The Magic of Honey Lemon Tea and Good Friends

My rest from working out turned out to be more of a rest than I expected because I suddenly started to get a really sore throat yesterday afternoon. It got progressively worse throughout the night and I woke up in the middle of the night to incredible pain. I hate sore throats, it reminds me of when I had mono and I would literally cry every four hours when I had to eat something (so I could take more Advil). I blame this random May sickness on the horrible weather we have had the last few days- it's been more like March than May! Anyway, I decided to take the day off work today because I did not think that yelling talking to my kids all day was going to make it any better. I'm glad I did because I've already taken two naps today and I could easily go for a third but I decided I should probably at least eat some lunch. This makes it Day number 3 that I have not done any exercise except for the 2 minute quad strengthening exercises that my doctor told me to do for my knee. I think my knee likes the lack of exercise (and today the lack of moving at all) because it is almost 100 percent now. I'm sure if I go for a run right now it would come back, but I'm hoping to ease back into it with a bike ride tomorrow and maybe a swim on Sunday, depending on how my throat is feeling.

My throat is already feeling a bit better than it was this morning, thanks to some yummy throat soothing tea that I discovered about a year ago when I lost my voice.

I know I should be a little bit productive this afternoon and get some report cards done, but I'm trying to also rest as much as possible because I have a very exciting weekend ahead.

It all started seven years ago when I was 18 years old and began my first year of college at BC. I received the information that my room would be shared with another 18 year old girl from Seattle Washington. It's strange to think about sharing a teeny tiny dorm room with a complete stranger from the other side of the country, but that's what you do. Somehow though, Ash and I got lucky- we became fast friends and ended up living together all 4 years of college. The only semester that we lived apart was the semester I studied abroad in Australia, and since I had a single room there, she was my only roommate during my college years. After college, she moved to Chicago to go to med school which brings me to why this weekend is exciting- she is coming to visit!!! This weekend was supposed to be my engagement party but when I postponed it (the party, not the wedding ha ha) she decided to keep her plane tickets for a fun visit and to attend a wedding tomorrow night.
That would be me and Ash in Aruba, an amazing spring break trip from sophomore year of college. This trip sparked us to constantly plot our permanent move to the Carribean, especially during those freezing Boston and Chicago winters! I'll be sure to post about our adventures this weekend.

I think the sun might be shining for the first time in three days right now so I'm going to go open all the curtains and enjoy it for a bit before I pick up Ash from the airport. I hope everyone has a great Friday :)

Don't forget to enter my Trader Joe's Giveaway and tell others about it!

I woke up this morning determined to get myself a new, beautiful road bike. I found a great deal online. I did the math and I could make back the money in 3 weeks with one of my tutoring jobs. Once I realized this I mentally prepared to fork over the money and I was ready. So I spend the morning cleaning the house and trying to be productive until the store opened at 12. At 12 on the dot, I stroll in the store ask for the bike and that’s when I received the news. It was slightly less disappointing than finding out my favorite ice cream was discontinued, but horrible all the same. That bike was meant for people who are 4 foot 8! No one would call me tall, but I am about 9 inches taller than that! The guy said they wouldn’t even sell it to me and if I want a road bike I am going to have to pay $400 MORE than I was prepared to spend ☹ So, needless to say I had not mentally prepared for that yet and I left the store.

When I got home, I decided to go for a ride on my crappy alignment, slow mountain bike. I felt like I was going a little faster than normal, but that could’ve just been because there were so many slow little kids on the bike trail today. Obviously, since I am a teacher I generally like children. However, little kids on the bike path can be very difficult. They tend to ride in the middle of the path and randomly swerve back and forth so I don't know how to get around them. Then, their parents, who are inevitably riding behind them, feel like they have to do something about the fact that their child is taking up the entire path. However, they always yell out, "honey!!! get to the right!!! stay to the right!!!" I'm sure it makes them feel better that they have put in the effort however, you can't fool me! I teach kindergarten and most of these swervers are 6 or younger. I KNOW these kids have no idea what their parents mean by "right." They are either going to ignore them completely or just guess which way they mean by right. This means I have to wait until they make that guess because if I go left and they decide right means left, guess who is going to crash? me! I would try to avoid times when a lot of kids will be on the bikepath but unfortunately my job means that I have the same free time as kids. It's okay though- the people that annoy me the most on the bike path are not kids, but walkers. As far as I'm concerned, walkers already have side walks, they don't need bike paths. Secondly, you particularly do not need to have 3 or 4 people walking next to each other on a bike path meaning that me, on a bike has to go OFF the trail just to get around you. Grr, is all I can say.

On a more positive note, I had a fabulous weekend at the Cape. While Eric played a million holes of golf, I got wedding things accomplished and went on a bit of a shopping spree at TJ Max. I got mainly some more work out clothes, which I feel like is a good use of money since I am spending so much of my life in work out clothes these days. Although the weather was not the best, Eric and I did manage to take a walk down to the beach. Eric tested the water...
Not as cold as the last time he was in it (New Years!)
On the way home from the Cape we stopped at a place called "The Ice Cream Sandwich" (in the town of Sandwich). They had cookie dough non-fat frozen yogurt soft serve. Basically my dream come true. Clearly this will be my new favorite ice cream place at the Cape and it's right on the way home, which will make coming home a lot sweeter!
This weekend I also reunited with my old friend from Starbucks. You have to try a Iced Passion Tea. I get mine unsweetened because I think it's sweet on it's own. There is something about iced drinks that just screams summer to me!
We finished off the weekend with Japanese food. I ordered a miso soup, steamed shumai (shrimp dumplings, yum) and some rice with teriyaki sauce. If Eric and I go more than a few weeks without Japanese we start to suffer withdrawl!
I love long weekends. Any chance we could make this a weekly thing? Back to work tomorrow for the final push until June 23- last day of school. Even if I only have a 3 day break before my summer job starts, at least I'll have a change of pace :) I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!
Sorry I have not posted the giveaway yet. I am trying to do a Trader Joe's favorites giveaway but I am trying to figure out what to include. Any ideas? Right now I think I have too many ideas and I need to narrow it down or I'll be sending the winner 6 different packages!