Friday Five

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Hello Friday! I know many of you are gearing up to celebrate a three day weekend, and I’m eagerly anticipating John’s arrival home from work today. We’re Colorado bound! Is it possible that I was only there two months ago? It seems like much longer, and, no matter how many trips I make, I don’t think I’ll ever stop being excited!

Since I didn’t have a chance to post any Thursday thoughts yesterday, I thought I’d take the opportunity to fill you in on what’s been going on in my ‘hood lately (Yeah, I don’t think I can really get away with “hood”.)

1. I’ve been spending most of the day packing and finishing odds and ends around the house. I have to have a little background noise when I’m working, and today that noise has been “Everwood”. Does anyone remember this show? I loved it back in the day (I have no idea what’s up with all the old school slang today!), and I almost always pop in the DVDs right before a Colorado trip. For those of you who don’t know, “Everwood” was set in a small Colorado town so, obviously, the show had me from the start. If your fans of “Revenge” you may be interested to know that Miss Emily Thorn is one of the main characters!

2. I finally finished this book.

Be on the look out for a book review next week. Spoiler alert: My desire to do a thru-hike has become even more intense.

3. I took Max for a grooming appointment yesterday. I told the groomers to cut his hair just a little shorter than normal since we’re approaching the super hot summer months, and this is what happened.

I have spent the last two days apologizing to him. This is not what I meant! Poor little guy……..they scalped him!

4. Although our area certainly didn’t sustain the damage that Moore did during the tornado on Monday, we did have a little bit of damage.

The roof sitting between the two buildings is suppose to be on top of the Napa Auto Parts building!

5. Last, but certainly not least, I have to share my exciting news! Remember when I said that John and I made a trip to Fayetteville this week? Well, here’s why!

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I am now the proud owner of a Subaru! Mine’s a different color, but just as beautiful! I have been in love with these cars for years. The company seems to reflect the lifestyle and values that we adhere to, and as the salesman said “All you have to do is point a Subaru towards Colorado and say “Go Home”.” I couldn’t agree more!

In that spirit, it’s almost time to point that new car towards “home”. Have a wonderful Memorial weekend!

What are your Memorial Day plans? Is there a certain car that you just love?

WIAW: Epic Love Story

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Happy Wednesday, friends! I’m still riding the high of summer break, and I’m getting very pumped up for our trip. In just three days, I’ll be in my favorite place on the planet. Woo hoo! (Everyone needs woo hooing in their lives. Don’t judge.)

First up, thank you all so much for the kind comments, concerns, and well-wishes on yesterday’s post. Thankfully, all we had to deal with in this part of the state was some high winds and torrential downpour. As we saw in Moore, it could’ve been much much worse. John and I will be going through the area on Friday heading towards Colorado so we may have the opportunity to drop off some supplies. If you’d like to help in any way, please check out the list of sites I referenced yesterday.

Now let’s talk about food! It’s time for What I Ate Wednesday, but, before we get started, I have to apologize for the picture quality today. Due to the wacky weather, the inside of my house had 8 o’clock in the evening light all day long!

I have absolutely no idea how it happened, but three out of my four meals yesterday included peanut butter. I definitely have a love story going on with the stuff, and I’ve taken my obsession to new heights!

You know my day is off to a good start when there’s an almost empty peanut butter jar hanging out in the pantry. I cooked up some oatmeal, and added it to the jar and, as always, magic happened. For those of you who haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, just do it. Trust me-it’s delicious!

I had originally planned on being out and about at lunch time yesterday so I made up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to take with me. Those plans fell through, but you know I couldn’t let a perfectly good PB & J sandwich go to waste. I added a few of the strawberries I bought this week, and lunch was served.

I even managed to incorporate peanut butter into my yogurt bowl yesterday. For some reason I decided adding a spoonful of the good stuff to my vanilla yogurt. How have I never done this before? Wow! I think I may be stocking nothing but vanilla yogurt for some time to come. I wonder how it would be in some of the other flavors. Hmmmm….

John and I had to run to Fayetteville last night for a very fun errand (more on that later!). It was almost eight before we finished, and we were starving! We quickly found a Firehouse Subs which means I had a loaded salad for dinner. I ordered the sliced chicken on top with honey mustard dressing. It definitely hit the spot, but I’m more than a little sad I didn’t get a sandwich. They are just so yummy!

So now you see I may need an intervention for my peanut butter insanity. I just can’t seem to get enough of the stuff!

