Foodie Survey

Happy Sunday! I’m not sure how we went from the freezing Friday temperatures to temperatures in the 70’s today, but this is Houston and I suppose I should be used to it by now, right? Last night I was glad to be bundled up in a tacky Christmas sweater as I made my way over to a friend's apartment for an Ugly Sweater party, but this morning I walked outside and the weather had done a complete 180.

Throwback to 2010, in case you're wondering if I've always been this way

I have yet to motivate myself to get out and run the nine miles that I need to run, but I think I’m just bitter that it’s 70 degrees in the middle of December. DECEMBER. Especially when we’ve had a little taste of winter. But before I get too riled up about the weather, let’s start this Sunday off with a survey, shall we?

LIST 5 THINGS YOU EAT/DRINK EVERY DAY

·         Water, obviously

·         Yogurt

·         Something with chocolate (okay, multiple things)

·         Chicken

·         Fruit – right now I have an obsession with mango

WHAT ARE 3 THINGS YOU REFUSE TO EAT?

There are many things I refuse to eat – I’ve been a picky eater for as long as I can remember, but I’ll stick to the survey requirements.

·         Creamy sauce of any kind – The fact that I’m lactose intolerant makes this an easy choice.

·         Oysters – I just can’t get over the texture.

·         Doughnuts – I know this is such a weird food to refuse to eat, but something about the smell of them just makes me cringe. Even as a kid I was able to take maybe three bites before pushing it aside, and though I enjoy making donuts, I won’t eat them.

WHAT IS THE WORST THING YOU’VE EVER COOKED?

This is embarrassing to admit, but I’m really horrible at using the crock pot. How a person can be bad at using a crock pot, I really don’t know, but I can’t seem to get it right. I’m much better at the traditional pots, pans, and oven method of cooking. And I’ve butchered more than a few dessert recipes along the way, too.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LABOR OF LOVE?

Made-from-scratch baked goods. I understand that boxed cookies are much easier and much less of a mess than it is to make cookies from scratch (and I’m not hating on the pre-made stuff, as I use those often), but homemade baked goods really do taste so much better. And I think this Fourth of July layer cake was probably the most labor-intensive cake I’ve ever made, but you have to admit, it sure is pretty!

WHAT ARE YOUR 5 FAVORITE THINGS TO SPLURGE ON?

·         Hopdoddy hamburgers – Worth the hour+ wait, worth the few extra dollars, and worth the extra cals.

·         Local Foods Garden Sammie – I live about a half mile away, and my bank account is feeling this splurge.

·         Frozen yogurt – Always hits the spot, and always worth it.

·         Bacon – I rarely crave bacon, but when I do crave it, there’s no stopping me.

·         Verts Mediterranean Grill – There’s one just down the road from my parents’ house, and I go all out – the kebap and sweet potato fries – and I enjoy every bite.

SALTY OR SWEET?

Salty. I have a really hard time turning down popcorn, (healthy-ish) chips, or French fries – especially if they’re from Hungry’s.

FAVORITE MEAL OF THE DAY?

BREAKFAST. I eat the equivalent of about three breakfasts, and I would be fine eating breakfast food for every meal of the day.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO COCKTAIL?

I’m just a big fan of wine. I used to be a white wine only kind of girl, but I’ve since learned the error of my ways and I no longer discriminate.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT GUILTY PLEASURE?

Sweet potato fries. I did a dangerous thing where I keep AlexiaWaffle-Cut Sweet Potato Fries in my freezer, and sometimes I come home from school just craving them. And nine times out of ten, I give into that craving. I also love gelato, and I’ve got an excellent gelato establish just down the street from my apartment. Dangerous.

CURRENT FAVORITE HEALTHY SNACK

My giant Oatmeal-Zucchini-Banana-Chocolate Chip Muffins. They’re healthy (they contain vegetables, duh), yet they still satisfy that sweet tooth. Plus, they freeze really well, so I can whip up a bunch when I’m feeling particularly domestic and have them for a week or two.

And on that note, I'm off to run and get a jump start on my Christmas baking and card-writing. I've already created a fun (well, I think it's fun) finals review game for my students, and I've already mentioned that all I've got left to grade are final exams. I suppose I could get ahead for next semester, but I think a little downtime is necessary every once in a while. Besides, what else will I do while my students are testing? 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! 

