I. Love. Fall. And Maybe Fishing.

Just a little postcard for you from my beautiful weekend...

I love Michigan in the fall. The air changes with the colors and the smell of the season makes me want to be outside all day long. And when we get those amazing fall days that are 75 degrees and sunny?! Dang, yo! It's incredible! 

The Hubs and I headed up north to Lewiston for a long weekend. We ate, we drank, we fished, we bonfired, we spent lots of time together, I didn't wash my hair for three days, we kayaked all over the place, we drove around and stared in awe at the beautiful colors, we watched the stars reflected in the lake on super clear nights-- it was awesome. I love spending extra time with him. 

One thing though... I really need to get over my fear of taking the hook out of a fish's mouth. I've never really fished, unless you count going to a fish farm and catching fish and having someone else take it off the hook for you. So...no, I've never fished. I just started getting into fishing and I can catch the fish, but I can't bring myself to unhook the fish yet. I usually hold the pole and the net while The Hubs takes the hook out. Then I hold the fish for a picture (because if there isn't a picture, it didn't really happen) and throw it back. The Hubs said after the first time you do it, you're fine. 

I really tried to unhook the large mouth bass I caught yesterday afternoon. Instead, I pathetically yelled from my kayak while the fish flailed about in the water, "HUBS! HUBS! Come paddle over here! Help me! Oh my gosh, I think I hooked this poor fish in the eye! Oh my god! Oh my god! Help! Help! I can literally SEE the hook in this guy's eye!" I believe I also squealed. FYI, there wasn't a hook in the eye.

That was an embarrassing admission. I need to put my badass pants on. My friend Deann, my badass in nature role model, went bow fishing. If she can spear a huge fish with an arrow, then I can take a fish off of a hook. Let's not even talk about using live bait. I'm not even close to that yet. 

Here's to all things fall, including fall fishing and taking the fish you catch in the fall off of the hook yourself. 

The Purge Project Part 5: Gettin' Rid of the Green Weekend

Catch up before you read today's post... you know, if you feel like it:

The Purge Project: An Introduction

The Purge Project Part 1: The Tiny Closet

The Purge Project Part 2: The Hot Mess Express

The Purge Project Part 3: De-cluttering and Organizing 

The Purge Project Part 4: Office Makeover Plans

Cleaning and purging my office led me to decide that I HATED the minty green color on the walls.

When we bought the house, we painted the house. At the end of day three of painting, the room was still its original navy blue and we'd already painted the kitchen, living room, hallways, guest room, and bathroom. We were tired. We were also broke. Painting a whole house is expensive!

Yeah, it's not full of junk, but it wasn't my style. 

We took the green from the living room, which I love, and added a bunch of white to it. Then we slapped the paint on the walls to cover the horribly dark navy blue. It was the tired and broke way to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls.

When I finally had a blank canvas, I would walk into the room and think, "Ugh. Mint." 

Last weekend I got rid of the green. I wanted a clean gray with a dark purple accent wall. 

The Hubs and I took a break from home improvement on Saturday for a delicious and beautiful adventure to Fennville. We headed over to Salt of the Earth for woodfired pizza and a woodfire toasted s'more (with homemade marshmallow, nom, nom, nom). If you are in West Michigan and haven't yet dined at Salt of the Earth, it is highly recommended. Yes, it is a little pricey, but main ingredients come from a fifty-mile radius. And the meats. Oh, the meats. It's worth it once or twice a year.

Okay, I'm done with my food talk.

We found a little beach called Pier Cove and made it just in time for the sunset. I love Michigan and being close to Lake Michigan. We've discussed what it would take to move away from the mitten. I think I would always come back because nature. Saturday night was one of those extremely satisfying evenings that makes you smile when you think about it for the next few days.

Sunday was the day everything had to be done because people were coming to the house for dinner. I scheduled it that way to ensure that I didn't get lazy and leave the project unfinished-- I've been known to do that. I put a THIRD coat of paint on the purple wall (ugh) and finished the gray. The Hubs and I moved the overstuffed bookshelf, finished the closet (he had the brilliant idea to put books across the top to relieve the overstuffed bookshelf), and hung pictures.