Alright, folks, time to go. Have a great evening!

What food can you incorporate into every meal?

Praying For Moore

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Friends, this will not be a light and happy post today. I’m sure you’ve all heard the horrific news about the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma that affected so many yesterday. I can’t believe the images that I’m seeing on the news, and my heart is broken for the victims.

I’ve been an Oklahoman my entire life, and, thought sometimes I have a contentious relationship with my state, I feel it very keenly when it’s hurting. Growing up here, we learn early what tornadoes can do, and we always keep a very close eye on the skies from March to June. Yesterday is every Oklahoman’s worst fears come to life. Thankfully, all of my loved ones in the Moore area are safe and accounted for today, but the same cannot be said for so many.

Already we’re seeing local organizations mobilizing support for those affected. For those of you not in our area, but would like to help, the following is a list of several organizations that could desperately use your donations.

American Red Cross

Salvation Army

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief

These are the three biggest organizations on the ground. However, there are several more working diligently. For more information on some of the other ways to get involved, please see the full list here.

Please remember and pray for the victims today, and hug your loved ones a little closer.

Day One!

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It’s my first official day of summer break! I’ve spent the day doing all kinds of exciting things like cleaning the house and grocery shopping. Not to worry-I’m getting all of the not so fun things out of the way so I can concentrate on having some fun the rest of the week! I have to make a small correction about something I said last week. On Thursday I mentioned that John and I were gearing up for a quick trip to Colorado in two weeks. Well, guess what? Apparently, reading calendars is not a great skill of mine. We’re actually going to be there next week! We’re heading out on Friday for several days, and I am so excited. You know it’s my favorite place on earth, and I can’t wait to spend a few days soaking up the mountains.

But that’s this coming weekend. Let’s talk about the one that just happened! John and I headed home to my mom’s on Friday night for a very special occasion. My step-dad Joel graduated from college on Saturday, and we were on hand to celebrate! The ceremony was held Saturday morning, and after a few quick pictures we all piled in the cars to get on with the really exciting part of the day.

A few months ago, we discovered an awesome Latin restaurant in Dallas called Gloria’s. We’ve all become obsessed with it, and Joel tried to convinced all of us to skip the graduation ceremony and get right to lunch. Unfortunately for him, we didn’t go for it! By the time we were seated, we were all starving and dove right into chips and salsa and the most amazing bean dip I’ve ever had. I ate more than my fair share, but I still had room to devour my entrée.

Yes, it was just as delicious as it looks. I’m already looking forward to my next trip! After we stuffed ourselves silly, we spent the rest of the day hitting some of our favorite spots in Dallas.

Of course I had to stock up on a few things at Whole Foods. If one of these ever opens up within a fifty mile radius of me, I am in serious trouble. The Dallas day also included not one but two stops at REI where Caite and I couldn’t resist modeling a little bit.

We made a full day of it, and by the time we got back to Mom’s Saturday night, we were exhausted.

Sunday included lunch with my dad and grandparents, and we had a great time catching up for a few hours before John and I had to head back to Poteau. It was a weekend full of family and good food which are always the best kind!

Now it’s time to get to the highlight of my Mondays. I love answering Friend Makin’ Monday questions, and I hope you all enjoy learning a little more about me. Here we go!

1. Have you ever been skinny dipping?

Yes, actually, and more than once

2. If you could choose an exotic vacation destination today, where would you go?

I’d probably pick something like Greece or Egypt.

3. Do you prefer to live in the city or the suburbs?

I think I’m a mid-size city kind of girl. I would never survive in a big city, but I do like the conveniences of it!

4. If you could paint, draw or illustrate any masterpiece in the world, what would it be?

I would create a masterpiece of my beloved Colorado Rockies. That way I’d have them with me all the time!

5. What is your favorite dish to cook when you’re cooking for one?

I usually always go with an omelet. It’s easy to make breakfast foods into a single serving.

6. Who has recently influenced you in a spectacular way?

I find my influences from books all the time. I read a lot of non-fiction, and many times the adventures I find in certain people’s stories inspire me to try all kinds of new things.

7. Have you ever considered dating a person who’s younger than you? If so, how young would you go?

Well, when I was dating I didn’t usually date people younger than me, but I wouldn’t have been opposed to it. I think it depends on the person.

8. What do you typically wear when you’re at home with no plans to go out?

Yoga pants or athletic shorts and a hoodie. It’s my uniform!

