Happy Heart Day

Happy Valentine's Day lovers! I hope you all have a fabulous day kissing and hugging the ones you love most! 

XOXO

How I was Convinced to Coach Cheering

I started cheering when I was in 7th grade.  I wasn't a crazy tumbler or the flyer, but I had strong legs and could get almost anybody up in a stunt as the base.  Throughout my years in high school at Norfolk Collegiate, the cheering program continued to grow.  We cheered at every home basketball game, spent countless hours in the gym and excelled at competitions around the state. 

See that crazy lady in the front being dramatic with her legs wide open?! Yea, that was me!

When I came back to work at Norfolk Collegiate, I had no intention of coaching a sport.  However, my first year back, I was the middle school volleyball coach and loved it.  It was a little time consuming because I had to leave work early to be in the gym by 3:15, but overall worth it.  I coached again this year and I love being able to see the improvements in each young lady as they continue to grow and mature.  

When two young ladies approached me in November about being the Varsity Cheering coach the first thought through my head was "where in the world would I find the time to coach cheering!?" I had seen the team last year, and I was not impressed.  The program had completely fell to the ground and there were 6 cheerleaders on the  team.  The two girls kept asking me about it and I decided that if they could get 10 cheerleaders committed to being on the team this year, then I would be the coach.

Well guess what?? They found over 10 people. So I became the coach.  At first I was a little stressed about the amount of time I Was spending at the school.  They practice from 4:30-6pm every day and when there are home games they cheer both varsity boys' and girls' basketball.  I quickly found myself being sucked into the love of the sport again and wanting to make them better. 

The difference between last years team and this years team is unbelievable.  They wouldn't even stand a chance to compare to the team before them.  We are doing stunts that I never imagined doing when I first started.  Fulls, twist cradles, baskets.  It's not expert level, but its for sure more than beginner! We got new uniforms, have been granted some gym time, and even had a lock in at the school a few weekends back!

Along with myself as a first time cheer coach, I also convinced another alumnus of the school, Brittany to coach the middle school team.  These girls are the future of our program and I am confident that with Brittany as their coach, they will be ready for JV or Varsity when that time comes!

Cheering has allowed me to get to know these students on a much more personal level.  They trust me and respect my decisions as well as respect each other.  We have been working hard this year on halftime routines in hopes that next year we will be ready to take the mats in a competition!

With the teams strong leadership skills, we were able to host a clinic for students interested in cheering in grades 4 and 5.  The turnout was great and look how cute they looked in their uniforms!!

Overall, cheering has been such a blessing and I am so honored to coach such an amazing group of young women and men.  I can't wait to continue to see the program grow over the years and I hope that one day we are as strong as it was when I was here! 

Be on the lookout for a vlog in the next few weeks with their halftime routine - it's pretty awesome if I do so say myself :)

GO OAKS!

Weekend Recap

On Friday night after the basketball games at the school, we drove up to visit my in-laws for the weekend. We got in around 11 p.m. and I literally went straight for our bed.  I was beat and I knew we had a long day in the morning.

Saturday morning, we went to see Myla play soccer at 9 a.m. in Fredericksburg and grabbed some brunch at Cracker Barrel afterwards.  She was so cute out there playing with the cones and doing the obstacle courses.  Soccer at 19 months is pretty hilarious!

It was the whole gang at the field house - Brian and Amy's family, James, Stef and Jayden, Brians mom and grandma and D.J., Sandra, Dennis and I.  Needless to say, I think Myla had the biggest fan section!

 

It was a challenge to get Jayden to take a good picture, but these two are the best we got!

 Even Bryce was happy to be there...until we cut into his eating time!

 

 After brunch, we went to Funland to let the kids run around.  And the adults! It was a beautiful day outside so we all took our turn in the batting cage.  Even Dennis, my FIL got some swings in! Jayden wanted to ride some of the "roller coasters" inside and since he needed someone to ride with him, the closest adult to kid-size got that privileged. Yep, that's me.  It was actually pretty fun and I was extremely dizzy.

We got home around 2 and the boys played some basketball while I snuggled on Bryce.  D.J. got his favorite meal and we had delcious shrimp and pineapple.  While we were eating, the sun was setting and I couldn't help but snap some pretty crazy photos.  God is so great to provide us with this beautiful scenery.

How beautiful are those photos?! And one more for good measures...

I fell asleep on the couch watching Fury, but it was a great night with family.

Sunday moring Amy and Myla came by for brekfast and to say bye to D.J. one last time. We hit the road around 12 to head home.  I had a hot yoga date at 4 pm with a friend so I needed to get back for that.

Here's to another amazing week focusing on solid work, workouts, and healthy eating! Only 3 weeks left before we head to AZ to kickoff the 3rd baseball season! 

