Last Day of Spring Break Survey Sunday

And a week of freedom and bliss has nearly come to an end. And it has been a pretty perfect little week. I ended on a great note last night, starting off with a delicious dinner at CRISP with Hayley, Amira, and Taylor, after which we moved on over to Sonoma Wine Bar in the Heights, and I finished off the night at Cottonwood, a bar in the Heights, for my room-roomies 23rd birthday celebration. Cottonwood has been on my to-do list for quite some time, and I was glad I was finally able to make it out there. Cottonwood has a really cool vibe, and though it was a flood zone out there and the outdoor patio was closed off, I still thoroughly enjoyed myself - meeting Sarah and Natalie's medical school friends, catching up with some of my middle school friends, playing foosball with Sarah's brother, and spending time with the birthday girl herself. Monday is her GOLDEN birthday, and she is certainly one golden girl!

On a wall at Cottonwood - reminds me of the iconic 'i love you so much' wall in Austin

1. What does your ideal cup of FROYO look like?
I love this question, obviously. My ideal cup of fro-yo is a combination of sweet and tangy - so maybe something like chocolate and raspberry pomegranate, for example. Or blueberry and cookies and cream. Topped with fruit of all kind - blackberries, raspberries, mango, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi - as well as a sprinkle of coconut, and maybe some mini (dairy-free, of course) chocolate chips or granola for that added crunch. Perfection.

2. What do you miss the most about the time period you grew up in?

This sounds hypocritical, as I am very dependent on my cell phone, but I miss the time when none of us even had cell phones, or when we literally used them to call our parents and tell them where we were going. I loved playing outside, biking from house to house, going inside only when the sun had set. I think a lot of kids today miss out on that, and it's no wonder, given all of the distractions out there. I must also say that I miss the quality television shows - Boy Meets World, Full House, and all of those Disney Channel classics. There's just nothing quite like those shows these days.

3. What is your most embarrassing habit?

I hate questions like this because on the spot, I can never think of anything. But hours later, when the moment has long passed, I'll think of the perfect answer. So, just hang on a couple of hours, and I'll come up with a really embarrassing habit to share with you guys.

4. What is the worst food you have ever tried?

I'm not sure what the very worst food I've ever tried is, mainly because if I don't think I'll like it, I won't even try it. So that eliminates a lot of bad food experiences for me. One food that I just can't fathom eating, though, is applesauce. It's something about the texture that just grosses me out a little bit, and I won't even bake with it, I dislike it that much.

5. If you could be a super hero (that YOU make up) what would your name be and what would your super power be?

What a fun question! I wish I were more creative, and I'd have a better answer to this question, but as it stands, I googled "Superhero Name Generator," and this is what I got -

The Gold Gladiator. My skill is "Muscle Mimic," in that I have the ability to instantly learn any skilled physical activity simply by seeing it performed. I'll take it. 

6. What meal could you eat every day?
I pretty much do eat it every day, but a salad, filled to the brim with colorful vegetables, topped with grilled-to-perfection chicken, and doused in either a light balsamic vinaigrette, or a refreshing sun-dried tomato dressing. It's healthy, delicious, and it still hasn't gotten old.

7. Who was your favorite teacher? What grade was it and why do they stand out to you?
Man, I've loved so many of my teachers. I really only have a handful of teachers that I didn't care for for one reason or another, but the teacher who really lit the fire in me to become a teacher was my third-grade teacher, Miss Rosso (who is now Mrs. McGee, but I know her at Miss Rosso). She was the teacher that everyone wanted, including me, and I was so excited when my card came in the mail telling me that I would be in her class, I was ecstatic. She was young, fun, and most of all, she truly and deeply cared about each one of her students. I keep up with her still today, and I am truly grateful for the way she inspired me to do what I do today. So, when the days get tough, I remember how much of an impact Miss Rosso, and so many of my other teachers, had on me.

8. If you were able to do anything (fitness related) what would it be?
I would love to run a full marathon. I know that I can do it. It takes diligent training and recovery days, and a lot of dedication, but that is something I would really love to do. And I would probably be a one and done kind of marathoner, because let's be real, 26.2 miles is a long way to drive, but stay tuned, because 2016 may feature fitnessandfroyo's first full marathon. It's still in the works, but I may just take the plunge. 