9. Do you prefer a shower or a bath?

I definitely prefer showers. I really don’t get baths.

10. When you meet strangers are you outgoing or more introverted?

I am severely introverted. Sometimes I think I have diagnosable social anxiety!

Alright, folks, it’s time to finish up a few chores and then get my Insanity on. See you tomorrow!

Are you outgoing or introverted? What was your favorite thing about the weekend?

Yes, I Cried Like A Baby

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Hello, friends! There is so much going on today that it definitely calls for a Thursday Thoughts post. Ready, set, go!

1. Today was the last day of school! The students are free and clear until mid-August, and after tomorrow I will be as well. I can’t say I’m sad to have three full months off to look forward to, but today was a little bittersweet. I absolutely loved my Government kids this year, and I hate that they won’t be in my class anymore. I’m even working on teaching another class so that I can have them again!

2. This weekend my step-dad is graduating from college! John and I are going down to celebrate with the family, and we have a full day of fun planned for Saturday. I love days when the whole family can be together, and I’m looking forward to it.

3. I’m really enjoying this new to me young adult series. Crossed is the second book (Matched is the first, if your interested!), and it’s another dystopian novel set in the future. It’s an interesting story, and a pretty easy read. Check it out!

4. In the last few months, I’ve become obsessed with Scandal. The season finale is tonight! Woo hoo!

5. There’s something pretty big happening in the blog world this weekend. Many of you know that the super successful Blend Retreat is going on in Park City starting tomorrow. A lot of my friends are making the trip, and I’m very sad I have to miss it this year. I hope you guys have a ton of fun, and you better believe I’ll be there next year!

6. I have been planning on riding my bike to work all week, but the weather keeps thwarting me. I think tomorrow may be the day!

7. In two weeks, John and I will be headed west to spend a few days in Colorado. We’re planning on spending one of those days in Frisco, and, since we’ve only been in that area to ski, we don’t know much about the hiking trails. Any of my Colorado friends know of any good ones?

8. We started the second month of Insanity this week, and today I can barely move. I hurt everywhere! I just thought the first month was tough.

9. And I saved the best for last.

One of my students handed me this today with strict orders not to read it until after she left. It was a two page letter thanking me and letting me know what a difference I made to her this semester. Yes, I did cry like a little baby. I, like everyone, sometimes get frustrated with my job and question whether or not I’m doing the right thing with my life. Moments like today make it worth it.

That’s all for me tonight. It’s time to let Shaun T abuse my body a little more. Have a great evening!

Keep Moving Forward

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As predicted, it’s been a busy, busy day. The end of the year activities were in full swing today, and I’m just about to head back to school for the 8th grade graduation. Oh, the joys of being a class sponsor!

I wanted to pop in for a few minutes to tell you a story that has been on my mind the last few days. Yesterday, I told you all about our weekend doing the Cavanal Killer, but I have one more thing to share that deserves a post all its own.

At the start line on Saturday, I took note of one man in particular. There were hundreds of people milling around, but this gentleman caught my eye because he was considerably larger than most of the participants. At first glance, I could tell he was easily over 300lbs. My first reaction was to be incredibly impressed that he would attempt such a feat. Though the climb up Cavanal is nothing compared to, say, Everest, it is a 5 mile trek in which you gain around 1,500 feet in elevation. Definitely nothing to sneeze at so my second reaction was, “Dear God, I hope he makes it.”

I didn’t think much more about the guy for the rest of the morning as he was forgotten in the midst of the excitement and focus on my own hike. It wasn’t until Mom, Joel, Caite, and I were halfway back down the hill that we saw him again. He was still making the climb. Sure, he was a lot further behind everyone else, but he was still trying. I made sure to give him an encouraging word as we passed, and, once he was out of ear shot, I called John to alert him. I wanted to make sure that the organizers of the event knew he was still coming so they wouldn’t pack up any water or aid stations along the way.

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We arrived back at the house, cleaned up, and waited for John to get home. The afternoon rolled along, and I couldn’t imagine what was taking him so long. I sent him a text, and I soon found out exactly what the hold up was.

Five hours after the race started, and long after most everyone else had finished and gone home, this guy was still trying to make it to the top. Several of the organizers of the race, John included, walked down the hill to finish the climb with him. He revealed that his mother had told him that morning that there was no way he could make it to the top, and I think he was determined to prove her wrong. I also think he was determined to prove something to himself.