This room isn't finished, but it's getting there. I keep peeking my head in to appreciate the colors. In my "research" on painting rooms via Pinterest and Google, I read that cool colors in an office are calming and help you feel less stressed. I don't know if the calm is coming from the order of the room or the colors. I think both. 

 Coming soon when I finally have money to get everything else that I want to get, which means November: 

Side by side pictures of the room at the beginning, middle, and end. Finally. 

Will I be able to keep it together until November when you see the final reveal? 

I hope so. I would be very disappointed in myself if I went back to my hoarding ways. 

Other posts in this series:

The Purge Project: An Introduction

The Purge Project Part 1: The Tiny Closet

The Purge Project Part 2: The Hot Mess Express

The Purge Project Part 3: De-cluttering and Organizing 

The Purge Project Part 4: Office Makeover Plans

Painting Weekend Selfies

I spent all weekend painting and I am so happy with the results! Here are a few selfies from the weekend:

I frosted a window in the room. The Valspar frosting spray paint in white worked like a charm. Plus, I got to wear a respirator, which is always good for selfies. 

This was day three of painting the accent wall an eggplant purple. The Olympic Icon was the cheapest primer+paint and at this point I was feeling very sorry that I didn't throw in five to ten more dollars for a paint with better coverage. Should have gone with Valspar. This was taken right before the third coat. Plus, I ran out and there are still a few thin spots. Lesson learned. 

Pictures of the actual room are coming later this week. 

Tri Goddess Race Recap Part I: Where I Get All Political On You

On Sunday I took place in my first all female triathlon. After Sunday I wish that every tri I did was all women only! It was empowering to be surrounded by so many strong women! There was even a woman participating who was about to turn 75. There were women in their 30s and 40s passing me without a second glance. I want to be like them when I grow up. 

Transition Area... so awesome being with all ladies!

Although you can probably tell what my political views are, I try not to get too political in my posts. However, this was a timely triathlon to celebrate girl power after all of the hoopla over Michigan State Rep Lisa Brown saying the word "vagina" on the House floor. She was banned from speaking in a debate on the House floor because she "disrupted decorum." For some reason, a woman being banned from the House floor because of a lack of "decorum" made me think of a bunch of guys standing around laughing like this:

I wonder what would happen if a woman says the anatomically correct word for her lady parts enough?

[via]

In an interview, Lisa Brown said, "One of my counterparts, Rep. Mike Calton, R-Nashville, said 'vagina' is such a disturbing word that he would never deign to use it in the presence of women or 'mixed company.' This from a man with a bachelor's degree in biology."

So glad we're living in 2012, right?

I made a shirt in honor of Rep Lisa Brown and Rep Barb Byrum (she was banned from speaking as well). I wore it during the last leg of the tri. The cheers I heard from so many ladies about the shirt is probably why I finished running the 5k in 24:59-- a new PR!

I'll have an actual triathlon update for you tomorrow! I just had to get this off my chest breasts.

Chicago Anniversary Food Tour!

On Thursday, Nate and I took the train to Chicago for an eating and drinking anniversary adventure. We consulted Yelp and Urban Spoon for the most affordable and highly rated places and tried to go to a few of them. Wandering around with an idea of maybe having a plan is one of my favorite things to do. Thank goodness for the $5.75 24 hour CTA unlimited ride pass. 

We started at Hannah's Bretzels, mostly because I love pretzels and wanted to try one of their fancy whole wheat pretzels. Also, we were going to embark on a sushi trek and needed something to hold us over before our long ride over to the shop. The pretzel was pretty good, except they called it a "bretzel" and described everything using the adjective "über."

 

I felt like Bruno was going to pop out at any moment and commit carbicide with us. 

After that we headed out to a place with one of the highest ratings for the Chicago Area on Yelp: Lawrence Fish Market. We went from the Loop all the way to Albany Park, but the journey was worth it. I wasn't sure what to expect. The place had such high ratings I pictured it being a fancy sushi place and looking exclusive. We walked up to a storefront that looked like a place you might pass by and ignore because it looks kind of shady. It is take out only and one of the only places to sit was an old van seat. 

Incognito pic... I was really nervous about eating the fish there.

