Has it really been two months?!

Wow, I don't know where the time has gone!  Actually, that's not entirely true.  I've been working on my 30 by 30 list these past two months, prepping my class for FCAT (today was the last day of testing!), having a lazy spring break and visit with Tara, and house hunting among other things!  It's too much to cover in one post, so I'll just recap what has been checked off the 30 by 30 list.

#8 Adopt a Middie Blythe:  On February 28, 2013, my first Middie Blythe arrived.  She's a Jackie Ramone and I named her, Sydney. See her Flickr set here.




#9 Do the Color Run: On March 16, 2013 I ran the Color Vibe.  It wasn't the Color Run, but it was the same sort of thing, so it counts!  Unfortunately, it wasn't a true 5K, so I can't check off #1 on the list yet.  The run came in just under three miles.  I will dedicate a whole post to this soon since I have a few pictures to share.

#16 and #25: Create my own "printables" and list something on TPT.  I started with this one for Valentine's Day, but have some others to post.  I probably won't upload them to TPT until summer- too much end of year stuff going on.



#26 Take and pass the GK and Prof Exams: On December 29, 2012, I took all four sections of the General Knowledge Test and passed.  Then on February 19, 2013, I took the Professional Exam and passed.  I'm getting closer to having my Professional Education Certificate!

#27 Attend a music festival: Last weekend, I attended the first annual Tortuga Music Festival and had a blast!  This will get its own post as well.  I have a ton of pictures.

So that's six more things completed in two months...not bad!

30 by 30: January Progress Update

As mentioned in this post, I have a few things in progress so far. Specifically, 7, 11, 12, 26, 29 and 30.  I have some updates to that and a few more to add to that list.

My fun money 'stache (#29) had $20 in it at the end of January.  It was hard to put a ten dollar bill in there, but I did it.  I have another dollar to add today.  At the rate this is going, I will definitely have fun at my 30th birthday.  I have already started daydreaming about what I can use the money on. :)

Numbers 1 (Complete a 5k) and 9 (Do the Color Run) will be complete on March 16.  I've registered for the Color Vibe 5k.  It was originally scheduled for today, but was rescheduled to accommodate more people.  I'm pretty excited for it!

I'm putting the final touches on a couple of printables that I'm using in my classroom.  I'm hoping to have them posted for free to Teachers Pay Teachers in the next few days.  This will take care of numbers 16 (Create my own printables) and 25 (List something on Teachers Pay Teachers or Etsy.)

Tickets have been bought and a hotel has been booked.  I'm going to the Tortuga Music Festival on April 13-14!  That'll take care of #27 Attend a music festival!

30 by 30: #23 Do a 30 Day "Mile A Day" Challenge

Walking 30 Miles in 30 Days seemed like it was going to be quite a challenge at first. By day 7, I was ill and could hardly function.  I laid in bed miserable with a 102.4* fever.  But the fever broke and I was determined to start again.  So on what should have been day 8, I started over on day 1.  There were days that I barely walked a mile and there were days when I walked 2-3 miles.  There were days when I went alone.  There were days that I had company...thanks, Sam for pushing me to walk longer!  There were days when the last thing I wanted to do was walk, but I did it.  All 30 days straight.  And you know what...I didn't just walk 30 miles, I walked 49.45 miles!  I would have pushed myself for that extra half mile had I realized I was so close to 50 miles!




I grew to enjoy my daily walks.  I've signed up for a 5k in March.  (It actually was supposed to be today, but was rescheduled.) And I've lost five pounds!  That in itself is motivation enough to keep going and going and going.  Oh yeah, I also gave myself another goal- walk/run 365 miles in 2013. I've walked a total of 57.7 miles so far or 15% of that goal.

Sweet Nothing Swap

I just signed up for the Sweet Nothing Swap hosted by Emily of Yarn Miracle.  I'm excited for a simple swap.  I haven't swap since last July when I hosted a Blythe and Pullip Swap on Craftster. I need a surprise mail fix!

The swap is a simple knitting notions themed Valentine Swap.  Which gets me thinking...I need to figure out what I'm going to do for my class this year.  Last year I made these:

ECHO Global Farm

Many months ago my sister bought my mom and I Groupons to ECHO Global Farm.  They were about to expire so we visited the farm and nursery today.  I hadn't been to the farm in years and it was nice to visit it again.  The very first time I visited was with my church youth group during 30 Hour Famine at least twelve years ago.


From ECHO's website: ECHO's Mission is to equip people with resources and skills to reduce hunger and improve the lives of the poor.

ECHO is very resourceful in their gardening techniques. Here are a few of their great ideas...

Tires:




 Cinder blocks:

 

 Baby pool:



 Gutters and pallets:



 Filing cabinet:




 Keri and Keegan.



 Checking out the lettuce.

 We loaded up a cart to get our own gardens going. I bought strawberry, blueberry, and lemon balm plants...all things I can grow in containers!



 I'll leave you with some interesting statistics.

They're a pretty amazing organization. Check it out if you are ever in Southwest Florida!

30 by 30: In Progress

I have quite a few things on my 30 by 30 list that are in progress. Some of them won't be complete until my 30th birthday, but they've at least been started.

7. Get my ESOL endorsement.  There are five classes (300 hrs.) needed to get an ESOL endorsement or two classes and taking an exam.  As of right now, my plan is to take the two classes and exam.  I completed ESOL Methods in November.  So, I'm almost halfway there.

11 and 12. Pay off CC debt and car.  I think I have my monthly payments figured out to have both of these done right around May 2014.

23. Do a 30 day "mile a day" challenge.  I started this on Jan. 2.  I was unable to go on Jan. 8, because I felt so incredibly sick and had a 102 fever.  I started over on Jan. 9.  Today, was day five...so twenty-five more days to go!  I have a Flickr album where the pictures are being posted each day via instagram.

26. Take and pass the GK and Prof. Exams.  I took the General Knowledge Test on Dec. 29 and passed!  I signed up earlier this week to take the Professional Exam.  I take the test on Feb. 18.  So this is another one that is halfway finished.

29. Make a "fun" money savings plan/bank.  Started this today.  Anytime I get a bill with a "F" in the serial number it'll go in my 'stache jar.  The jar was inspired by this one. I've been looking for the past two weeks for money with a "F" in the serial number and I finally got one today!



30. Update my blog more frequently (30+ times).  I've posted more this week than in the last six months! ;)

Perpetual Calendar

I saw this idea on Pinterest over a year ago and finally got around to making my own.  I don't love the dividers and I may update them sometime in the future.  I'm excited to have a way to journal the highlights of my days, even if they are rather mundane.