He did end up making it all the way to the finish line. The organizers gifted him with this sign on which they had written messages of congratulations.

In the end, it didn’t matter that he was last or that it took him so long to finish. What mattered was that he made it all the way, and he didn’t let the naysayers get him down. Days later I’m still moved by his sheer will and determination, and I hope this is a stepping stone to a whole new path for him.

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I knew you all would love to hear this story, and I hope it provides you with some inspiration this week. Now I’m off to corral 8th graders! Have a good evening!

What inspires you?

It’s a Killer!

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Hello, Monday! This week is going to be a whirlwind of activity in my part of the world. The last day of school for the kids is Thursday (we teachers have to go on Friday), and there is so much going on this week. Between graduations, class parties and trips, and, oh yeah, getting the entire library ready to close for the year I’m going to be one busy little bee. That’s alright though because this time next week, I’ll be free and clear for three months. (And I swear that’s the last time I’ll rub it in!) Do you all remember the feeling of excitment in the air at the end of each school year? Well, that feeling is definitely permeating the atmosphere today.

But let’s talk about the weekend, shall we? We had a Marvelous one, and I got to spend some quality time with some of my favorite people. It was definitely the kind of weekend that deserves a Marvelous In My Monday recap. Thanks, Katie, for hosting!

Mom, Joel, and Caite arrived Friday night for a quick visit to participate in a very fun and unique event that happens in our town every year. Remember how Poteau is home to the world’s highest hill? Well, every year the Chamber of Commerce holds a race called the Cavanal Killer. You can enter as either a runner or a walker (don’t worry-the vast majority walk!), and people from all over the area come to conquer the 5 mile climb to the top.

Mom and Joel did the race two years ago, and Caite did the hill with us back in January so they all knew what to expect. The four of us actually decided to walk the short distance to the start line from my house, and we were lined up and ready by the time the gun went off at 9:30. Just over 300 people started the trek up the hill, and, even though I do this hike regularly, it’s always fun to be a part of the atmosphere on race day.

Joel and I jumped a little ahead of Mom and Caite, and we spent the time chatting as we made our way up. Let me just take a minute to tell you how good I felt physically on this hike. My legs felt incredibly strong, and I can honestly say I have never had an easier time doing Cavanal. I completely credit this to the Insanity workout program John and I have been doing, and it makes me that much more excited to see how this new strength will affect my backpacking this summer.

Joel and I made the 5 mile climb to the top in one hour and forty-nine minutes. I jog ahead slightly to catch him coming across.

Eight minutes later, Mom and Caite crossed over. Have I mentioned how thankful I am to have a active family?

We spent a few minutes resting at the top, and look who we found?

John actually volunteers with the Chamber of Commerce so he was working the event instead of walking it this time. He was on hot dog patrol to feed the famished trekkers! After about thirty minutes or so, the four of us opted to make the walk back down instead of using one of the buses that were provided to shuttle people back to the starting line. Overall, we ended our day with a total mileage of 12.5, and I think I managed to wear my family completely out!

I agree with you, Mr. Jefferson!

After taking much needed showers, we met back up with John and feasted on Mexican food.

I’m not sure how many baskets of chips we went through, but it was a lot. Don’t worry-I still managed to finish this plate of goodness.

My family hung around for a little longer after finishing dinner, and then hopped in the car for the ride back home. They couldn’t stay another night because my sister had to get home for a very important occassion.

Yesterday, Caite and Justin celebrated their one year anniversary! I heard rumors of a secret fancy dinner out, and I can’t wait to get the whole scoop!

All in all, it was a really fun weekend. However, I’m a little afraid my family is going to stop visiting because I always make them do something crazy when they’re here!

Before I go for the evening, I wanted to take the opportunity to say a public Happy Mother’s Day to the best mom a girl could ask for. She heard me say it several times over the weekend, but I wanted to be able to share my special ma with all of you!

I love you, Mama! Have a great evening everyone!

Do you have an event that’s unique to your town? What did you do for your mom yesterday?

A Perfect Day For A Hike

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As promised, it’s time for a recap on the latest trail John and I discovered. Before I do that though, can I take a minute to tell you guys how excited I am about something?

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The Great Gatsby comes out tomorrow! I’m a huge fan of the book, and I happen to think Leonardo DiCaprio is a genius. Many of you know that I’m a sponsor of the high school book club, and we read this several months ago in preparation. We’re taking the kids to see it as an end of year trip tomorrow, and I’m so excited! Yes, I know the movie is never as good as the book and I shouldn’t get my hopes up. You’d think I would’ve learned my lesson by now, but what can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment!

