P90x and a new creation

Well..it seems as though I have really fallen behind on my blogging. The beginning of this school year has been unusually wild. Thankfully, things seem to be slowing down a little.

Part of the busyness is the addition of a workout into my daily routine. Ben and I have begun P90x, an intense 90 day workout. And when I say intense...I mean INTENSE! We get up every morning at 5:30-5:45ish and do our hour to hour and 1/2 workout. Then I rush to take a shower while Ben cooks us a protein filled breakfast. This routine is working out nicely for me, despite my dislike to get up early in the morning. I have found that I have more energy throughout the day and I feel like I can think clearer. We have just finished week 2 of the program and we have not missed a workout yet.

The toughest part of the whole thing has been the diet. The first 30 days requires eating large amounts of protein for me, and vegetables for Ben (notice that didn't say large amount of vegetables). So, in an effort to create a meal to fit both of our needs I have created the Fiesta Salad! For those of you that know my family, we love dips. We particularly love Pico (our homemade salsa) and Black Bean dip. Yum! My creation is Pico meets Black Bean Dip! I added this mix to a bed of lettuce, chicken strips, and the spray Ranch (15 cal.). It was so good that we ate it for lunch and dinner!

I wanted to share this "salad topper" with everyone. I got bits and pieces of it from the Internet and the other 2 recipes. I don't really know the exact amount that I used of most of it, so I am kinda guesstimating. Enjoy!

Fiesta Salad

1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)

1 can corn (drained)

4-5 chopped Roma tomatoes

1/4 red onion

cilantro

jalapeno

2 limes

2 cloves minced garlic

1/4 packet taco seasoning

1 tbsp. olive oil

salt to taste

Combine black beans, corn, and tomatoes. In food processor chop onion, cilantro and jalapeno. Squeeze the juice from the 2 limes. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Serve over salad.

Crockpot chicken changed my life

Ok - so maybe this is common sense to some people... but I have just recently been introduced to crockpot chicken. In case you don't know, I detest boiling and cubing chicken so badly that I have been known to resort to canned chicken. I don't like the way it smells, looks, or how badly I always burn myself in an attempt to shred the chicken just the way that I like it. (Not that canned chicken is any better than this). I especially don't like the white film that is created when the chicken is boiling.

So the other day my friend Whitney says to me, "You know you can cook chicken in a crockpot with a little bit of water and it will shred just like your chicken tacos. Don't you?" NO! I never thought of that. So I tried it the other day. Before I left for work I put 2 large chicken breasts in the crockpot with about 1/2 cup of water and set the timer for 5 hours. I couldn't wait to get home and see if this genius idea would really work. As I run through the door I can smell the chicken. I open the lid to take the chicken out and...it was so tender that it was falling apart each time I "forked" it. I transferred it into a bowl and began to shred all of it together thinking to myself the entire time.."This is going to change my life forever!" I can now eat real chicken, nicely shredded, with no burns, or yucky white film.

Which leads me to the title of my entry "Crockpot chicken changed my life." It is the small things in life that make me so happy. I hope if you have never tried this trick that it will change your life too! Thanks Whit!

Common Courtesy?

Is it just me or is courteous behavior becoming a thing of the past? Now granted, living in the south there are a fair share of people that display courteous behavior. However, there is also a fair share of people that do not. Let me share a few examples of things that drive me crazy. (And yes I have considered that I sound crazy for writing this :)

1. There is a no smoking policy in all TN restaurants (unless it is a 21 or over facility). Do the smokers have to stand right at the entrance/exit door so that everyone who walks by has to walk through their clouds of smoke? Common courtesy: Move over 10 feet.

2. When entering or exiting a building: If someone is a step or two behind you, wait an extra second to extend the door to them rather than letting it slam right in their face.

3. Gum throwers: If you are going to spit your gum out please put it in a place where someone is not going to step on it.

4. When driving on the interstate and you know there is about to be a group of cars who need to merge...get out of the right lane. It is already hard enough to merge without having to speed up or slam on the brakes to avoid someone.

5. Also when driving: If someone lets you over, or goes out of their way to help your driving situation...give them a little wave.

6. Smile at people. It is amazing what a thank you, hello, or smile will do for other people's attitude.

7. Cell phones: Learn where the vibrate or silent button is. Also- when encountering another human being (like checking out at the store), tell the other person to hang on a second and at least say hello to the person checking you out.

I could continue to go on, but I am sure that I have made my point. The bottom line is: a key part of common courtesy is looking beyond yourself and acknowledging that someone else might need help. (Even if it is just a simple smile and acknowledging their existence.) Some people may not even notice your effort, or even return the gestures, but you can take heart in the fact that you are creating the kind of world you want to live in with your actions. Plus isn't that what Jesus would do?

School Daze

The summer has come to an end, and another school year has begun. I am 6 days into my 5th year of teaching and already I am "dazed." This year has started off with more of a bang than ever before. After 6 days we have had 3 schedule changes, switched students from one team/class to the other, lost a teacher on our team, gone from five 60 minute classes to four 80 minute classes, and to top off the day today...someone wet their pants!! Don't be confused by this...I still teach 6th grade.