9. If you could write a letter to your daughter what three things would you want her to know?
Dear (my nonexistent) Daughters - it's funny, because one of the blogs that I enjoy reading has a feature just like this, except her daughters do actually exist -

• You are deeply and genuinely loved, not only be me and your father, but by the creator and King of this universe.
• You are right where you are supposed to be. So much of our lives are spent looking back on the past, or running toward the future, which are good places to be every once in a while, but know that you are in this season for a reason, even if it's hard and challenging and frustrating. Good will come out of it in time.
• No dream is too big. Don't ever give up on a dream because you're told that it's out of your reach. Keep doing what you love and feel passionate about, and I'll be behind you every step of the way.

10. Who is your favorite blogger and why?

Peanut Butter Fingers. I started reading her blog years and years ago, and though I am not a daily reader these days, just because the day sometimes gets away from me, I absolutely love her blog because one, it's fitness and food based, and I just really love her outlook on life. Of course, a blog that starts off being one thing, often times transforms into a story of the blogger's life, and she and her husband (who are expecting a baby!!!) live such a fun, balanced, and fulfilling life, and I just really look up to that.

And they have a really cute dog (Source)

11. What is your favorite app?
Honestly, I'm going to have to go with Instagram. I tell myself that I'll just quickly scroll through before going to bed, and then before I know it, I'm looking at my friend's sister's boyfriend's cousin's best friend's pictures from Barcelona three summers ago. I mean, how does that even happen? But I enjoy looking at the pictures other people post, as they often give me ideas of restaurants to try, recipes to recreate, quotes to jot down, and places to visit. Can't hate that!

And with that, I'm off to, oh, I don't know, maybe do something to get myself ready for school tomorrow. But more than likely, I'm going to soak up a little bit of this rare sunshine we're experiencing. Have a great one!

Birthday Monday

This post may be small in length, but big in content. Or maybe I should say it's important in content. Either way, I've got T H R E E very important birthdays to share with you guys today.

First and foremost, today is my best friend's birthday! Fate had a plan for us when we were seated at the same table on that fateful first day of sixth grade. Okay, that one might be attributed to the fact that our last names are so close to one another, but that didn't mean we had to become best friends. Gayle is the kind of friend who only comes around once in a lifetime. She is loyal and loving and faithful and selfless and genuine and encouraging and all things good. We are very similar, yet very different all at the same time. We went off to rival colleges, yet our friendship has stood the test of time. She has been there for me every single step of the way, and we are happiest when we are sitting together talking. She gets me, she speaks so much truth, she makes me a better person, and I'm just not sure what I would do without her. It's hard to believe that we are 23 years old, she's on her way to becoming a CPA (!!!), and that this spring break, we'll take our 12th consecutive trip to the rodeo together.

Second, today is Texas Independence Day! I have said it before, but I am a Texas girl through and through. I love this state, I love that everyone can locate this state on a map, and I can't imagine ever living anywhere else. Yes, we are chock-full of Texas pride, but if you lived in a state that took ELEVEN HOURS to leave, you would probably be proud, too. We can fly our flag at the same level as the American flag, we have our own pledge, and while Texas may not be what comes to mind when you think beautiful, I think it's plenty pretty. And more importantly, it's home.

25 Reasons You Should Never Visit Texas

And lastly, today is Dr. Seuss' birthday. Give me one child who didn't grow up reading Dr. Seuss books, and I'll go ahead and remedy that right away. But seriously, talk about a man with an imagination, and a thirst for chaos and fun. His books often pack a message, but in a way that is still very kid-friendly. And though children are his main audience, his work can be enjoyed by people of all ages. In fact, he even said that "[he] doesn't write for children, [he] writes for people."  He's colorful and poetic and he was a staple in my childhood. And his words are still applicable. Always remember that "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose."

I hope your Monday is a great one!

Old English Prayer

Well, today’s just a day like any other day. Nothing special happening over here. Just kidding, because I love my birthday, and you can go ahead and call me self-centered until you’re blue in the face. But who doesn’t love waking up to happy birthday messages, opening sentimental cards, and not knowing what to do when people are singing you happy birthday? I love the promise of another year, and though a birthday is really just another day, it’s one that I can’t help but be excited about.