Now on to the trail recap. John, Max, and I spent our Sunday hiking around Shores Lake in Arkansas. We had originally planned to backpack the entire weekend, but the weather, unfortunately, had other plans. It cleared up on Sunday, and I woke John up around eight with a cheery “Babe, it’s almost eight and the sun is shining!”. We quickly gathered our things for a day hike, and drove a little over an hour to the lake. I had been there briefly as a kid, but my memory was definitely hazy. John had never been in the area, and we were both impressed with the lake and the facilities surrounding it. It was really a beautiful setting.

After getting the lay of the land, we parked at the trailhead and started up. The Shores Lake Trail is a loop trail that leads to the White Rock Mountain Summit. After traveling a few yards on the trail, you come to a fork where you can choose to go up the East Loop or the West Loop. We chose the East Loop, and, after talking to another hiker later in the day, we were glad we did. The hiker we met said the East Loop was much more scenic than the West which is saying something.

We started hiking through trees, and kept hiking through trees. This trail didn’t have any overlooks, and the only view comes when you get to the White Rock Overlook. Granted, that view is pretty spectacular!

We did run across a beautiful waterfall about midway up, and we spent some time there taking pictures and enjoying it.

We made it to the top, and decided to hike back down by way of the dirt road. The humidity had gotten up in the afternoon which meant we were dealing with a lot of bugs which are made worse by the thick trees. Just a quick note on the mileage-there is a little bit of a discrepancy. According to our online source for hiking trails in Arkansas, this trail is a little over 13 miles. The very basic map provided at the trail head puts it at ten. John and I both felt like we did more than ten so we’re choosing to believe our online source!

All in all, we weren’t crazy about this trail. We’ve been spoiled by hiking in Colorado and Montana. We’re used to and prefer wide open views, and this trail just didn’t have that. We did decide that it would be a nice day hike to do in the fall when all the leaves are changing so we’ll probably be back eventually!

Sadly, that’s probably the last hiking we’ll do in this area until things really get going in the fall. We have plans for the next couple of weekends, and, once you get to the end of May, it is far too hot in our part of the world to backpack! Luckily, we have a couple of trips planned to our favorite place in the world in the near future so there’s plenty of backpacking to come!

Trail Logistics

Shores Lake Trailhead: 13 miles

Directions to Trailhead: Take I-40 to Exit 24 for Mulberry, AR. Go north on state highway 215 for nine and half miles to Shores Lake. The trailhead can be found in the campground.

Have you read the Great Gatsby? What are you doing this weekend?

WIAW And A Point To Ponder

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A few days ago, John and I were talking about music, and there’s one thing that we absolutely agreed on. Music should evoke emotion. A truly good song should make you feel something which is why I’m so fond of music from the ’70s, and why I don’t get much of the music made today. This morning I was listening to my Pandora (the John Denver station, of course!), and it made me think back on our conversation. There are definitely a few artists that provoke that emotional response for me. James Taylor, John Denver, Carol King, Stevie Nicks…….just about all their songs get some kind of feeling out of me! I wonder if I’m the only one you feels this way about music. Just a litle point to ponder on your Wednesday evening!

Now let’s move on to the real exciting stuff! It’s What I Ate Wednesday which means it’s time for food. I always think that’s exciting even if I do end up eating a lot of the same things!

I decided it was a pancake kind of day so I whipped up a batch of Brownie Batter pancakes. I absolutely love this recipe! Not only is it chocolate pancakes (yum!), but it’s a single serving recipe. That’s always good in our house because John and I only eat breakfast together on the weekends and even then he’s more of a savory kind of guy! I topped them with peanut butter and syrup, and it was delicious. If you’re a pancake fan, you’ve got to give this one a try!

Lunch was pretty interesting. Remember how I raved about the homemade refried beans last week? Well, I got a little creative, and decided to put some on top of one of my pitas for lunch. I sprinkled the whole thing with a little cheese, and, holy cow, was this a great idea! I seriously love these beans. Many of you were interested in the recipe so here’s how I made them.

