Time to Catch UP

Man it's been a while since I posted and I am sooooo sorry!! I have been soooo super busy and feel like I never slow down!

 

This would be my March calendar!!! Anyone else's look like this???

Then I wonder why I never feel like I can stop!!!

 

Anyway I wanted to let you guys know what I have been up to these last 2 weeks

with a little picture overload as well!!!

 

My CrAzInEsS started last week when we had a Staff Development day that

really could have been used as a Mental HEALTH day but oh well. 

Following that Monday I was out of my classroom for a 2 day training. 

Then I came back to having to have all grades put in before I left Friday because

it was the end of the six weeks and report cards are going out!!!

 

So... after putting grades in I had to get ready for a busy busy weekend!!!

 

Run down of last weekend starting Friday after school!!!

 

1. Drive to downtown Ft. Worth to pick up race packet!

(45 mins out of the way with traffic)

2. Drive 20 mins through Ft. Worth to drop Jayden with

my mom for the weekend!

3. Drive 45 mins through traffic to get to my apt.

4. Got surprised by my amazing love with a trip to the movie tavern!!!

This place is amazing if you have never heard about it, google any in your

area. It is a movie theatre that they rehab to include tables

in front of the seats and super comfy chairs and while you're watching

your movie you get to order drinks and dinner and desert like you're at

a regular restaurant. It's a little pricy but an awesome experience!

5. Went home and got ready for a big day on Saturday.

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SATURDAY

1. Wake up at 5:45 am to get ready and leave for the race by 6:30.

2. Drive through race event traffic to get to the expo and find parking.

3. Find the only parking space left in the DFW metroplex it felt like

and walk a mile to get to the expo center!

4. Hangout and get psyched for my FIRST 5K race.

5. Started my race at 8:30 am and ran in my VERY FIRST 5K.

I had trained for a while but lost motivation and stopped 2 weeks prior

to race day so I really didn't have high expectations other than to finish

knowing I tried and cross the finish line before 47 mins.  I finished in 40

flat... I walked a lot more than I had hoped to but I finished before

my goal time and now I have something to work towards beating next time!

Not to mention I had a huge sense of accomplishment knowing I finished

a competetive 5K race that 10 years ago I would have never imagined

myself doing much less enjoying!!!

6. Tay and I then went to Denny's for breakfast and it was AMAZING!!!

 

 

 

7. Relaxation for about 2 hours (if that)!!

8. Got showered and dressed for the Brantley Gilbert Concert!!!

9. Drove 1hour 15 mins to Oklahoma where the concert was!!

10. Had a blast spending (or maybe it's wasting) too much money at the

casino while wasting time before the concert.

 

11. Enjoyed the concert and our new t-shrits!

12. Drove the 1hour 15mins home and went to bed...

 

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SUNDAY

1. Woke up feeling terrible... a little too much fun the night before!

2. Got dressed and went to my parents!

3. Went and had the most delicious burrito at Freebirds!

4. Was suppose to get my toes done but didn't... that's this weekend!!

5. Finished reading my book-The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts!

 

6. Picked Jay up and took him to hang out with PITA (my nickname for his dad,

Pain In The A**)

7. Went to Genghis Grill (yummmmmm) for dinner

8. Then got ready for the week!!!

 

It was a busy busy weekend and I feel like it is still just flying!!!

I hope that you guys have been having a great week and I am going

try to get better at posting, maybe things will slow down a little bit!!

 

Sunday Social

HEY Y'ALL!!!!

It's that time again!

I am linking up with Neely for Sunday Social!

Link Up

Read my Valentine's Day edition of Sunday Social,

then go link up!!!

1. What was the BEST Valentine's Day you ever had?

I know it sounds corny but this year was the best Valentine's Day ever.

*Read 3 for details!*

2. What was the WORST Valentine's Day you ever had?

Last year would rank up there with one of the worst Valentine's days EVER!