And I can't help but be thankful that I've moved past this stage (this was 10 years ago, W H A T!)

Though the day isn't quite over yet, I have had an absolutely wonderful birthday. My students behaved (mostly), my volleyball girls treated me like a queen, and I felt very loved and celebrated all day. And you know I love a good note, so this was right up my alley (along with too many cookies and too much cake).

Workout

And what would a Kelli Tomlinson birthday be without a workout? An incomplete one, that’s what. So, even though the sun never came out, and the temperature only dropped as the day went on, I laced up my running shoes and headed outside for a 5.6 mile run around my neighborhood. And though it wasn't quite dark enough to whip out my new headlamp, I am excited to put this guy to good use on any early morning or late night runs that I may take. Safety first!

Old English Prayer

As much as they say to make a conscious effort to separate your work life from your personal life, it’s only natural that aspects of your work life will pervade your personal life. That’s one of the things that I love about English – that so many of the texts that we read have messages that go beyond the classroom. That are applicable to everyday life. That help you to make a realization that you otherwise wouldn’t have made. To help you to understand that you are not alone. To wake you up to a truth that you’ve been missing. And that’s exactly what happened when I read “Old English Prayer” with my reading classes.

I don’t normally like poetry, aside from Shel Silverstein, but this one struck a chord with me. In a good way. So, for those of you who are unfamiliar with this poem, I wrote it below:

To me, this is an absolutely beautiful poem, and it made me stop and think. Maybe a little bit more than it made my kids stop and think. But how can I blame them for that? They’re 15 and 16, and I’m 23, and it’s just now stopping me in my tracks.

I am the queen of to-do lists. I take probably too much joy out of making a weekly to-do list, and then crossing everything off of that to-do list. I mean, I write down my workouts and the lunches I need to prepare and the papers I need to print and the letters I need to write. For Christmas my parents got me a 365 Lovely Thoughts Pad, which is a combination calendar and inspirational notepad. Not only does it inspire me daily with the quote at the bottom, but it gives me a place to write down all that I hope to accomplish that day. And now that I have babbled on and on and on, let me get to my point.

I love this poem for the repetition of “Take time to …” because so much of my life is a constant check off one item and move onto the next. And while I certainly take time to do all of these things, sometimes I forget why I’m doing them. Working isn’t merely a way to earn a living, rather a way to find personal success. A reminder that you are being challenged and failing and learning and succeeding. Thoughts drive our actions, so make sure they’re meaningful thoughts. Playing, well, that one speaks for itself. I may have grown another literal year older, but I think I’ll stay a kid forever.

I could harp on the importance of reading forever. How else can you enter into another world, gain other perspectives, and hopefully learn something new along the way? And when you offer a friendly smile, you’ll often be surprised what you get in return. The days that I focus my time and energy on others are the days I take walks around my neighborhood grinning like an idiot. And Henry David Thoreau claims one of my favorite quotes, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” I say, why not dream a little bigger, darling? Don’t settle for less than what you want to be. And what is our purpose aside from loving other people? Yes, even on the days that we don't want to. And we can all do a better job accepting love. And on those really tough days, stop and appreciate the fact that you are alive to see another day. Stop and appreciate the people around you, and tell them that, for you never know what battle they might be fighting. And in the words of e.e. cummings, “a day without laughter is a day wasted.”

And my goal for the year of 23? Though nobody likes you (thanks, Blink182 for always being relevant), I’m going to do my best to be present in the moment I’m in, not constantly thinking about the next item I can cross off my list. That an evening spent with friends is more fulfilling than an evening spent grading (though getting that done is important, too). That I will spend my time doing things that matter, but not feel bad when I take some time to do absolutely nothing. To keep my face toward the sunshine and spend more of my day smiling than I do frowning. Here’s to another year, and to making it the best one at that!

And thank you all for the sweet birthday wishes, whether they were via text, phone call, card, Facebook post, embarrassing Instagram photo, or email –  I loved and took each and every single one of them to heart. I am so unbelievably undeserving, but you guys sure know how to wrap a girl up in love!

Birthday Discounts

If you play your cards right, you won't have to pay for anything on your birthday. There are so many birthday freebies offered out there that it’s impossible to take advantage of all of them. And while there is a very public list of birthday freebies circulating the Internet, I’m here to share with you some of the lesser-known birthday deals. Granted, none of these are completely free, but they certainly make a difference.