1 1/2 cups dry pinto beans

1 jalapeno

1/2 small yellow onion

1/2 green bell pepper

1T olive oil

taco seasoning to taste

Soak the beans overnight. Sautee the vegetables in olive oil until soft. Drain the beans, place them in the Crock Pot, and cover with fresh water. Add sautéed veggies and taco seasoning. I use a homemade taco seasoning blend, and just sprinkle it in until I think I’ve gotten the right amount! Cook on high for 6-7 hours. Drain and reserve the liquid. You’ll probably want to add a little of it back in. I used a fork to mash the beans to the desired consistency, and that was it! I hesitate to even call this a recipe because it’s so easy.

I should probably start skipping the recap of my snack because you all know what it is! Today’s yogurt bowl was the Chobani Raspberry. I’m still digging this flavor!

I was on my own for dinner tonight so leftovers were in order! A few weeks ago, I made Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, split the recipe between two pans, and froze one. I thawed it out over the weekend, and it’s been dinner two nights this week! Unfortunately, it’s not the greatest recipe, but I ate it anyway because I hate to waste food! I love the concept so I’m on the hunt for a great recipe.

Shortly after dinner, I was hit with a major craving for a snow cone so I headed over to our local stand. My flavor of choice this evening was sugar-free banana. Snow cones are one of my favorite parts of summer! Don’t get me wrong-they’ll never replace ice cream for me, but they do a decent job of satisfying the sweet tooth!

It’s time for us to catch up on a few of our shows and relax! Have a great evening!

What song or artist makes you emotional? What’s your favorite summer time dessert?

Challenge Accepted!

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Do you want to know a little secret?

I would love to start something like this at school. This particular one is structured for high schools in Maine, but I printed off their guide yesterday for some tips and ideas. I’ve been dreaming about implementing something like this with the teenagers I work with for quite a while. I especially want to work with teenage girls for a couple of reasons. First of all, the number of women who backpack is much smaller than men. It seems like every backpacking trip we go on, we see at least two or three groups of Boy Scouts out on the trail. I’ve never seen a group of girls out there, and that makes me very sad.

I’m also convinced that backpacking or any outdoor activity can create an enormous sense of self-confidence and self-esteem. There are so many young girls who lack that, and I would love to give back in a way that I’m passionate about.

Right now, the outdoor club is a dream that’s slowly turning into a possibility. I even have a few girls interested in the idea! I’m going to spend some time this summer trying to work out a plan, and maybe I can get it off the ground sometime during the next school year!

For now, let’s concentrate on a few immediate goals, ok? It’s time to review April, and set some new challenges for May! So how did I do?

1. Read one “classic”

I’ll give myself a “sort of” on this one. Shortly after making this goal, I felt the irrepressible need to reread Anne of Green Gables. That, of course, led to reading the entire series again because you can’t just stop with book one. So I did read a classic, but it was one I had already read!

2. 70 miles, 25 with pack

This one was an A+! I did all 70 miles and 25 of them were with a pack. It felt good to hit my mileage goal!

3. Stay strong with my stand against banana chips.

Done! Not a single one touched my lips during the month of April. Once again, though, I still want them more than ever!

4. Eat at least one meal this month with no worries.

This one was just a fail. I stuck to my old habits and kept it completely clean all month. Sure, I ate out a few times, but I always ordered the healthiest thing on the menu instead of what I really wanted to eat. While I think this is good practice most of the time, I do understand the importance of letting go and just living a little. I just didn’t let myself do it in April!

Here’s a few I have planned for May!

1. Eat a treat meal!

I’m setting this one for myself again this month since I didn’t quite accomplish it in April. I think I’ll have a great opportunity since we’re taking a little trip at the end of May!

2. 80 miles

I’m still keeping my monthly mileage fairly low because we’re starting the second month of Insanity next week, and I know it’s going to kick my butt! However, we’ll be in Colorado at the end of the month, and I’m sure I’ll get a few day hikes in while we’re there. Not to mention, once I get out of school I’ll have a lot more time to log some miles!

3. Give 100% to the last month of Insanity

I’ve previewed the coming month of Insanity, and it’s going to be a tough one! The first month was hard but so rewarding, and I want to be able to notice even more differences by the end of the month.

4. Try one new Pinterest recipe a week

You guys know what I’m talking about. We all do it! I’ve pinned so many recipes with very good intentions, but I never quite get around to making any of them. That all changes this month! I’m going to cook/bake one recipe per week off my boards in May. I think this one will be really fun!

Speaking of Insanity, it’s time to get after it! Have a great evening!

Did you participate in any kind of outdoor club in high school? What are your goals this month?