We didn't call in our order like Yelp suggested but it only took about fifteen minutes for us to get our three rolls. If I would have known how DELICIOUS and fresh the sushi would be, I would have suggested we order a party tray and not eat anywhere else for the rest of the day. It was awesome. The prices were the cheapest I've ever paid for good sushi and the people there were so nice. 

There weren't any places to sit, so Nate and I took our sushi treasure box outside, wandered around the neighborhood until we found a foreclosed house, settled on the curb in front of the house, and devoured our fish. Our impromptu picnic was the highlight of this food tour.

You guys might think I'm joking, but I am seriously considering taking a day trip to Albany Park to get a party tray (only 30 bucks!), putting it in a cooler, and having a sushi party at our house. 

After that we wanted some German, so we headed over to Lincoln Square and spent the rest of our evening there. Before our German food, we had a Fat Tire and some more seafood at the Greek restaurant Barba Yianni Restaurant:

Sidewalk beer... the best kind!

Cold octopus and kalamari salad... pretty good expect for a lack of big octopus chunks. :(

Then we wandered around a little bit more and had another drink and appetizer at one of the cutest French restaurants I've seen: Bistro Campagne

My favorite kind of patio lighting. 

The food and atmosphere reminded me of eating in Paris. This is why I love big cities-- there are so many amazing food choices. I wish we had unlimited funds so we could fully eat our way through Chicago and then move on to other cities. I might be 300 pounds, but with all of the walking I'd probably keep it off. Or not. The unlimited funds will never come so we'll never find out!

Prince Edward Island mussels steamed in Belgium ale.

We washed down the mussels with an Old Tom Collins. I have found my summer drink. 

At this point, I was like, "Dude, can we really eat any more?" We had to celebrate the Hub's German heritage and decided to give it a shot at one of our favorite places: The Chicago Brauhaus 

Yum, beer. Or... bier?

We decided to split one pretzel and a sausage plate:

Did I mention that I love pretzels?

Homemade sauerkraut... I can't make it like this!

We couldn't finish the pretzel because it was as big as my upper body...

We wandered around Lincoln Square for little while longer until I made room for some dairy free gelato. I mean, we already ate our weight in appetizers and carbs...

As a lactose intolerant lady, I had to jump on the dairy free gelato. 

Then we headed back to our Priceline hotel (I do not recommend the Hyatt, but you take what you get on Priceline) and proceeded to fall into a food coma. 

We're just two kids full of love and a variety of meats.

We headed back to good 'ole Michigan the next day and I'm still full! Maybe for our next anniversary we will find ourselves exploring food in other Chicago neighborhoods. We talked about saving up for a NYC food adventure. We would have to count calories until our next anniversary and schedule at least three days for that kind of eating! We'll make it happen someday. 

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

30b430: Goal #27- Take a Real Personal Day

Some people think that teachers have it so easy because we work a school day, go home at 2:30, and get weekends and summers off. They are completely incorrect. Teaching is a great job, but it is hard and draining. Most of us stay after school to work with kids, clean up from the day, and get some paperwork done. We grade on the weekends or do lesson plans. Did I mention that most of us are taking graduate classes to keep our certificates? We are probably doing homework after school or on the weekends. The summers are for curriculum work, more grad classes, and some recharging from the previous school year from dealing with students, parents, and the system.

I'm a workaholic. I've worked my current job for six years without ever taking a real personal day. As a teacher in a huge high school I use my personal days to keep up with my life: I've used my 2 days a year to do laundry, grade papers, drive to weddings, complete a grad school final... there is always something to do that has nothing to do with taking a day for myself. I've taken a new job at a different school for next school year. I couldn't leave this job where I've had so many experiences and worked so hard without taking one real personal day.

On Friday it was time for that day. I always thought personal days were supposed to be fun. I'm so glad I put this goal on my list because I had SO MUCH FUN on Friday and I didn't do a lick of work. Okay, I sent one email to a parent, but it had to be done.

The Hubs had the day off too, so he made me breakfast...

Potatoes, omelete with salmon, peppers, and goat cheese, topped with avocado remoulade.  He spoils me.

We went to Lake Michigan for the afternoon...

This is the top of the dune. It's gorgeous, but the hike up the dune sucked! 