Anthropologie

This one might be my very favorite. You all know that I am Anthro obsessed, and it’s all too easy to drop a couple hundred dollars in there. That being said, Anthropologie does reward cardholders (and becoming a cardholder is 100% free) with tag sales and 15% off your entire purchase any day in your birthday month. So, if you are going to shop at all during your birthday month, and hopefully you are, buy a couple of extra items to make that discount even larger!

(Source)

Ulta

I love Ulta, and I am spoiled to have one right by my house. And again, I am sure that it comes as no surprise that I have an Ulta rewards card. Hey, when they’re free, why not, right? Anyway, Ulta is really good about giving its rewards cardholders discounts and deals, but during the month of your birthday, you get two times the bonus points on everything that you buy during your birthday month. Those points add up quick, and they quickly turn into what feels like free money. So, for someone who buys her shampoo and hair products and powder and nail polish from Ulta on a regular basis, it’s a great incentive to receive.

(Source)

Pinkberry

With a blog name like fitnessandFROYO, you can’t be surprised that I have a couple of frozen yogurt frequent buyer cards. It’s like my version of a Starbucks Gold Card, okay? Anyway, those with a Pinkcard are eligible to receive a small frozen yogurt with toppings any day during their birthday month (actually, it’s within 30 days of receiving the birthday email, which makes it fair for all of us February babies).

Kendra Scott

This one is probably my second favorite. I am no exception to the Kendra Scott obsession, and the fact that one recently opened in City Centre is both a blessing and a curse. Kendra Scott is known for being both bright and bold, but without being too flashy, and it is very easy to become addicted. And for those who are registered with an active email account can take 50% off any Kendra Scott item during your birthday month. Perfect.

Half Price Books

One of the really great things about being a teacher is that I don’t have to lose those wonderful student discounts. Not that I can’t still pass as a student, but it’s nice to know that I don’t have to lie to get the discount. And not only do I get a teacher discount, but you also receive a "birthday surprise," which I would imagine to be a discount coupon of some kind. Not too bad for a place that sells books at an already reduced price! While I do have (and love) a Kindle, sometimes a physical book and a warm blanket are all you need on a cold day.

Columbia
I wish I could pretend that I am an always adventurous, always outside kind of girl. While that isn't necessarily true, I have always preferred Columbia to Patagonia. For whatever reason, Columbia fits me much better, and the prices are slightly better, too. And you can find Columbia in sports stores, whereas the same can't always be said for Patagonia. Anyway, I do have a couple of Columbia fleece jackets, and you guys know I'm into the vests these days, so a 20% off coupon throughout the month of your birthday (especially when you have a winter birthday) for all members of the Columbia Greater Rewards Club.

A Columbia jacket pre-70.3

And for those of you who like Starbucks, you will be happy to know that you can take advantage of a free drink on your birthday. That paired with a free Einstein's bagel isn't a bad way to start out your birthday morning! And I have just two more days of feelin' 22. I was only 22 for a moment, and evidently nobody likes you when you're 23. 

Mother Dearest

This post will be short and sweet, but I couldn't let the day pass without giving a special shout out to who I believe is the greatest person on this earth.

I could post a picture on Instagram, that she would never see, and I could share birthday wishes on Facebook, to her nonexistent timeline. So instead, I decided to take these birthday wishes to something she would see - my blog.

Happiest of days to my forever proofreader, because you just never know who is reading my blog. To the woman who proofread every single college paper I ever submitted, so maybe she should have walked across that stage with me. To the one who faithfully attended every single volleyball game or tournament I ever played, and had a pretty impressive attendance record at the games I coached, too. Who said yes to my request to play club volleyball at a club that practiced 30 minutes away from home, three nights a week. Who, before I had my license, drove me out there with her stack of mail, sitting off to the side so as to not interfere with my practice.

Who cheered louder than anyone at our playoff send-offs, who jumped out of her seat when I was named Outstanding Setter at the Spring Branch tournament my senior year. Who promised not to tell my dad when I was hitting the volleyball against the side of the house, because every repetition mattered.  