It was a day that I spent working and then alone. This was the day that I was hit

hard with the reality stick of being cheated on. 

I got off work and came home to a SINGLE rose and a card on the dresser

in my bedroom.  I walked into the kitchen and found a sticker off of the "rose"

that was given to me. Except, it was 2 stickers, 1 for a single rose, mine, and 1 for three roses, not mine!  I later found proof on Twitter that he had given another

girl the 3 roses and took her to dinner while I sat home alone and took care

of our son.  Needless to say I was over it that Valentine's Day and don't even

think he could have made it better if he tried!!!

3. What did you do for Valentine's Day this year?

I am a giver so I get a lot of joy out of giving gifts to people so I am

really happy about what I gave Taylor.  I created a scavenger hunt *which I

messed up but I guess it just added to who I truely am* that led her to find

tickets for us to go to the Brantley Gilbert concert next Saturday night!

Jay and I also made her a Build a Bear that he gave her! So stinking cute!

Then she gave me some really heart felt, hand made gifts!!!! She blew up

one of my fave pictures of us and put it on a heart which I hung by my bed.

She also spent all afternoon making me a complete soft and comfy tie

blanket to which I will now sleep with every night and she cannot take

from me because it is MINE!!! She also framed another one of my favorite

pictures of her and Jayden and gave it to me in an awesome frame *that was

from Jay!* She is soooo sweet!!!

 

We also went out to dinner to Abuelos!! Sooo yummy!!! It was such a good night!!! She is the best person ever so it makes it so easy to have a good time with her and love her!!!

 

4. What is the BEST Valentine's Day idea if you are single?

If you are single... my best idea would be to hang out with other single

friends and family that you love to spend time with just having good time.

NEVER spend Valentine's alone if you can help it!!!

 

5. What is your favorite Valentine's Day candy?

I have a HUGE sweet tooth so I love all candy but especially on

Valentine's day I love anything with CHOCOLATE!!!!

6. What is your favorite Valentine's Day memory from your childhood?

My favorite memory from my childhood Valentine's Days would just

be waking up Valentine's morning and finding what my mom had

got us that year! It was kinda like a mini Christmas morning only seemed

more special because you knew it was filled with and all about how much

love she had for us!!!

Have a great Sunday and don't forget to link up!

A Real Life Fairy Tale

We have all heard the fairy tales, all dreamed of being our own Cinderella or Sleepying Beauty.  These stories are all read to us as little girls and we grow up imagining our own lives turning into these stories.

 

 

Today in the spirit of Valentine's Day I am going to tell you my Real Life Fairy Tale! There is no "Once upon a time" but there is definintely a "Happily ever after!"

 

To start this story I need to take you back in time, back to 2005, my Junior year in high school. I was a quiet person because I was over high school already! I didn't care a lot about the people in my class I just wanted to go to class, play softball, and graduate.  Since I really didn't do much the only outlet I had was playing softball. I was a junior and got to be higher up on the totem pole so it was starting to work out for me.

 

 

 

This was the year I started on a select softball team and the year I met my 2 best friends! These 2 were the best things that could have happened to me and save my life.  They are the 2 that got me through the remaining years of high school!

 

Taylor and Sarah became my 2 partners in crime.  We went every where together and there was no where one of us went that you couldn't find the other close by. We were together every spare minute.  I am not sure you will ever find friends that were as close as we were.

 

 

We went through everyday and things were awesome! As a friend we always knew that Taylor was gay.  We could tell, there were just little hints and she was more comfortable in boy clothes and doing boy things.  Her element was not shopping and makeup/hair like mine and Sarah's but it worked because she was an amazing person!

 

They were both 2 years younger than I was so eventually I graduated and went to Kansas for college.  It was at this point things started to change.  Things got weird, I got busy, Sarah and her family moved to Louisiana which left Taylor at home by herself.  This was the point things went bad.  I had some feelings I never thought I would have had and put distance between Taylor and myself.  I eventually stopped talking to her and we stopped being friends!

