Pages

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Last Set, Best Set

One of the spin instructors at the MAC once had us, after he said "LAST SET," shout back "BEST SET!" It was a little cheesy, but you can bet that it motivated me to make that last set my best set. My spin instructor today said the exact same thing during a tough interval, and it really is the perfect motivator, in all aspects of life. Obviously you should be trying and working hard on every set and with everything you do, but if you know you only have one more chance to push yourself, why not try give it all you've got? Anyway, we'll get to the workout in a minute. Let's back up to yesterday.

Lunch

Both Dylan and I worked until 2:00pm yesterday, so we decided to get a late lunch once we were both done with work. Counter Cafe, which is truly a hidden Austin gem, was one of the items on our Austin To-Do List, so we decided yesterday was as good a day as any to cross that one off. Coutner Cafe is a precious diner that probably seats no more than 20 people at a time. It is only open until 4:00pm, so there is no telling whether or not there will be a wait whenever you decide to go. Lucky for us, because we went at such an off time, there was no wait, and there were probably only four other people in there.

(Source)
I knew what I was going to order before I even looked at the menu: the Counter Burger. It came in second on the Texas Monthly's Best Hamburgers list in 2009, so ordering it was a no-brainer. Without even asking me how I would like it cooked, it came back medium-rare, which is precisely how I like my burgers cooked. It came open-faced, ready for the consumer to add whichever fixings or condiments he or she may want. I added a touch of mustard before biting into it, and my taste buds were truly happy. It was perfectly juicy, and it even rivaled my dad's hamburgers, which are usually the only true hamburgers I will eat.


Dylan had actually been here once before with his mom, when he ordered his own Counter Burger. This time he went with the Chicken Burger, which was the other item on the menu that caught my eye. Lucky for me, he let me try a bite, and it was also delicious. Something tells me that I would be able to say that about every item on the menu. Needless to say, our lunch date to Counter Cafe was a win, and I will definitely be returning sometime soon.

And now moving onto today. It's Hump Day, and it has been a crazy day at work, which is precisely why I am taking a break to write this post. Oops!

Breakfast

Today started off with a delicious breakfast of scrambled egg whites, spinach, and salsa, all with a side of (unpictured) watermelon, grapes, and blueberries. A strange combination, but they all tasted excellent. There's something about the summer months that makes me consume more fruit than I ever thought possible.


I let my food digest before hitting the gym at around 10:45am. I knew I was going to take my favorite 12:00pm spin class, but I wanted to do a short warm-up before I got on the bike. I hopped on the treadmill and alternated five minutes of running with five minutes of walking.


Alternating walking with running really makes my time on the treadmill fly by. After half an hour, I headed over to the free weights and completed a very quick arm and ab workout. I'm talking like 12 minutes, tops. Clearly I was feeling less than motivated on that front! It was then time for me to head upstairs, where I set up my favorite bike and started pedaling away while reading my latest Kindle purchase: Divergent. I didn't get very far before the clock struck 12, but it already seems like it is going to be a winner. Shout out to Logan at Mountains and Miles for the recommendation!

(Source)
The spin class was tough, as usual, but in the best way possible. I love putting myself through a tough workout, and sometimes I need someone else telling me to do the things that I wouldn't normally do on my own - such as "attacking," or picking up lots of pedal speed, while climbing a hill. It's killer, but you feel great afterward.

After a quick shower upon my return to the Clubhouse, I quickly got ready and headed over to SRD for the 2:00pm shift. I made my usual grilled chicken salad for lunch, but it had a bit more sustenance to it today. There were black beans in the salad bar today, so naturally I added in some of those, as well as some grilled mushrooms and onions, so I threw some of those on as well. I heated up the chicken again today, so it was easily one of the better salads I've ever created. And now it's back to work on the SRD scrapbook. Have a great rest of your Wednesday!

Monday, July 29, 2013

Christmas in July

I realize this monumental phrase is meant for the 25th of July, but as I received an email today about Houston's 12K of Christmas, I couldn't help but make that the title of my post. It's hard for me to even fathom thinking about Christmas when we're seeing averages of 100 degrees, but after reading the description of this race, taking place in downtown Houston, I couldn't help but go ahead and register for it. 