Giant Oatmeal Banana Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Yeah, that's a handful to say. But they're so, so good. I've already made them three times and I think I've eaten one of these giant muffins every single day. But I'm sure that comes as no surprise, as you guys probably already know that I am a huge fan of breakfast, and breakfast food. The hardest thing about being in Argentina was that their breakfast consisted of coffee and toast. And I don't even like coffee, so there went half of my morning meal. We have something called First Friday at school, which is where on the first Friday of the month (makes sense, right?), a club or team signs up to provide a most delicious homemade breakfast to the entire faculty and staff. It's wonderful, and easily my favorite day of the month. And my teammates know it, so they'll frequently forward me the email announcing the First Friday information with a "YAY"-esque comment. All of this to say that I love breakfast. Though I'm also not willing to take 10-20 minutes out of an already jam-packed morning to make breakfast. And I know many others are constrained by time as well. This is where these muffins come in. 20 minutes of prep on a Sunday, and you have a healthy and filling breakfast for the entire week. All you have to do is store them in the refrigerator, grab one as you are running out the door, and heat it up whenever you get to your destination. Well, you don't have to heat it up, but who doesn't love the taste of melted chocolate in the morning?

I can't take credit for this recipe, as it is almost identical to the one provided by Alexis over at Hummusapien, though I added a few extra ingredients, and I chose to make my muffins in a giant muffin tin. That's certainly not a requirement, but it definitely makes eating only one of them in a single sitting a whole lot easier. It's all about that self control. And if you're freaked out about zucchini being included in a muffin recipe, don't be. I promise you can't even taste it.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp flax seeds + 6 tbsp water
• 3 medium-large ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup almond milk (or any other type of milk you prefer)
• 1/4 cup almond butter (or your favorite kind of nut butter)
• 1/8 cup honey (this gives the muffins some added sweetness)
• 1 medium zucchini, grated
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3-3.5 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup + a sprinkle extra chocolate chips
• Sprinkle of cinnamon
• OPTIONAL: coconut flakes, almond slices, raisins

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and generously spray muffin tin with cooking spray
2. Combine flax seeds and water in a bowl and set aside
3. In a large bowl, mash the bananas using a fork, and stir in almond milk, almond butter, honey, zucchini, vanilla extract, and flax seed mixture until combined.
4. Stir in oats, baking powder, chia seeds, walnuts, chocolate chips, and cinnamon until combined. This would be the time to add the optional add-ins.
5. Using a spoon, fill each muffin cavity to the top and bake for 22-25 minutes.
6. Enjoy!

YIELDS: Six large muffins + a little extra (I have been baking the extra batter in a mini bread pan so that no batter gets left behind.)
Store these muffins in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If you want to enjoy them warm, put them in the microwave for about 45 seconds. You won't regret it.

I love that these muffins are free of oil, eggs, butter, and flour, and I'm able to sneak in an extra serving of vegetables without even noticing. And you can enjoy these muffins as breakfast (or as a part of breakfast if you're like me) or as an after school snack. I know I'll definitely be bringing these muffins along with me to inservice. I'll need something to snack on in between meetings and practice and setting up my classroom. Basically, starting next Monday, I'll be doing everything but sleeping up at school. Though I have been told there are cots. Anyway, these muffins will make my mornings a whole lot less stressful. And that's a happy Monday for you!

Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Waffle Recipe

Happy Wednesday, and happy first day of fall! Or Autumn - whichever you prefer. Fall is my absolute favorite time of year, because it means football, yoga pants, sweaters, boots, perfect running weather, and all things pumpkin. Which is what brings me here today. I've got a most delicious - and healthy! - pumpkin waffle recipe to share with you guys. I can't take any of the credit, as I found this recipe while hardcore perusing Pinterest, but I knew that today would be the perfect day for it. Why? Because today the students and employees of the Houston Independent School District were gifted a fall holiday. Sure, it's on a Wednesday, and I have to go back to work tomorrow instead of enjoying a three-day weekend like I did last year, but this holiday could not have come at a more perfect time. It seemed as though every teacher was walking with a little extra pep in his or her step yesterday, brimming with talk of how the fall holiday was going to be spent. I would be lying if I said I didn't join in, and what I came up with was sleeping in until 8:00am, enjoying the cooler weather with a crisp morning bike ride, and indulging in a delicious fall-themed breakfast while catching up with Kelly and Michael.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 egg
• ½ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• ⅓ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• ½ cup dairy-free chocolate chips + extra

*This recipe makes about 2-3 large waffles.

