Weekend in Review

Well this weekend was for the majority, spent at a dance competition.  I really loved spending time with my most favorite people. 

My life has always been hectic.  In high school I was at the studio 3-4 nights per week, was a varsity cheerleader, worked a job at a local ice cream shop, had a steady boyfriend, spent lots of quality time with my immediate and extended family, and got good grades through it all.  In college I kept the same pace and after graduation, I just kept going even though I got a full-time job and enrolled in graduate work - I just kept teaching at the studio and coaching a dance team.  It really wasn't a big deal to me, I was single and spending time with the people I cared about at the studio and my dance team was fun.

In the past few years as I met Hubs and began getting serious, I began viewing my extra jobs as a burden.  I wanted to spend time with him, I wanted to relax when I got home from work, I wanted to make dinner like a normal human being.  Now don't get me wrong, I had fun every single time once I got there - but very often I didn't want to go to start with.  I would come home from work and just cry because I was so mentally and emotionally exhausted and just didn't want to go work for another 2-5 hours (depending on the night). 

This weekend, my love was reignited.  I was reminded why I love my job at the studio.  My job at the studio is very often with beginning or intermediate dancers.  I feel like just when they're getting good, they get taken away from me because they get moved up to advanced or elite.  It just seems like a vicious wheel that never ends for me.  But this weekend, I sat watching many of my current and former students shine on stage and was reminded, that it is the purpose of my work ~ to make them excellent and then move them on to become better.  While I may not have a direct hand in their dance instruction today, they wouldn't be where they are without the foundation I {along with many other amazing faculty at the studio} laid for their current teachers. 

In addition to being in awe of my students, I genuinely laughed alot at the other staff.  Seriously, I am so blessed to work with my best friends and get to spend the entire weekend with them doing what we love.  I laughed harder than I have in a long, long time this weekend and it felt good.

So, as I prepare to begin another week, I simply take a deep breath in and count my many blessings.  Seriously, I get paid to do some of the best work ever.  :)

Disney, the flu, and catch-up

The title of this post has been my life for the past 2 weeks since I have updated this blog.  So, we're going to have a bullet list recap, to be followed later tonight or tomorrow by a picture update and an organizational project reveal.  Welcome back, friends!
On Thursday 2/3, I hopped on a plane headed to sunny Orlando, FL to cheer on my high school dance team as they competed in Nationals.

• My 1st flight was delayed causing me to almost miss my connection in Atlanta.  {I ran from gate C37 to A1 in 18 minutes...}
• I arrived in my hotel room at 1:00 AM - ugh, long day
• Friday, we had breakfast with the characters and spent time in Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom - great time!
• Saturday we competed in Pom, but didnt advance to semi-finals
• Sunday we competed in Jazz and advanced to semi-finals!!  {one of our team goals for the past 2 years}
• We competed in semi-finals and were 2 points from making finals - such an amazing time!
• Monday the Magical Express picked me up at 2:30 AM to go to the airport - HORRIBLE
• I flew home and was here for Kevin's birthday {stay tuned for a late birthday/Valentine's Day tribute to him this week}
• On Monday night I started feeling very sick
• Tuesday I tried to go to work but ended up feeling terrible and coming home before lunch
• I was attached to my bed or couch until Friday night when I finally started feeling a little better
• I had grad class all day Saturday
• and have been catching up on work I missed last week ever since.

So, as you can see, I really haven't had a lot of time for blogging/picture taking/organizing - but I'm vowing to make it a priority starting right now.

Welcome back!  :)

A much needed trip

Well Blog friends,

I am headed to sunny Orlando, FL for a much needed break from this horrible winter weather!  My dance team is headed to Nationals at Walt Disney World and I couldn't be more excited!  The girls have been fretting about how they would get there considering the blizzard of the century hit the entire Midwest, but alas - they are in Chicago right now and their flight to Orlando appears to be on time.  I am working today and heading to the airport in about 15 minutes to fly down and meet them.

I don't have pictures on this computer, but will be sure to upload when I get home.  Yesterday on my snow day I finished my classroom organization project, got most of the way done with my Home Management Binder, and got all caught up on my Scentsy business.  What a productive day that was!

I will be out of Blogworld until Monday at the earliest, but will be able to check other people's blogs from my phone!  I will get you all updated when I return early next week.

Happy Weekend everyone!  :)

Snowmagedden 2011

I have never in my entire life seen this much snow.  It's beautiful.

Last night at about 5:45 pm

 And here's what we woke up to this morning:

The snow is up to my hips.  Amazing

 

Wordless Wednesday ~ From the top of the Hancock Center

Here it comes...

We got out of school 2 hours early today because of the impending snow storm of the century!  It appears this storm is going to be absolutely out of control - so here we go!  I ran a couple of errands and now I'm home, in comfy clothes, and making a list of things I want to get done while snowed in my house.

We're expected to get more than a foot of snow in the next 12 hours, so this is just the beginning.  I thought it would be fun to have a little reference point, so I took a picture of this very fitting {and adorable} flag that's flying in the flower bed by my front door.

Here we are around 2:30 PM

{please disreguard the MUCH needed painting project we need to do outside - that's on the list of projects for this summer...}

Stay tuned for the storm progress and stay warm!