 

 

I moved on and she moved on.  She came out of the closet which I know was a hard time for her and I regret not being there for her during that time like I should have been but I cannot take it back now I can only make it better in the future! So now fast forward a few years to 2012.

 

A lot has happened between the 3 of us, Taylor and I didn't speak so Sarah and her got really close.  Then Sarah and her distanced themselves and Sarah and I got really close again.  It's a very strange situation.  Beginning of 2012 I recieved a call from Sarah announcing she was pregnant... a month later and I got a text announcing her engagement.  Let's just say they were on the fast track! The wedding would be in July and I would be maid of honor.

 

 

Sarah and her hubby to be were on a budget and paying for the wedding all on their own so I helped plan it and did my best to be the maid of honor to a prego, young wife to be on a budget... not a simple task but we did it.  So July comes and it's the weekend of the wedding. Taylor's family was invited and Sarah asked Ty, Tay's dad, to take the pics at the wedding.  Taylor joined him for the wedding that weekend.

 

At rehearsal dinner I don't know what came over me but I saw Taylor sitting alone at a table and I decided I would clear the air.  I sat with her and started talking to her! We expressed everything that was on our minds and tried to see where the other person was coming from.  We hung out the whole weekend and it felt like things had never changed.  We were all laughing and joking and spending time together again.

 

 

That weekend I had a lot to drink, had some good heart to hearts with Tay, and left with my friend back.  She rode home with me from Arkansas and we began talking and seeing one another everyday.  My day didn't feel complete without seeing her!

 

Eventually things progressed and Taylor expressed her feelings towards me.  She made me realize that there were always feelings more than friendship between the 2 of us but I was always scared to admit it.  Until then!!

 

 

In August I began a relationship with Taylor and she became my rock through one of my hardest points when we discovered my aunt's (my 2nd mother) body in the floor of her apartment after having to break in, she became my go to person when I needed someone to lean on, she became my best friend (again), she became another important influence in my son's life, and she became the love of my life! It was at this point that I let my feelings for her come to life and stopped hiding them.  I accepted them for what they were and embraced them! We spent every spare minute together and in October got our own place together.  We formed our family... and we lived happily ever after!!!

 

**Please don't mistake this story for meaning everything is perfect, it is far from it but we wake up every morning next to one another and I know that in the end I am right where I am supposed to be! We fight and argue, we laugh and cry, but in the end she is my everything and I could not picture a better person to spend the rest of my life with!!

 

 

I hope that all of you enjoyed reading my "real life fairy tale" and that if you haven't already found yours, you soon find your Prince/Princess Charming!

 

Happy Valentine's Day Y'all!!!

 

 

30 B4 Thirty

So many people out there create never ending bucket lists, New Year's Revolutions, weekly/monthly/yearly goals.  These people always seem to give up before they finish their lists.  I would be one of these people! I, an adult with ADD and OCD, make lists all the time and then I loose the lists and start a new one that very closely resembles the one I lost. This happens over and over. 

Since I am one of these people and I am putting myself out there anyway, I am going to post a list of 30 things I want to do before I turn 30.  I just turned 25 which gives me 4 years and 11 months to complete these 30 things.  Seems possible!

And hey, if it's on my blog I always know where my list will be!!!

I am going to post my list here but also make a page that I can continually edit and mark things off as I complete them, at least that would be the goal (crap... there's that word again)!!!

Here goes nothing!!!

Start Date: Feburary 5, 2013
End Date: January 18, 2018
Total Time: 4 Years, 11 Months

1. Save at LEAST $100 on groceries using coupons.
**Disclaimer~I would love to be an extreme couponer but do not have the time, effort, or space to create a stock pile... therefore I will start by saving at least $100.

2. Run two 5K races per month for an entire year!
**I am working toward this goal this year, I am running my first race at the end of February.