5 on Friday - Valentines Day Wants

Normally, D.J. and I are not Valentines Day gift givers, but if for some reason he wanted to get me something, these five would be pretty awesome!

one. eyefi camera card

This little gadget is the smartest thing ever made.  Ok, maybe a little dramatic there, but seriously how cool is this?! Right after you take a photo, it goes to your phone and you can upload a quality photo without having to download all the picture?!

two. spa day
I am in dire need of a mani/pedi.

three. TWO HEARTS gift basket from Lush

Love a good bath bomb and this basket looks like it has some pretty awesome goodies in it!

four. Just Cupcakes
Don't these oreo cupcakes look amazing?! If you are a Norfolk/VB resident, you must stop by this amazing bakery to get a cupcake! They are the best!

five. flowers
Everyone loves a good bouquet of flower.  And to get me in the spring mood, these would be perfect

Doing it doTERRA Style

So I finally gave in to the peer pressure (that no one was giving me but myself) and bought these pretty little bottles of goodness.

That's right, I am now the proud owner of the Peppermint, Lemon, and Lavender doTERRA oils.  Although I am not 100% positive how to use these babies, I am 100% positive that I love the smell and the way they have made me feel so far.

Here's what I do know:

• I need a diffuser.
• I need roller bottles and coconut, grapeseed, or almond oil to put in those roller bottles with the oils.
• These little bottles of oil are so pure, vibrant, and have an amazing smell!

Here's what I don't know:

• How is the best way to use them?
• What are the other "staple" oils that I need to purchase?
•  I've heard you can put the oil in food/drinks.  What is the best way to do this?

Do you use oils?? Any tips, tricks, essential things to know from the blogland would be greatly appreciated!

25 during 25 January Update

Instead of setting a New Years Resolution, I decided that when I turned 25, I would make a list and check things off that list throughout the year - 25 during 25 is what I'm calling it! I can't wait to continue to see how this list gets crossed off over the next 11 months.

1. Run a 10k - signed up for one in Richmond, VA on March 28!
2. Do a blog give-a-way
3. Write a guest post
4. Shoot a gun
5. Go on a spontaneous trip
6. See sunsets in 10 different cities
7. Do a girls weekend trip
8. Have a house party
9. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
10. Buy a camera and learn how to use it
11. Go to a new state
12. Host a shower for someone
13. Run a 5k in every month of the year, at least 5 of them being a race - knocked this one out at the beginning of the month!
14. Buy a new computer
15. Write 5 thank you letters to companies that i use their products
16. Cash in a whole milk jar of coins to savings 
17. Tip 100% of my bill 
18. Become CPR certified
19. Learn how to drive stick shift
20. Go to an NFL game
21. Do a 7-day smartphone detox 
22. Mail care packages to each of my siblings
23. Send my nana flowers out of the blue. 
24. Take professional photographs with D.J. and Stryker
25. Save $20 for every one of these that I complete

Super Bowl Weekending

So not only was it Super Bowl weekend, but it was basketball weekend, cheering weekend, CPR weekend, and much more! Needles to say, once again, we were busy.

Friday night D.J. had a basketball game followed by "Lower School Night" at the Varsity boys' game at the school.  Along with some of my co-workers, we managed to pull off an awesome night for all the lower school students with raffle prizes, games to play, and lots of cheering from the stands! The game awe AMAZING and we won by two points! In case I haven't mentioned it before, I stepped up to the plate and took on the Varsity Cheering team this year as the head coach.  More on that later.. but after the long, exhausting night of trying to control little kids and make sure they don't get taken out by the 6'6 basketball player, I topped off the night with a lock in sleepover with the middle school and varsity cheering team.

Yes. You can say it - I'm crazy. But the sleepover was actually pretty fun.  I wish I could have done some more team bonding with the team, but they wanted to watch some terrible movie called Warm Bodies, so we limited the team bonding. After the movie, I called a "bedtime" at 1:00 a.m. and I'm confident they didn't go to sleep until around 2.  So that happened... and then in the morning, they all looked like this...

Also known as PASSED OUT!

Then after everyone was picked up, the school offered a CPR re-certification class that I was signed up for, so I topped off a 13 hour work day, sleepover with middle and high schoolers, I went and refreshed my skills on how to save someones life...thanks to these pretty awesome friends right here...

 What's crazy/nasty is that when I was first certified (back in 2004? 2005?) these were the exact same "people" we practiced on!

The rest of the day Saturday I slept till about 4pm.  Then we did some things around the house and ended the night watching the UVA/Duke basketball game. 

Sunday morning I was up and at 'em. I put some boxes up in the attic, vacuumed, did some laundry, and D.J. finally took down the Christmas lights from the house.  No judgement people. We watched the Super Bowl with some friends and their kids out in Virginia Beach.  What an ending to a game.  Amazing game played by all!

Here's to another productive week!