I have worked every night since school started and even on Saturday and Sunday! It has been busy and stressful..and I haven't been able to talk about it without crying. But, finally things seem to be getting worked out.

So far it seems like I have pretty good students (minus the few "pain in the rear end" kids that you have every year). And, I am REALLY excited that I am only teaching Math this year instead of Math and Social Studies.

So, here's to another year.... 6 days down and 174 to go.

My first nephew...

As most of you know, we have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my sister Stephanie and her husband Michael's first child. I have been praying for months that Carter Jackson Pigg would arrive before I started school. Finally, (after being 5 days late) he was born on Friday! I have to say I think he is the most beautiful baby EVER and I am sure he is going to be spoiled rotten by his 3 aunts, 1 uncle, 1 brother-in-law, and of course Grammie and Papa. Here are a few pictures that I took over the weekend.

Carter Jackson Pigg

Born July 31st

6 lbs. 9.8 oz.

19 inches

Carter in his first outfit!

The Pigg family.

Proud Aunt Sara

Uncle Ben aka Iceman even held Carter.

Congratulations Stephanie and Michael! You both are going to be amazing parents!

Love and Respect Conference

A few years ago Ben and I attended a conference called Love and Respect that completely changed our marriage. The concept of Love and Respect is based on Ephesians 5:33 which states, "However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Dr. Emerson Eggerich and his wife Sarah each speak during the conference. He is hilarious!

Ben and I both enjoyed the conference and use the tools that they suggest often in our "dealings" with each other. Not only does the conference help with your marriage but also with dealing with all the men or women in your life. I find myself using the respect tools with my younger brother and boys in my classroom.

Anyways, I could go on for days about how great the whole thing is but it would be better if you could experience it yourself. Love and Respect is coming to Memphis!!! Below are the details:

Where: Bellevue Baptist

When: August 14 6:45pm-10pm and 15th 8:45am- 1:30pm

Childcare is available for the low price of $10

Bellevue is also helping out with the cost. I think it is only going to be $40 for a couple.

The Bellevue website allows you to sign up, get more info, and watch a few video clips:

http://www.bellevue.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=66898

This is the Love and Respect website:

http://www.loveandrespect.com/

I truly hope each of you consider going to this amazing event. If you need help convincing your husband to go, tell him to ask Ben about it. He will highly recommend it. Oh, another great thing is you don't have to split up into groups to share or anything like that. Your marriage will be blessed by this event.

Celebrating 5 years

I can not believe that Ben and I have celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary (Friday). Time has flown by! I thought I might take a little trip down memory lane to celebrate this landmark anniversary. Sadly, most of our pictures are on film. I tried to take pictures of my pictures, but that didn't work out too good.

The night that we got engaged. Ben proposed on the rooftop of the Peabody hotel in Memphis. The moment that I said "yes" fireworks went off. I looked at Ben thinking there is no way he could have planned that. He didn't, the Redbirds were in town and someone had just hit a home run. But it made the scene even better. In case you can't tell in the picture, I was beside myself.

This is one of my favorites from our wedding.

Ben and I got married the summer before our 5th year of college. So after our honeymoon we packed up and moved to Searcy. Ben and his family had already moved all the big stuff into our apartment. I was seeing it for the first time!

We have been on a few trips since we have been married. Most of them were compliments of Ernst and Young (where Ben used to work). If he was working out of town for more than 2 weeks in a row he had the option to come home on the weekend, or they would pay for me to go to him. We took advantage of it a few times. Our favorite place was Seattle, but we also went to Orlando, Atlanta, Fresno, and LA. Most recently was our trip to Jamaica. Even though we went in March it was our 5th anniversary trip.

Ben and I have experienced a lot in the 5 years that we have been married. I would not change a single thing about any of it. To wrap it up I thought I would tell about a few fun facts about us and our first 5 years:

1. Ben is the most generous person I know. He would give a stranger the shirt off his back. I love the random acts of kindness he shows when we are out in the community.

2. Growing up with girls I didn't even know the toilet seat went up....that is until one sleepy night when I stumble into the bathroom and plunge straight into the toilet. In our first few weeks of marriage that happened multiple times.

3. We both love travelling, watching movies, playing games, and sporting events.

4. I shop frequently and spend small amounts of money. Ben rarely shops, but spends a lot when he goes.

5. Ben is the BEST present giver EVER. His presents are unexpected and perfect.

6. I am the handyman around the house. Ben handles all the electronics.

7. Ben can make me laugh at any time. (Even when I am trying to be mad.)

8. Ben is one of the only people in the whole world that understands my obsession with chewing with your mouth closed.

9. Both of our professions are centered around math...me as a 6th grade math teacher and Ben as an accountant.

10. At the beginning of our marriage Ben only ate chicken, beef, and green beans. He is the one who got us both addicted to sushi.

11. Our marriage is centered on God and his commandment to love and respect one another.

We have learned a lot in our 5 years. I can't wait to see what the next 5 years will be like!