3. Create, hand address, stamp, and mail out annual Christmas cards!
 
4. Attend the gym 3/5 times every week for a year.
**A year might be pushing it but I will give it a go!!

5. Read a new book every month for a year.
**Reading is one of my new found loves but I have discovered that I find good books and then put them down after getting distracted with life so I want to hold myself accountable for finishing 1 per month.

6. Start or join a book club with people around my same age.

7. Get to a goal weight of 155 lbs. by eating right and exercising.

8. Start and be successful at taking and editing pictures.
** I have wanted to start my own business before but have not yet because of timing and money so I hope by setting this goal I will complete it.

9. Organize every room in my house completely and make them all functional.

10. Take a vacation and visit Seattle, WA

11. Regularlly post on my blog.
**I am always really good at doing this but again I always get busy and caught up in everyday life then forget to post.
 
12. Reach at least 50 follower on my blog.

13. Complete an entire month of instagram photoaday challenge.

14. Go skiing.
**I have been once in my lifetime and loved it.  I am excited to get back out there and try again.

15. Go on a cruise.

16. Successfully potty train Jayden.
**Seeing as he is two now and will be 8 by the time I turn 30 I sure hope he is potty trained!!!

17. Build a "nest egg" of $5,000

18. Rent/buy a HOUSE.
**I have rented apartments 2 times now and I am done with that living situation.  I need a yard for my babies (Kalli and Jayden) to play in.

19. Pay off all credit card debt.
**I am like most kids and when I got that first offer and was told not to get one I didn't listen... Then the next came in, and the next... you get the picture.  Anyway in the end I had 7 cards all charged up and wasn't working so I'd say I had a bit of a sticky situation.  I am on the path to recovery but it will be a bit before I am finished.

20. Pay off my car.
**March of 2012 I traded in my used Kia Soul for a new one but had to have my dad cosign for me.  I wasn't making the payments at first because I was getting on my feet but as of October I began making my payments and I am excited to be able to say I paid it off.

21. Teach Jayden to ride a bike.

22. Play on a slow pitch softball team for @ least 1 season.

23. Write in a gratitude journal everyday for a year.

24. Get my own grade level classroom.
**While I am glad I have a job and just getting to be around the kids is great, I am bored and need my own classroom with a set curriculum and structure that is mine and mine only.

25. Stay off of Pinterest for an entire week. 
**This is probably very simple to most but for me it's as complicated as running those 5K races.

26. Get a tattoo on my ribs.
**I have always wanted one in this location but have been too chubby to get it there so it will be an encentive to get my a** in gear and loose the weight!

27. Donate all but 10-15 pairs of shoes.
**At one time in my life, my uncle counted at least 75 pairs. 

28. Complete as many DIYcrafts off my Pinterest board.

29. Go to at least one Cowboy's Game.
**I live right here and have never been to one, almost sad to say that I consider myself a fan without even going to a game!

30.  Become completely financially independent from my parents.
**I live on my own and pay most of my bills but occassionally I run short and they pick up where I can't make it. While I am extremely greatful for their help, I want to be responsible and complete this on my own!

And there you have it folks... my complete list of 30 things I want to do before I turn 30. Keep checking back to see my progress through the list!!!

Sunday Social

Here I am, the second Sunday in a row (a big accomplishment) and linking up with Neely for a Sunday Social.

http://www.acompletewasteofmakeup.com/

So hop on over and link up, after you read my post of coarse!! :)

1. What was your first car?
My first car was a Nissan Frontier. It was the old kind, with the king cab seats that folded down sideways from the side of the truck.  It had no a/c and the key was broke off in the ignition switch so I could start it with just about anything, a screw driver or a pair of nail clippers to mention a few.  This was my first car... and hey for $500 and to have it when I turned 16 I was on top of the world!

2. Who was your first childhood teacher?
My kindergarten teacher was Mrs. Pickett.  It is the same kindergarten teacher that my sister had 3 years before me and I think she was scarred from having her because if I remember correctly she didn't seem to like me all that much at the start of that year!