Who taught me how to fight my own battles, stepping in only when it was absolutely necessary. Who was more excited than I was when I got hired at Bellaire (probably because I was still in shock), who always answered my every call when I was walking to and from class my freshman year of college. Who would come up to Austin in an instant if I needed her. Who lets me plan the vacations we take together, never complaining when I make our to-do list a little too long.

Who introduced me to the wonder that is The Nutcracker Market, and let my friends tag along as well. Who always encouraged the importance of making good grades, but never put any pressure on me. Who told me that as long as I did the best I could, that's all that mattered. Who stayed up with me when I was stressed out, asking what she could do to help. Who still stays up with me when I'm stressed out, asking what she can do to help.

Who told me to "bring home all my laundry" when I told her I was coming home for the weekend, and who does my laundry for me still to this day. Who makes grocery store runs when I claim I don't have the time, who makes my bed the mornings that I don't, because she listened to Admiral McRaven's speech, too. Who tastes tests my baked goods, and cleans up all the remains without my even asking. Who still waits up for us at night, because we're still her children and that's her job.

Who worked full-time, but still managed to find the time to be my homeroom mom, and chaperone just about every field trip I ever took. Who took on the daunting task of being on of the three moms in charge of my sophomore year Sweet 16, to ensure that I would be able to go that year. Who let me buy a too-expensive dress that I would wear only once, because it was beautiful, and the dress of my dreams.

Who always made sure she won the birthday marquee at the auction, and then made me go take pictures with it. Who knew living at SRD would be the best decision I ever could have made. And who always knows best, anyway. Who always told me to "blame it on her" if I ever didn't want to do something with friends, so that she looked like the bad guy.

Who loves sports - all sports - more than most people I know, and who has strong opinions about most players. Who sees the good in every person, but isn't afraid to gossip a little bit, either. Who, when I call her debating between two different shirts, tells me to just "get them both." Who still has an iPhone 3 because she gives her upgrades to her kids (mainly her son). 

Who epitomizes the picture of a mom who gives up everything for her kids, and puts her family first. Who never tells me that any dream is too big. Who encourages me and supports me and who would let me live at home forever if I wanted to (don't worry, I won't). Who listens to my stories about my students, who has given me more freedom than I ever could have asked for, but raised me to know the difference between right and wrong. Who loves the 8th Wonder of the World that is the Astrodome, and is a most devoted George Strait fan (even if she didn't use the tickets I bought her). Who taught me to speak up for myself, and to stand up for what I know is right. 

Who is deserving of a blog post that goes on for pages, but would probably have liked it if I had stopped before I had even started. So, happy birthday to you, dear mother. Thanks for loving and caring for me so unbelievably well. This phrase is probably used far too often, but if I grow up to be even half the woman that you are - wife, daughter, mom, friend, and sister, I'll know that I'm doing alright in this world.

Crazy Week

Happy Thursday! My mood is exponentially better than it has been in about a week, and that is because the sun has finally shown its face. Though it is still fairly chilly outside, the fact that the sun is out makes it so much more bearable.

Anyway, it's been a while since I've checked in with you guys, so let's hit the highlights of this past week.

Birthday

We left off on my birthday, so let's start there, as we know that's a highlight for me. Dylan told me that we had 8:30pm dinner reservations, though he didn't tell me where, only that the restaurant is known for its bar. I honestly couldn't guess where it was that we were going (though I admittedly didn't try very hard, because I like surprises), and I was certainly surprised when we pulled up to North by Northwest with most of my roommates and some of my YoungLife teammates waiting inside. I had absolutely NO idea that Dylan had been planning all of this, and it was so much fun for me to ring in my 22nd year with so many of my very favorite people. I guess you're never too old to have that surprise party you always wanted as a kid!

Not much has changed since turning 22, as I still took a picture of my delicious Pan Seared Salmon over Silver Lake Spinach salad, of which I ate every last bite. I was a bit unsure about the mustard vinaigrette dressing, but it ended up being the perfect combination of flavors.

And though I am not much of a beer drinker, this restaurant does brew its own beer, so I almost had to order one. On a recommendation from the bartender, I went with the Pale Ale, and while it doesn't compare to my favorite fruity cocktails, I will admit that it tasted pretty good. The night turned out to be such a great and memorable one, and it was the perfect start to 22.

