today. I’m sure I will still find something to eat though!!

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I’ll be cheering on my friends at the Rock N Roll half marathon in Dallas on Sunday. I just found out I have a tibial stress fracture so I can’t run. I am going to support the girls I run with and take pictures for them.

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OH BECKY! i am so incredibly sorry about your tibial stress fracture, that breaks my heart. Email me if you ever need to vent!

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i’ve been known to do the food container shake and mix fairly often :). a word of caution, though– one time, i took my dinner to work (i’m in college and my work-study job is in a dorm office) in a tallish container like in your picture. it was a DELICIOUS wheatberry salad dressed with lemon juice, minced garlic, and sriracha. when i went to shake it up and get that deliciousness all incorporated, though, i found out the lid wasn’t as securely sealed as i thought… resulting in an explosion of vegetables, wheatberries, and hot sauce all over the office desk and keyboard! moral of the story: check that lid! :)

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CARI!!! OH NO….that sounds awful! I would have probably cried. Thanks for the warning…you may have saved my life.

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I love fruit and yogurt parfaits! So good!!
I’m excited for the warm weather of Spring and Summer I just really dislike humidity… LIKE A LOT. New York subways + humidity = really bad mood…
I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to eat as my breakfast :)

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This spring/summer I look forward to the arrival of our baby girl and having the entire summer off (I envy you teachers!) to spend with her as well as running and working on getting my pre-pregnancy fitness level back!

Today I have yogurt & a banana for snack but I can tell it’s going to be one of those hungry days! I ate a brown sugar bagel & orange for breakfast and I am still hungry!!

I will be cheering from Michigan for my dad who will be running Boston.

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SO cool that your dad is running Boston…WOW! Now you are making me crave bagels ha!

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Add some [dijon or honey] mustard to those pretzels!!!

This spring and summer the things I am looking forward to include: flowers, warm weather, sunshine, trips, more wedding planning, taking courses [career change!], sleeping in, and doing whatever the heck I want :P

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You are brilliant! I will definitely try that. YAY FOR WEDDING PLANNING, so exciting!

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I look forward to the longer evenings here in the Midwest. When it’s sunny until almost 9pm, I’m outside all night. Grilling, riding my bike, walking the greyhound with the hubby. Spring/Summer evenings are my heaven.

I’m also, surprisingly, looking forward to going back to school! I’m starting my teacher certification program in May to teach middle school/high school English, and I’m such a nerd I really can’t wait to start classes!

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I CANNOT wait for summer to get here! It’s been gorgeous all week and I too have been taking advantage of the grill :)

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The biggest thing for summer is being outdoors, grilling out, friends/family, no classes…oh man, the list could go on & on.

The next race for me is MY MARATHON. I’m really struggling physically and mentally and worried if my legs will make it 5 more weeks of training. But… I want to do this so bad. Maybe I’ll go cheer for a race early April for some inspiration :)

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I cannot WAIT for summer. Seriously. Why can’t it be summer year round? Would I appreciate it less then? So you guys aren’t spending the summer in California?

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I can’t wait for flip-flops, camping, kayaking, bonfires, and being salty & sandy!

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LOVE everything about summer. especially bbqs, hikes, playing with my pup outside, outside concerts, flip flops, tank tops, and SMOOTHIES! :)

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Haha I love the cheese pretzels!

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