(Source)
First of all, a 12K is a very interesting distance, as it comes out to be 7.44 miles, which I personally think is a great distance for a race. Challenging, but definitely doable. Second, the website promised lots of hot cocoa, elves, carolers and even an appearance made by Saint Nick himself. And who can be in a bad mood when surrounded by festive Christmas decorations and encouraging carolers? The race starts and finishes at Discovery Green, which is always decked out for the holidays. Third, and probably most important, this race benefits Yellowstone Academy, a faith-based private school for students living in poverty. It serves children from Kindergarten to 8th grade, and it strives to make known that "the situation in Houston's inner city is neither hopeless or inevitable." I am very passionate about every child receiving a quality education, so I am more than happy to give my money to this cause. If you will be in Houston on December 21st, I strongly encourage you to sign up and run it with me. I will be dedicating my run to a very special woman, and I am very excited about this future race.

Now, back to the normal workout and food posts - neither of which are going to be anything new or exciting today. After running five+ miles two days in a row, I was in the market for something very low-impact. So, swimming it was! Running and swimming are easily my two favorite forms of cardio, so a day in the pool is always welcome. After a fruit-filled breakfast, I biked over to Gregory Gym and swam a mile and a half before getting out and laying by the pool reading for a bit before heading back home to shower and run a few random errands.

My berry bowl
Around 1:45pm I headed over to SRD so that I would have time to make my favorite grilled chicken salad before work at 2:00. I was recently told to heat up the chicken in the microwave before putting it on my salad, and it made an already-great tasting salad taste fantastic. I also enjoyed an (unpictured) side of sliced pineapple, so though my lunch was nothing out of the ordinary, it was still excellent.


And now I'm off to search for a new book to read - any suggestions are welcome! Have a great rest of your Monday!

My Supplement Store

I have another product review post today for you guys. It is not coming from me this time, however, and that is because many of the products that I was sent to sample had some trace of milk product in them, so just to be safe, I asked a friend to try them out and give me a review of them. These products came from My Supplement Store, which has supplements ranging from vitamins to diet and energy pills to protein bars. In other words, there is something for everyone, and my friend was lucky enough to get to give a few of their most popular products a try.

First on the list was Allmax Nutrition Hexapro Whey Protein. It is a product containing five amino acids and six protein products that improve immune function and increase the recovery process. As per the suggestion on the back of the package, Hannah created a "cookies and cream milkshake," and though it is not going to compare to a real cookies and cream milkshake, she assured me that it tasted pretty good. She also said she would recommend mixing it with milk when you take it, as opposed to just mixing it with water, because the milk helps create more of a milkshake-like consistency that helps to mask some of the taste.


Next up was the Empyrean Nutrition Insu-Pro post-workout supplement. This product, which contains fast-absorbing carbohydrates and fast-absorbing protein is actually lactose-free, but since Hannah was sampling the rest of the products, I decided to be consistent and have her sample this one as well. Hannah is a big-time runner, but she also knows the importance of cross-training. She takes exercise very seriously, and she appreciates not feeling sore the day after a tough workout. Hannah admitted that this is probably one of the best post-workout supplements available, and she really loved the taste of the watermelon flavor. Intense training sessions deplete your glycogen storage, and this product has the perfect 2:1 ratio of fast-absorbing carbohydrates and protein for optimized recovery. This product gets two thumbs up!
The third product I was sent was the USPLabs OxyElite Pro, which is a fat-burning diet supplement. Hannah and I are both typically anti-diet supplements, but this product did get good overall reviews, and she so kindly agreed to give it a try. She took the one capsule on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, and though she only took it the one day, she remarked upon her feelings of increased energy throughout the day. Other reviewers have raved that it has truly helped them to lose those stubborn few pounds, experience boosts of energy at the gym, and the best part is that there is no crash later. This supplement is meant to be taken alongside a well-balanced diet and regular exercise program, and Hannah said she would definitely take it again, though she did admit that she did not care much for the taste of it.