Weekend

Because school was canceled on Friday due to icy road conditions, Dylan and I decided to hit the road to Houston at about 10pm on Thursday night. A stop at Whataburger and Bucees fueled us for the dark drive home, but we both agreed that we were glad to beat any bad weather that might have made driving home dangerous. And I wish I could say that I had an eventful weekend at home, but it was mainly spent hanging out with my parents (it was nice having them all to myself), watching some of the Winter Olympics (though the summer games certainly have my heart), and grading about 50 college research papers.

I also went to visit my mom at work on Friday night, and one of her co-workers gave me a piece of advice that I think will prove to be very valuable: GO HOME, because the work will still be there in the morning. Leave the work at work, and just go home. While I certainly plan to implement that policy (as much as possible) in the future, right now I have to juggle the grading along with assignments for my class at UT along with planning lessons/a unit. It's a lot, but I'm almost halfway done with my student teaching experience - and that's hard to believe! I've truly come to enjoy it, and I can honestly say that I look forward to going to school each day. When someone asks me how my day has been, it's such a relief to be able to say, "My day has been really great; I had such a good day at school." Relieves a few of my anxieties about choosing the wrong profession!

I don't have any new recipes or workouts to share with you this week, but I promise that will change after this weekend. I plan on spending part of my Saturday in the kitchen, coming up with at least one new recipe that invites a little bit of food excitement. Additionally, I hope to create a couple new workouts to test out and share with you guys next week, so be on the lookout for those! Hopefully it will hold me accountable for posting regularly (though don't count on it).

Valentine's Day

As many of you probably know (or maybe want to forget?), tomorrow is Valentine's Day. It's nice that it falls on a Friday this year, and I already have my pink sweater ready to wear to school. I'm hoping to win over my students' hearts by bringing them some sort of Valentine's Day baked good (or at least some Valentine's-themed candy), and I came out of my temporary baking retirement to quickly throw together these Valentine's Day Funfetti Cake Mix M&M Cookies.

Funfetti is almost always a win, and if you're wondering how to make them, follow these simple steps -

Ingredients:

• 1 box of Valentine's Funfetti Cake Mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 1.5 cups Valentine's M&M's (mini work best, but I did use regular sized M&M's, and they worked great too)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix ingredients together in a large bowl
3. Place tablespoon-sized balls of dough on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet
4. Optional: add additional M&M's to the dough balls for the sake of appearance
5. Bake for 12-13 minutes, or until bottoms are golden brown
6. Enjoy!

Have a great rest of your Thursday! I'm hoping this next week won't look as crazy as this one was, but I'm not certainly not going to count on that one!

Feelin' 22

I don't know about you, I'm feelin' 22, and if you don't know where that comes from, I would go ahead and stop reading this blog post. But I will tell you that it's mystical and magical, oh yeah!

Okay, now that I got that out of my system, we'll continue with the normal schedule of events - starting with a workout! I couldn't start out my 22nd lap around the sun (shout out to Sarah for that one) without a good workout. Plus, as I was scheduled to makeup my English Language Arts certification exam at 8:30am, I knew it would be a good brain-booster. Plus, as a morning workout is part of my daily routine now, my morning wouldn't feel complete without it. So, I hit the gym nice and early so that I would have plenty of time to complete this treadmill workout, covering 5.4ish miles in 45 minutes. 

Not a bad way to start out the day!

Breakfast

I came home to quickly shower, get dressed (for success, meaning yoga pants and my hair piled up in a bun on top of my head), and open some of the birthday cards I had so patiently saved. As you all probably know, I absolutely LOVE cards and notes, so it was hard for me to wait to open them, but I knew it would be made all the more special if I waited for my actual birthday to open and read them.

Can you tell that I like pink?

I left my house just around 7:20am, as I had to be at the testing center by 8:00am. It took me just over 10 minutes to get there, but I had plenty of time to eat my usual breakfast of scrambled egg whites and spinach, with a side of sliced mango and sliced strawberries, all the while jamming out to Taylor Swift's '22' to get myself pumped to sit through a three-hour exam.

Once in the testing center, I ate two large cuties that would hopefully hold me over for the duration of the exam. My test proctor seated us starting with the end of the alphabet, so I was the second person to be seated, meaning I got to begin taking the exam around 8:15am. I took a little over an hour and a half for the 90 multiple choice questions, and a little under an hour and a half for the literary analysis, finishing in just about three hours. As far as the overall test is concerned, while I felt fairly confident about the multiple choice, the essay is anybody's game, so we'll see what my results say when I get them in about a month!