3. Were you involved in any sports/extra curricular activities?
I have always been involved in softball.  That was the one thing I did and stuck with for 14 years, from 5 until I was 19. That's also what got me some of my degree!

This was my sophomore year in college. My final year playing.  It's one of the only ones I could find, I guess the rest are at my moms house. I'm on the left and my roomie is on the right!

 
 
 
4. What was your favorite Birthday party?
This one is hard to say because I don't remember a lot of specifics from my birthdays.  The one I remember the most was my 18th birthday.  I had my best friends by me, it was Senior week at school, and it was the day that I signed my scholarship to go play college softball. It was a a pretty great birthday even though there wasn't really a party!




This was right as we were walking to sign my scholarship, my best friend and I.  This was actually my golden birthday and I didn't know it... 18 on the 18th. To be sooo young!!! :)


5. Who was your teen celeb crush?
The Hanson Brothers... kinda like a old school Jonas Brothers! haha oh how times change but yet not really!




Give me some of that Zac Hanson, hahah!

6. What show/movie did your parents not allow you to watch?
My parents have always been very laid back with my sister and I and never really gave us rules unless we forced them to.  Growing up I don't specifically remember any shows being banned, especially since we were more into watching Disney movies and Full House instead of things we shouldn't be watching as kids.  (That was when you really didn't have to worry about what your kids would be watching or doing if you were in the other room)

Well that's all for my Sunday Social! Don't forget to go link up over with Neely, A Complete Waste of Makeup

High 5 for Friday

 

I am linking up with Lauren, From My Grey Desk Blog, for High 5 for Friday.

Here are my Top 5 from this week.

1. We got some new patio chairs. I get to sit outside with my love!!  

2. I finally got a cup of coffee today. A skinny Vanilla Latte made for a perfect start to my Friday after not having coffee for like a month.

3. I finally finished the second book in the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy and got to start the third!

4. I get a whole weekend with my love to sleep in, go out, lay on the couch and do nothin!

5. I have an iPad training session Monday for work so it’s kinda like I get an extra day for the weekend because I won’t actually be in my classroom working!

Be sure to visit and link up with your High 5 for Friday!!

Voice behind the Shadows

This is just a post to let you guys get to know me a little better.  I am going to answer some silly and random questions as well as fill you in on the important things about me and why I started this little blog. 

 

Let's start with who I am!

 

Name: Chelsea Layne

 

Age: 25

 

Location: The Lone Star State

 

Relationship: In a homosexual relationship with the love of my life. *True life fairy tale story.  Might share that on the day of love!!!

 

Kids: One amazingly precious little boy, Jayden, 2 years old going on 20.

 

Pets: 2 furry friends (puppy-Kalli and kitten-Diego), and 2 slimy friends (fish- Jake & Izzy). Can you tell we name our pets after tv shows haha!

 

Occupation: Elementary School Teacher

 

Siblings: 1 sister, my biggest support team and best friend; 1 brother (in-law), my go to guy for almost everything... I can count on them for anything!!

 

Hobbies: reading trashy romance novels (Fifty Shades at the top of the list), running, DIY crafts, twitter and instagram, new found passion for photography, and writing.

 

The Reason Behind The Shadows

 

I began this blog as an outlet from my life.  I wanted a place I could come to share my frustrations about any and everything.  I face what feels like an ongoing list of odds set against me everyday: young, single mother of a mixed race child, in a same sex relationship, on the chubbier side (for now), teacher (low income), serious depresssion, adult ADD, OCD, and so many more.  However, as you read and wonder why do I complain of all these things I want to say, I am not complaining just letting you into the world I live in. I know that these are terrible things to me but I also know that I could have it much worse which is another reason I wanted to start this blog, so I could look back on my life and see how amazing it truly is.  I want to live everyday to the fullest and document as much of that as I can.

 

This blog is going to be honest and blunt like me.  I might say post things that could offend you and while that is not my intentions at all, to that I can only say... "There's another blog out there you would like better and you should have at it!"