Directions:
1. Combine flour, baking soda, chia seeds, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a medium bowl and set aside.
2. In a separate large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, honey, egg, yogurt, and almond milk.
3. Add flour mixture to the wet mixture, taking care not to over-stir.
4. Gently add in the chocolate chips, again, taking care not to over-mix.
5. Heat up your waffle iron, and spray down with cooking spray.
6. Spoon about 1 cup of mix onto the waffle iron, spreading it evenly throughout the iron. Add a little more if needed.
7. Cook according to your iron's directions - my waffle iron took about 5-7 minutes per waffle, but it depends on the waffle iron being used.
8. Gently remove from the waffle iron, let cool, and enjoy! I added blueberries to mine, but I think strawberries would also taste fantastic. The chocolate was enough added sweetener for my taste, but if you're a fan of syrup, I have no doubt that would be another delicious addition. If you're looking for a real indulgence, a sprinkle of powdered sugar would really take the cake.

The perfect breakfast to start off a slow fall morning. It's delicious, yet chock full of good-for-you ingredients. Not something I would eat every morning, but a fun way to mix it up every once in a while. And with that, I'm off to do a little bit more baking. I have to get it in while I have the time!

Cooler Weather

Happy Saturday! And happy August 1st! As I mentioned yesterday, I'm not entirely sure how it's already August, but I know from experience that this month will absolutely fly, and it will be the first day of school before I know it. And I'm not sure what you guys have on the agenda, but I fully plan on taking it easy this bright and sunny Saturday. Come Monday, I'm going to hit the ground running, so an easygoing weekend is just what the doctor ordered. And I don't have much to report on my front, but I'll spill out a random smorgasbord of things that make up the premise of this blog pretty well.

Dinner

Last night I met up with a few of my friends and we crossed a restaurant off of my summer to-do list - Giacomo's. This restaurant came highly recommended to me by a teacher at school, and though we all realized we had passed this restaurant a number of times, this was the first time any of us had ventured inside for a meal. This is worth mentioning because typically we stay in the Hungry's-Escalante's-Cyclone Anaya's range, and this one was a little further out of our comfort zone. We were all glad that we decided to venture out, though, because our meal was darn good. We were a little thrown off my the length of the menu, and the fact that the names of each dish were in Italian, but I went with the Insalata la Mora, which was a very simple salad, whose crown jewel was the ample chicken sausage patties. It was light yet filling, and I will definitely be making a return. It appeared as though many people in the Houston area share my sentiment, as this place was absolutely hoppin'.

Workout

As you guys may or may not know, I am part of a running group that meets on Saturday mornings at Memorial Park, and we are all training for the 2016 Chevron Houston Marathon. Which I am officially registered for, by the way. So I guess there's no turning back now. Hold me accountable, you guys! Anyway, we only ran four miles this morning, but it was the best four miles I have run in a while. That's partly because this past week was pretty miserable in terms of running for me, and I was relieved to hear my team leaders say the same. The difference is that they probably stuck to the schedule and completed their run. I opted for the pool. So I was a little unsure of how this run was going to go, because my group runs fast! But as soon as I stepped outside my car at Memorial Park, and walked over to our group's meeting spot, I knew I was in for a good morning. While the temperatures were still in the lower 80's, that was a huge respite from the upper 90's we have been experiencing. And the humidity that is almost constantly present was noticeably missing. Or just not as 100%. And I was not sad about it. I had the most pleasant four-mile run, and I think the rest of my group agreed. We ran faster, pushed one another harder, and finished the run remembering why it is that we love what we do. And why we choose to wake up before the sun on Saturday mornings.