The penultimate product Hannah sampled were the Promax Promax Bars in the Chocolate Fudge flavor. When I was training for the BPMS150 my senior year of high school, I ate copious amounts of bars very similar to these. Obviously, I loved them. These Promax energy bars can be used as a meal replacement or as a snack, and they contain 20 grams of protein per bar. It wasn't hard to convince Hannah to try this product, as she is also an avid protein bar lover. You have to be careful, because there are so many protein bars out there that do more harm than good, but this one was a hit. Hannah said that it tasted great, and the fact that they are high in protein and low in fat is a huge plus, and the only concern is the high sugar content. Hannah recommends eating this after a workout, and I would have to agree. I would eat bars similar to these after riding about 20 miles or so on the bike, and I was immediately (okay, maybe not immediately) ready to go again. This was her favorite product of the five.
Last on the list was the Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Protein Gold Standard. This product has 24 grams of protein per serving, a limited amount of sugar, fat, and carbs, and it jump-starts the recovery process. This is another product Hannah recommends mixing with milk instead of water because it gives it a more milkshake- or smoothie-like consistency. She sampled the Cinnamon Graham Cracker flavor, and remarked that it was an interesting flavor, but that it tasted very good, and it made a great "milkshake." If you have been searching for a good whey protein product, look no further, because this one seems to get the job done.


Overall, these products were met with very positive reviews by Hannah, and I can't thank her enogh for being my taste-tester, as well as My Supplement Store for sending me these products to be sampled. They were a hit!

*All photos courtesy of the My Supplement Store website.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Current State of Mind

And another week is in the books. This summer is absolutely flying by, and I officially have only one more month until the first day of my senior year of college. But a month is a very long time, and I intend to make the best of every minute of it. It has been another great Sunday, and I even have another survey for you guys to enjoy. Bear with me, because this is a long one, and I feel as though some of my answers are pretty repetitive, but I thought it was a fun (and challenging!) one.

I feel.. tired, but so very happy. I feel like this summer, and these past few days especially, have been very go-go-go, but in the absolute best way possible. I've had virtually nothing to stress about, and it has been full of new adventures.

Veloway
Skeet Shooting 
Comal River + Gruene
I want.. for everyone around me to know just how much they mean to me, and how much they have impacted my life thus far. Cheesy, but true!

I have.. a whole lot to be thankful for. Which brings me to..

I am thankful for.. my wonderful friends, teammates, and roommates, and just the community that I have here in Austin; my incredible support system in my family back in Houston; living in Austin; the fact that my parents pay for me to attend this wonderful university; professors that are equipping me to go out into the real world; legs and lungs that allow me to run; and a lot lot more.

My favorite crew 
The best roommates a girl could ask for

I would like to.. travel the world, run a marathon, and check every single item off of my always-expanding bucket list. I'll have to share that with you guys sometime!

Cousins in Paris
I dream about.. opening my own bakery, filled with treats that are both healthy and delicious.

I prefer.. books to movies. The book is always better. Always.

I am passionate about.. Jesus, living a healthy and balanced lifestyle, spending time with my friends and family, and (hopefully) making a difference in high school-aged students' lives. 

I am happy when.. I manage to catch a sunrise or sunset that takes my breath away.


I am looking forward to.. my upcoming trip to San Francisco with my mom. As you know, I have been watching quite a bit of Full House lately, which is making me even more excited to go.

I have never.. had a cup of coffee. And I'm hoping to never break that streak, though I have heard that first year of teaching almost requires it.

I would never.. support a Dallas sports team. Growing up in Houston, and having lots of family members who live in Philadelphia, cheering for the Cowgirls, Rangers, or Mavericks is something close to committing murder.

Hometown heros
I am always able to get cheered up.. with a surprise handwritten note or letter. They are my absolute favorite.

I enjoy.. running, reading, writing, swimming, baking, and absolutely anything outdoorsy.


I appreciate.. politeness. Working at the front desk of SRD this summer has taught me that when people mind their manners, I am far more willing to do everything I can to answer their questions.

I know.. that love is what makes this world go round. And it's truly as simple as that!

I used to.. stress out A LOT about school and my future in general, but I have learned to take everything as it comes, and that I can plan and plan and plan, but that plan might not be what God has for me. It makes things a lot less stressful - knowing that all I have to do is work my hardest, and that things will work out as they should.

I never expected.. to become a YoungLife leader, and just to have the college experience that I have had. If you asked me what I was expecting when I started college, I'm not sure what my answer would have been, but it is certainly not what I have now. But I wouldn't trade my college experience for anything.




I wish.. I had my own personal frozen yogurt machine, that made fro-yo that tasted like it does when it comes from an actual frozen yogurt establishment. Hey, a girl can dream!