Lunch

After lunch I headed back home to the Clubhouse to drop off my belongings (and change into something a bit more presentable), before picking Dylan up from campus so that we could go to lunch. We decided on Cabo Bob's Burritos, just North of campus, which I have had a couple of times before, but I had never been to the actual restaurant. Nor had I ever had one of the burritos - which as the word 'burrito' is found in the name of the restaurant, you have to know that it's going to be pretty good. Dylan talked me into getting a burrito (though I am typically not the burrito type), and it turned out to be an excellent choice.

After much deliberation, I went with the Ancho Chili tortilla, stuffed with black beans, chicken, grilled onions, grilled squash, lettuce, cilantro, and red salsa. I was pretty hungry after sitting through that exam, so I ate every last bite. Though I can say with almost 100% certainty that I could finish off a whole burrito any day of the week.

As I am usually at Westwood during the lunch hour, it was nice to be able to have lunch with Dylan. Since I wasn't sure how long the exam was going to take me, I told my teacher that I probably wouldn't make it to school today. And since I didn't have to teach today anyway, I figured it wouldn't hurt to take the day off. So a lunch date with Dylan was certainly in the books.

The remainder of my afternoon has been spent completing a nice list of chores and trying to get caught up for the week. My sophomores just turned in their college research papers, so I have quite a bit of grading ahead of me. However, the few that I have already read have really been a lot of fun to read, so I'm looking forward to reading the rest of them. Have a GREAT rest of your Wednesday!

Olive and June

Both my heart and my stomach were happy and full after a wonderful evening spent celebrating my favorite recently-turned 21-year-old. The night started out right on time, but we hit a little bump in the road that pushed our plans back a little bit. Everything worked out pretty perfectly, though, so there are certainly no complains on that front. So, let's start at the beginning, shall we?

I made dinner reservations at an Italian restaurant that received rave reviews on the ever-trusty Yelp, called Olive and June. I didn't realize that I pass the restaurant pretty nearly every day whenever I drive toward Mopac, so it turned out to be a neighborhood hidden gem. I decided on Italian because we almost rarely go out for Italian food (thanks to my lactose intolerance, which I will touch on in a minute), so I was hoping that the Yelp reviews would hold true.

Our reservations were for 7:15pm, so I picked him up around 6:45pm, just to be on the safe side. We do live extremely close to the restaurant, but you always have to allow some extra time for parking (at least in Austin). We were walking up to the restaurant when Dylan got a call from his mom that made us choose to abandon our dinner plans - for now, anyway. She had fractured a joint in her wrist (and, I must add, handled it like a champ), so we waited to make sure that she was feeling okay before going back to see if we could get a table at Olive and June. It was about 8:45pm at this point, so we figured, despite the fact that Friday the 13th is usually considered to be an unlucky day, that luck would probably be on our side for this one. It was, and we got a table for two in the outdoor heated seating area, when our incredible waiter, Rafael, immediately brought us out both a dinner menu and a drink menu. 

I went for the Pear Milan, and Dylan went for a Peroni. 

My Pear Milan was excellent, though I made the mistake of drinking it before I had any food in my system. It had been a while since I had my snack of carrots, celery, and hummus, and I immediately felt the alcohol doing a number on me. Luckily, our started salad came out quickly after that, so I was good to go in no time. I also tried a sip of Dylan's Peroni, and though I had the preconceived notion that I don't like beer, this one actually tasted pretty good.

Now, onto the food. We originally decided to split the pork meatballs as an appetizer, but our incredibly helpful and courteous waiter came back to tell us that the meatballs had cheese cooked inside of them (I had already informed him of my lactose intolerance at this point), so we  opted to split the Giardinara Salad, which turned out to be a better decision, anyway. The salad was fabulous, and we finished it off in no time. The salad consisted of butter lettuce, baby romaine, grape tomatoes, cucumber, radish, and parsley, and we both agreed that it was a much better choice to start off with the salad.