I napped and napped... for 3 hours. I could not get enough sleep!

Thank you SPF 30 and my favorite sun hat!

The beach was a bit rocky and the water was freezing but damn, it felt good.

It's hard doing so much relaxing.

On the way home we stopped at a farm stand and picked up strawberries, tomatoes, asparagus, and an apple cider slushie (not pictured because it was SO AMAZING).

I love summer produce!

When we got home we went to a new place for a bite to eat. I had my first dipped Italian beef sandwich (it was delicious) and peach cobbler. To burn the calories I met up with my workout bud for a 17 mile bike ride and a half mile swim. I don't know a lot of people who would go work out on an early Friday evening but we find that a workout is more refreshing than a bunch of beers at happy hour. 

D-Webb is the best workout buddy ever.

At the end of the day I did make it out for drinks with friends. I shoved as much as I could into one day and it was awesome! Why did it take me six years of working to take a day? Why haven't I taken a personal day every year!?!

If you are like me--constantly working without pause--I encourage you to take a day off! Sleep in, get breakfast, go to the beach, go to the movies by yourself, get a pedicure, workout... do whatever you want to do because it feels great! :)

1. Complete an indoor triathlon. 2/12/12 2. Complete an outdoor triathlon. 6/2/12 3. Swim across West Twin Lake and Rose Lake. 4. Bike the Kal-Haven Trail. 5. Play the piano in front of people. 6. Visit my family in the Philippines (or at least have tickets booked by my 30th birthday). 7. Have a conversation with a dear Senegalese friend in French or Wolof (preferably Wolof). 8. Visit my grandparents in California. 9. Pop a champagne cork with no fear. 10. Make leche flan (it's Filipino, it's amazing, and I'm makin' it). 11. Jar or can veggies, pickles, sauce... something. 12. Revised 5/1/12 because I remembered that I'm supposed to graduate in December and my Master's degree is really important to me!!! Get my Master's degree and submit some of my academic writing and then, maybe, you know... get it published. 13. Travel out of the country with Nate. 14. Pay off at least 50% of my remaining undergraduate credit card debt. 15. Sing karaoke by myself in Kalamazoo in front of all of my friends. 16. Eat clean for one month. 17. Pick berries and bake something with them. 18. Write at least one chapter of the novel that I write in my mind while I'm walking the dogs. 19. Thank my mom for everything she's done for me. 20. Go further into the UP than the Mystery Spot tourist trap and jump into Lake Superior. 21. Get chosen for one more summer fellowship in another country where I am able to work with youth. 22. Go on a police ride along. 23. Get to 200 blog posts. 24. Revised 5/1/12 Make some decisions about my career and/or PhD prospects. Apply for PhD programs. 25. Attend roller derby training so I can learn the moves. 26. Learn how to flip turn when I'm swimming laps. 4/19/12 27. Take a real personal day. 6/8/12 28. Learn how to drive a stick. 29. Go horseback riding. 30. Poach an egg perfectly.

Self-Portrait Saturday/Triathlon Training/Birthday Weekend Super Update!

Let's begin this massive insta-update...

1. Saturday Self-Portrait: Birthday Weekend Edition

In case you haven't noticed, I'm the happiest when I'm playing outside. The first picture is from after a training run. The second is from lounging around on the grass with my lil' Nipsy. 

2. Camping! Summer is on, it's SO ON.

Playing outside with a plastic bat and a super ball followed by tetherball. My friends are the best.  

Guitar singing followed by reading the dirty parts of Fifty Shades of Grey around the fire with emotion. 

Pods!

One dog. One string of drool. No towel. 

Attempting to use one of our dogs as a pillow. 

Ladder ball in the dark.

Wet cooler birthday cake! Ah well, it's the thought that counts. And what a sweet thought it was.

Hannah Bear dug a spot under the trailer because she had too much camping fun.  

Toffee almonds and sister love. I ate almost the whole bag... worth it.

I did not get to swim across Rose Lake this weekend. Between the white caps and the boat traffic I decided I wanted to live to celebrate my 30th birthday. ;) I've got all summer!

3. Training Update: Week 5 of 6

Ahhhh! We are one week out from the tri!