 

Here you are going to find posts about: teaching, Jayden and his terrible 2's craziness, Taylor and I's relationship, races I run, my weightloss journey, DIY projects I do, pictures I take, books I read, the OCCASSIONAL fashion post, and so much more.  This is a catch all for my life and the main purpose for starting it was for me so if I even get one person that loves my posts I'll be excited.

 

On to the randomness:

 

1. The first thing I did this morning was: put my pants back on!

 

2. My strength is: my honesty.

 

3. My weakness is: my honesty.

 

4. I feel like a beautiful person: on a good day... we all have bad days but overall I believe most of us can find the beauty in ourselves if we look deep enough!

 

5. This weekend I am going to: Hang out with my love because she has all weekend off, try to go to Going Bonkers and play with Jay, the niece and nephew, and if it's nice wash my car!

 

6. A TV character I would most compare myself to is: Ethel from I Love Lucy. I am always up for trouble and would do anything for my best friend!

 

7. The most important quality in a mate is: Honesty & security. I need to trust and feel safe, multiple bad relationships screw with you!

 

8. My guilty snack pleasure is: at the moment I am dieting so fiber one + protien bars with peanut butter and chocolate, and they actually are REALLY good!!!

 

9. My first kiss was: in 3rd grade at recess on the playground!

 

10. Someone who always makes me laugh is: My brother

 

11. I'm annoyed by: stupid people and people that don't try!!!

12. The last book I read was: The second book in the Inn Boonsborro trilogy by Nora

Roberts... on to the third and definately a series I would recommend.

13. If there was a fountain of youth I'd: wait till I got to the age where I was settled and content then swim in it.

 

14. I cannot start my day without: walking my Kallers... she would explode otherwise.

 

15. My idol is: My aunt Neecie- you never know how much someone means to you until they are gone! I lost her recently and she was a huge support in my life that meant the world to me! (More on this in another post)

 

16. If I was stuck on a deserted island the one person I would bring with me is: Taylor because I want to spend the rest of my life with her and Jayden has too much left to experience to be stuck on an island!

 

17. I'd prefer to be beautiful or booksmart: Booksmart because there is always that someone that will do whatever it takes to make you feel beautiful!

 

18. Three wishes I would ask for: Health for family, happiness, and my aunt back!

 

19. One word to describe me is: Unpredictable!!!!

 

20. A surprising fact about me is: I loved Taylor before I knew I loved her!!

 

So there you have little random tidbits about me! Feel free to comment or email with anything else you want to know, I am an open book!

Sunday Social

Hey guys!!! I am linking up with Neely at A Complete Waste of Makeup

for Sunday Social.  Hurry and go link up so I can read all the juicy posts!!

 

Sunday Social

1. If you were stuck on an island, what are the two material things you would want to have?

 

I would have to say I would need my phone (with service) and my iPad.

 

2. What are two TV shows you'd watch over and over?

 

I could watch Grey's Anatomy and Pretty Little Liars on repeat everyday and they would never get old!

 

3. If your house were on fire what two things besides family, pets, etc. would you grab?

 

My purse, has all the valuables in it, and my phone. (I am sensing a trend that I can't live without my phone!!!)

 

4. What are your two most favorite articles of clothing?

 

I live for wearing Yoga pants and t-shirts everyday!! Yogas are the perfect article of clothing because you can slum down in them and be comfy or throw on a cute top and some cute TOMS and be ready to hit the streets for the day!!

 

5. What two moives that you saw in the last year would you reccomend to us?

 

Breaking Dawn part 2, I am a Twihard!!! Love it... and of coarse Hunger Games!!! I cannot wait for the next one to come out!!!

 

6. What are your two biggest guilty pleasures?

 

Dirty romance novels, Fifty Shades?? YES PLEASE!!! And organizing.  I get crazy out of control with organizing things, I mean I got a label maker for Christmas and it was my favorite gift ever!!!