Saturday, July 27, 2013

4,224

And I have finally finished another round of the beloved Harry Potter series - seven books, 4,224 pages, and endless enjoyment. I have spent a majority of the past week with my nose buried in a book, as I started and finished the last four books in the series in the span of one week. I don't know how she did it, but J.K. Rowling is probably the most clever person I don't have the pleasure of knowing. The way she created this magical world, full of relatable characters and real-life takeaways will never cease to blow my mind.


The first Harry Potter book was released in 1997, so I would have just been going into the second grade at the time. Granny bought me my very first Harry Potter book, in fact, she purchased every single one of the books for me, but I will admit that I did not fall in love with The Sorcerer's Stone right away.

I picked it back up in fourth grade just before the release of the first movie, and I fell in love with Harry, Ron, Hermoine, and the rest of the Hogwarts crew. I think the books also have special meaning for me because I grew up right alongside Harry and his friends, as I was just 15 when the seventh and final book was released, and 19 when the final movie premiered in theaters. I distinctly remember going to the midnight release of the seventh novel, coming home, and going straight to bed, only to wake up the next morning to read and finish the entire book that weekend so that no one could spoil anything for me. 




I think you can all conclude that I love the Harry Potter series, not only for the truly magical world to which it transports the reader, but the underlying themes of love, friendship, family, loyalty, courage, good versus evil, and so many more. And without further ado, here are just a handful of the most meaningful quotes that I have picked out while reading the series through once more:
  • "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"
  • "It takes much bravery to stand up to our enemies, but we need as much bravery to stand up to our friends"
  • "If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals"
  • "It is our choices that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities"
  • "We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided"
  • "Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike"
  • "Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth"
  • "Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy"
  • "Let us step into the night and purse that flighty temptress, adventure"
  • "Of course it is happening inside your head, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"
  • "Where your treasure lies, there will your heart be also"
  • "Above all, pity those who live without love"
There are so many memories lodged between the pages of these books, and I (obviously) highly encourage you to read them if you have not done so before. And if you have, read them again, I guarantee you will find even more to appreciate.

(Source)

My Skeet Shooting Experience

Happy Saturday, everyone! I know it has been a while since I have checked in with you guys, but that is because I have literally been working, reading Harry Potter, watching Full House, and squeezing in a workout every now and then. I haven't been the most exciting person lately, and my workouts haven't been anything out of the ordinary, which has resulted in me taking a slight break from fitness & froyo. I apologize, but I hope you will forgive me after this exciting post.

Breakfast

We had a very bizarre and unexpected thunder (and lightning) storm last night, and it was still a little bit gray this morning, not giving me much motivation to get out of bed. I eventually got up and out of bed, made a quick trip to Central Market for some produce, and came back to make some scrambled egg whites, spinach, and salsa. I made an especially good batch today, and I ate it alongside some blueberries, watermelon, and red grapes.


After breakfast I was quick to get ready because Jamie Lynn and I were going over to Dylan's house at 9:30am to go on a skeet shooting adventure. Jamie Lynn received a shotgun for her 21st birthday, and Dylan and his brothers and roommate all have a few shotguns of their own, so we decided a trip to the shooting range had to happen. We stopped at Academy to buy some ammo, and then we were on our way. Dylan gave me a crash course on how to shoot, and I will be the first to tell you that you have to be all in it in order to succeed. Everything from how to load the gun safely, to your stance, to keeping your eye in line with the bead on the end of the gun matters. I had a tough first couple of rounds in that I was still trying to keep everything straight, but Station Four was my station. I finally got into a groove, and I had a lot of fun doing it. That feeling of hitting that moving target for the first time was enough to bring a huge grin to my face.



Jamie Lynn, Dylan, and Ben are all fairly experienced shooters, and they were excellent instructors. I had a lot of fun listening, watching, and learning from them, and this is definitely something that I would love to do again.

Those who shoot together, stay together, right? 
Roomie bonding
Lunch

After making a quick stop to drop off the guns at Dylan's house, we all went out to lunch at one of my very favorite restaurants - Galaxy Cafe. I went for the garden salad with grilled chicken, and it was excellent, as per usual.


And if you are like me and fear cars sneaking into your lane as they are turning, the term for it is "uclipse."