For our main dish, I was originally going to go for the day's special - the pan seared scallops, but I was told that it was cooked in all sorts of butter, so I changed my order to the grilled pork chop, which I didn't regret for a minute. It was tender and juicy and cooked and seasoned to perfection. Our waiter brought Dylan out a knife so that he could share the pork chop with me, but as Dylan said, he would be surprised by how much I can eat, and aside from the one bite I let Dylan have, I ate every last bite.

Dylan, going off of Rafael's recommendation, decided on the Bucatini Amatriciana, which is a pasta dish consisting of tomato, calabrese chili, guanciale, and pecorino. I couldn't tell you what really any of those things are, but Dylan also cleaned his plate and really seemed to enjoy it, so I am going to assume that it was a good choice.

We also ordered a side of roasted brussel sprouts (sans cheese, of course), and they were excellent. I used to think I didn't like brussel sprouts, probably because of the way they smell, but I have learned that I do really like them, especially if they are cooked right, and all of the restaurants that I've been to where I tried them, they have been cooked to perfection, adding in the perfect touch of seasoning that makes them so unique to each restaurant. 

We also finished all of those off (are you seeing a pattern develop here?), and our waiter brought us out a dessert menu. Nothing was really standing out to us, and we were already pretty full at this point in the evening, so we decided to pass on dessert for this round. Or so we thought.

Our waiter, along with bringing out our check, brought out two spoons and told us that he wasn't crazy, but that we would be needing them. He asked us if we minded sticking around for a few minutes longer, and seeing as we had nothing too important to attend to, we figured we could spare the extra couple of minutes. Our waiter then surprised us and brought out a Brown Butter Carrot Torta for us to split, courtesy of the couple at the table next to us. I think we were both a little bit shocked, and very appreciative, and though I am not usually a fan of carrot cake, this dessert was excellent. 

Dylan let me have most of the cake pieces, while he went to town on the cream cheese gelato, and we once again cleaned our plate. What made it even sweeter was the gesture behind the dessert. When we went to thank the couple, they told us that we looked like we were having such a good time that they really wanted to do that for us. That brought an immediate smile to both of our faces, and I was so touched by both their words and their gesture. Overall, we had a really great experience at Olive and June, and I don't hesitate to say that we would both give the restaurant five stars - in terms of food and atmosphere. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

We left the restaurant around 10:45pm, and we headed back to my house so that I could give him his birthday present. He wouldn't let me bake him anything sweet, so instead of cookies or a cake, I gave him a bag of his favorite apples. I can't help but laugh at how similar we are in that aspect, because I would also prefer a bag of my favorite apples to a cake. For his actual present I gave him a framed picture of a Texas flag, that is cooler than it sounds. I had a picture on my phone that I deleted because I didn't want him to discover it prematurely, so you'll just have to use your imagination, and I'll show you a picture once he hangs it on his wall.

So, it was one incredible night celebrating one great guy, though in the index card book I made for Dylan that consisted of "21 Reasons Why I Think He Rocks," I should have included two more things - one, that he puts up with my lactose intolerance (as he is quite the dairy lover), and two, that he doesn't get (outwardly) embarrassed of the fact that I take pictures of my food on the reg. He has begun to accept (and hopefully embrace) it, and doesn't even blink an eye when I whip out my phone to take a picture. So, thanks for that, Dylan. You deserve five gold stars for those two things alone.

Though I didn't end up going to bed until close to 2:00am - I am normally such an early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of girl, but once I get my second wind, I am good to go for a while - I popped on out of bed at 8:20 this morning. I ate a couple of cuties and then headed to the gym to get in a workout before I headed back home later today, because I knew if I didn't do it while I was still in Austin, it wouldn't be happening today. I covered about 5.4 miles on the treadmill before calling it a morning, and I went back home to make myself some breakfast. Breakfast was nothing out of the ordinary, as I was finishing off some of the last few items on my shelf of the refrigerator, so I sliced up some strawberries, and scrambled up some egg whites and spinach to eat as my last breakfast in Austin for a while.

It was excellent, as usual, and it fueled me to clean our bathroom, and pack up my belongings to load up my car and head home to Houston for the holidays. As soon as I push publish, I am going to finish loading up my car and get on the road, so that I will likely be eating Hungry's and watching the NCAA volleyball tournament on the couch with my mom. Not a bad welcome home. Have an excellent Saturday, and thanks for sticking with me on this novel of a post!