Monday: 21 minute swim, 42 minute bike- Got it done thanks to D-Webb, the best training partner ever. 
Tuesday: 23 minute run- Done on a trail. I think I'm going to keep trail running on Tuesdays. It just flows, ya know? "Trail Run Tuesday?" I ended up running for 35 minutes. It was just so beautiful outside!
Wednesday: 77 minute bike- I rode to the lake by our house, practiced in the open water, and rode home. The swim was about 15 minutes long and the bike took 80 minutes. I also did something embarrassing that you can read about here.
Thursday: 31 minute run, 39 minute swim- The run happened outside in 88 degree weather. Whew!!! The swim happened inside and it was fabulous. 
Friday: Off- I didn't do anything on this day except take a nap, eat a vegan oatmeal whoopie pie, and see The Hubs play a show later in the evening. It was a great Friday!!
Saturday: Off- I ran for 35 minutes around our camping area. It was hard to want to run once I got to the campsite and saw my cooler sitting there and calling my name. However, I did it!
Sunday: 39 minute run- This didn't happen. It was rainy and blah outside.

Monday: 14 minute swim, 28 minute bike- Part of this happened. I practiced open water swimming for 20 minutes. Much more refreshing than sweating in 95 degree heat! And guess what?!?! I'm 29 now!!!! WOOOO!!!! This is gonna be the best year ever!

The Plan: Week 6 of 6 AKA THE WEEK BEFORE THE TRI!!!!!!!

I am attempting to taper this week. I've never tapered before and it seems odd to cut way back but I'm going to try it out so I don't injure myself. I want to ensure that I'm totally ready. 

Tuesday: 30 minute run

Wednesday: 46 minute bike, 14 minute run

Thursday: 19 minute run, 30 minute easy swim

Friday: Relaxing and eating some carbs (any suggestions on night before race meals?)

Saturday: IT'S HERE!!!!!!! AHHHHHH!!!! I'm so excited.

Sunday: I'll be resting from kicking so much ass. 

Two weeks left until the end of the school year. I am about to be crushed by a crazy mountain of grading. I need to mentally prepare myself for the amount of grading I'm about to do. On the bright side... by the end of the week I hope I will be able to say that I finished a sprint triathlon! Woo!


Now I need some help: What do you do to get ready for a triathlon? What do you eat the night before? For breakfast? What is something I need that I might not know I need?

Gone Swimmin', Sippin', and Sunnin'

I'll be out of touch for a few days camping with my best buds for Memorial Day weekend and my 29th birthday! I absolutely LOVE everything about my birthday and I love the wisdom I gain as I go through life. I treat my birthday a day to celebrate and I always will. Here's a look back at my last few years of best buddy b-day weekends:

26th Birthday: North Michigan at at my in-law's cabin.

27th Birthday: North Michigan at my best friend's family property, complete with Lambic.

28th Birthday: Same place as the year before complete with PBR decorations and best bud love.

I am going to complete half of goal #3 on my 30 before 30 list this weekend: Swim across Rose Lake. I can't wait. I am a much better swimmer than I was when I attempted this in the fall and I'm going to kick some ass.

Malcolm X is whispering in my ear that I need to keep up the good work. ;)

Oh yes, I'm going to brag a little bit too... I work in a HUGE school and I was one of four educators chosen by the senior class as an "Influential Educator." It gives me the warm fuzzies, helps me realize that students do notice my 12 hour work days and the excessive amounts of time I put into planning/extracurriculars, and makes me think about all of the teachers who have influenced me in the past and the present. Sometimes we forget to say thanks to those supportive teachers (ahem, thanks Mom, Ms. Richardson, Danielle, Joe, Jill, and everyone else who influences me or has influenced in my education). This is one time in my career where I got to hear it (as a loud and collective cheer--double warm fuzzies) and it warrants bragging rights all the way. Say thanks to a teacher in your life, even if you haven't spoken to him or her in years. Hearing "thanks" is better than a plaque, although it is nice to see that I am "influential" engraved on something. :)

Woohoo for birthdays, friends, weekends, and thank-yous! I hope all of you have a fabulous weekend and I'll be back with a triathlon training and birthday update on Tuesday!