After lunch, Jamie Lynn and I headed back to the Clubhouse where I sat around for awhile before hitting the gym for a run. I followed the exact same 45-minute treadmill workout that I created last Sunday. I was nice and sweaty by the end of it, but time flew by because ABC Family is having a Harry Potter Weekend, and the fourth Harry Potter movie was playing on one of the TV's right in front of my treadmill. It was the best way to run five miles!

And with that, I'm off to shower and head to work. I hope your Saturday has been as wonderful as mine!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

SRD Life

This post is going to be very SRD-heavy, as I have spent quite a bit of time here these past two days. I had a few scary car troubles yesterday morning on my way to work, and I was in quite the panic. Thankfully, it turned out to be easily fixable, but those few hours where I wasn't sure what was going on with it made me feel extra thankful that I even have a car to get me where I need to be, and thankful that I have friends and family who were very quick to jump to my aid.

My Monday could only go up from there, and my shift at work passed fairly quickly. Just before leaving SRD for the day to go deal with my car, I enjoyed a delicious lunch of tortilla-crusted tilapia with a side of broccoli and some unpictured tabouli salad. Everything was delicious, and I really want to try recreating this meal on my own.


Anyway, after I got home from the shop, I biked back over to SRD where I thought I was going to complete another one of my treadmill workouts. When I got there, however, I remembered the Monday SRD Bootcamp tradition of running laps around the building. Now, it was approximately 5:00pm and just north of 100 degrees outside, but I still felt like switching up my workout routine and doing something that I knew would challenge me. And challenge me it did. Plus, there's something about completing a tough workout in the Texas heat. Anyway, I came up with nine different exercises that I could do as I made my way along the west side of the building. As soon as I got to the front of the building, I ran the remainder of the way around the building, down the waiter parking lot, and up the stairs back to my starting point.

Here are the nine different exercises I completed:
  • Front lunges
  • Backward lunges
  • Bear crawls
  • Backward bear crawls
  • High knees
  • Bounds
  • Reverse bounds
  • Right-leg shuffle
  • Left-leg shuffle

I was sufficiently sweaty by the end of my workout, but I think this workout would be a fun one to do with a group of friends around your neighborhood.

I stayed up a little bit later than usual reading Harry Potter, so I let myself sleep in a bit this morning. Especially since my only method of transportation right now is my bike, it's not like I could really go anywhere too far. I got up and started reading Harry Potter before making myself a breakfast of scrambled egg whites, sauteed spinach, and salsa, with a side of delicious fruit. It kept me going for another hour or two of reading Harry Potter. This is what happens when I start reading Harry Potter, I want to do nothing else. That's why I need to finish the series before the semester starts!



I eventually decided it would be a good idea to get in a workout before work, so I biked on over to Gregory where I completed a mile and a half swim, before returning back home to use my very ripe bananas in making two batches of my banana-oatmeal-almond butter muffins. After I had baked my muffins, showered, and gotten myself ready, my sweet roommate Natalie dropped me off at SRD, where I promptly made myself a delicious salad topped with grilled chicken, black olives, and cherry tomatoes. SRD had some leftover tabouli salad, so I snagged a bowl of that as well. I tried snapping a picture, but the quality wasn't great, so it is still going unpictured. If I ever make it myself, I'll be sure to snap a pic!


And now it's time for me to get back to work - lots of move-in packets to put together! Have a great rest of your Tuesday!

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Ponytail Problems

Told you I would pop in for another post today! Thanks to some unexpected rain yesterday, it is feeling uncomfortably hot and humid today. Thankfully, I have been outside for a grand total of ten minutes today, so I can't complain too much about it.

After I posted my survey this morning, I quickly scrambled up some egg whites, sauteed some spinach, and topped it all with salsa before getting ready for a 9am church service. After church, I curled up on the couch for a while reading some of the fourth Harry Potter book, before finally motivating myself to get out the door for a workout.


I knew it had to be a quick one, since I needed to leave time to shower, get ready for work, and make lunch to take with me to SRD. I wasn't sure what I was going to do at the gym, but then I remembered my 39-minute treadmill workout, and I decided that would be a quick way to log just over four miles. I changed up the speeds a little bit, and I had a bit of a treadmill malfunction that caused me to change treadmills, so I am not sure on the exact distance, but I would guess that I ran about 5.4 miles in all. Granted, I did run for an extra six minutes, so I guess this one can be called a 45-minute treadmill workout.


Meanwhile, I had exactly three ponytail malfunctions, which is just about the worst thing that can happen to you while running. Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, but I really hate it when I'm running and my ponytail or bun, that likely started tight and on top of my head, ends up sliding lower and lower while getting looser and looser. I had to re-do my bun three times during this run, which told me that it's about time to retire my current ponytail holder in favor of a new one.

I quickly came home to shower and make lunch, which I downed right when I got over to SRD. I sauteed some grilled chicken and pineapple pieces, cooked some broccoli and zucchini/squash in the oven, and added in some finely chopped black olives leftover from my roommate's salad before topping the whole thing with salsa. Salsa for both breakfast and lunch - who's surprised?


And now I'm going to spend the remainder of my shift switching between watching Full House and reading the fourth Harry Potter book. It's like I've gone back in time to my childhood, and I don't hate it. Enjoy the rest of your day!

A to Z

Good news, everyone! Survey Sunday is making a comeback - for a few weeks, anyway. I have stumbled upon a few new surveys - some questions are fairly similar to other surveys, but I do what I can - so I will be able to bring back this tradition hopefully until at least the end of the summer. This one comes in the form of the alphabet, so enjoy learning a few new things about me!

Age: 21. The only thing I can't do now is rent a car.

21st Birthday
Bed size: I have never had anything other than a twin bed. My mom is currently trying to bribe me with a full-sized bed in order to get me to come home after I graduate. And it just might work.

Chore you hate: I am not a huge fan of mopping, but I really don't mind doing most other chores. My parents always kept our house very neat and clean, so I like to (try) and do the same.

Dogs or cats: Dogs.

Essential start of your day: I would love to start each morning with a workout, but that just doesn't always happen for me. So I guess we'll go with breakfast - my favorite meal of the day.


Favorite color: Pink.

Pink on pink on pink
Wearing pink even while hiking 37 miles through the mountains
Gold or silver: Generally silver, but I do like wearing some gold every once in a while.

Height: 5'5"

Instruments you play (or have played): I was able to play Hot Cross Buns on the recorder in elementary school, and my musical ability pretty much stops there.

Jobs titles you’ve had: Babysitter, Volleyball Coach, Camp Counselor, Resident Assistant (if any of those really count as jobs?) But if all goes well, you can officially call me Miss Tomlinson in approximately one year. And yes, it freaks me out too.

Kids: One day, in the very, very (very) far future. I love being around middle school- and high school-aged kids, but I am nowhere near being ready to have kids of my own, which is probably a good thing, considering I am only 21 years old. And it might also help to get married before I start thinking about kids!

Live: Austin, Texas.


Mom’s name: Jean


Nickname:  KTom

Overnight hospital stays: I stayed at the hospital with Granny one night over Christmas break, and I think the doctor was ready to admit me to a room by the next morning!

Pet peeve: Tardiness.

Quote from a movie: Finish this quote for me - "What does your heart tell you?" (Hint: It's from She's the Man)

Right or left handed: Living that lefty life.

Siblings: One little brother who is about to leave for college himself. Time certainly does fly!


Time you wake up: It varies, but I'm usually up and moving by 7:30am most mornings.

Under my bed: At home I have all of my old school books and notebooks (because I'm sure I'll need them one day). At school, I have a "college survival bag," that has come in handy more times than I can even count, as well as other random things that don't seem to fit anywhere else.

Vegetables you dislike: Brussel sprouts. Not about them.

What makes you run late: Honestly, not much. Not to brag or anything (though I guess I am), but I am a very timely person, and I budget my time pretty well. I generally try to allow extra time for traffic, but sometimes it gets me. Being late really stresses me out, so if you catch me running late, I am not very enjoyable to be around.

X-rays you’ve had done: My ankle when I was just five years old. It was a very traumatic experience for me.

Yummy food you make: I like to think that all of the food I make tastes good, but I would say that my banana-oatmeal-almond butter muffins are my specialty.


Zoo animal: I like polar bears and penguins, both of which we are unable to house here in Texas, but I'm also a big fan of wooly mammoths. Just ask Sarah and I if they are still in existence.


Make your Sunday a good one! I'm hoping to make another post sometime today, so be on the lookout for it. But don't hold me to it, because we all know that I tend to neglect the blog in favor of other things. Especially when Harry Potter is involved.