Breakfast

After our run, core work, and a seminar on running shoes, I headed home to fix myself some breakfast. I whipped up my usual egg whites and spinach, and they absolutely hit the spot. Sometimes eggs are the last thing I want after a workout, but today they were all I could think about. It was certainly nothing out of the ordinary over here on the breakfast front, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?

Snack

Some of you may have forgotten this by now, but two months ago I set a goal for myself: I would not buy any new clothing items for two entire months. For some people, that's no problem. For me, it was no easy feat. Spoiler alert: I did it!, so toady I treated myself to a little back-to-school shopping spree. They were all very practical (in my opinion) purchases, and I feel as though I've satisfied that shopping void for a little while. Which is a good thing because I won't have much time to shop come Monday. But I'll stop talking about that. Anyway, shopping built up an appetite, so I came home and enjoyed a bowl of Siggi's Vanilla Yogurt, topped with a batch of my Almond Joy granola. Which I swear I've shared a recipe for, but I can't seem to find it. So look for that recipe coming soon. This was my first Siggi's experience, and I am a huge fan. Siggi's is Iceland-inspired, full of protein, made without any artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colors, or thickeners, and while it's a little bit too thick and tart for me to eat without some sort of mix-in, the granola addition made it the perfect pick-me-up.

And I'm off to enjoy the day. Which probably means I'll be parking it on my couch reading, watching movies, and perusing Pinterest. A Saturday enjoyed, indeed.

Egg White and Vegetable Bagel Thin

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I'm just popping in to share a quick - and super easy - recipe with you guys. In fact, it's so easy, I feel guilty calling it a recipe. But I enjoyed it so much that I would have felt even more guilty had I not shared it with you guys. What I love about it - aside from the taste and the healthy factor - is that it's so darn portable. I whipped it up quickly this morning and carried it with me to Rice to eat just before the start of camp. I plan on making it tomorrow, and because I'll be up before any restaurant even thinks about opening, I plan on bringing it with me to eat on the airplane Friday.

I'm hesitant, yet still expectant

Now, I'm not normally a bagel person. Though delicious, there are just too many empty carbs. What I mean by that is, I never feel fully satisfied after eating a bagel, and that's a problem when you consider how caloric many of them are. But thin the bagel out a little bit, make it whole wheat, and you've got yourself a winner. A breakfast full of healthy carbs, protein, vegetables, and taste. That last one is important. 

I have a feeling this one will be making many a school appearance. Especially as I'm juggling volleyball practice and inservice requirements - I'll be up there all day! I'll need something quick, easy to transport, filling, and delicious. And this one fits all of those requirements. 

Ingredients:

• 1 Thomas' Whole Wheat Bagel Thin
• 6 tbsp egg whites
• 1 handful spinach
• 1/4 cup asparagus, chopped
• 1/4 cup mushrooms
• 2 tbsp salsa
• Sprinkle of pepper

Directions:
1. Start by gathering your mushrooms and chopping your asparagus. Set aside.
2. Spray a pan with cooking spray and place over the stove on medium heat.
3. Measure 6 tablespoons of egg whites into the pan.
4. Place bagel thin into toaster, toasting for 2-3 minutes.
5. When the egg whites begin bubbling, add in spinach, asparagus, and mushrooms.
6. Using a spatula, scramble eggs and vegetables together until fully cooked, about 2-3 minutes.

7. Turn off heat and spread salsa over both bagel thins. Gently spoon egg white scramble onto both of your bagel thins. Sprinkle with pepper, if desired.
8. Carefully place one bagel thin on top of the other, like you're smushing together a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (though maybe do it with a bit more caution, as the inside contents will come tumbling out if you haphazardly put them together), and enjoy!

This meal took no time at all to throw together. In fact, what probably took me the longest was the photography aspect of my breakfast. And now that I've got that out of my system, I'll be good to go. A delicious breakfast that you can feel good about eating, and that's the best way to start your day!

Movie Goer + Smoothie Parfait Recipe

Here we go again! Another Monday. And my last real Monday before my schedule starts getting crazy. Okay, not crazy, but it's my last week of freedom before I start having actual things to do with my days. I'm working a couple of Rice Volleyball camps, one of my friends is getting married, and I'm rounding out the summer with a trip to New York City. Because those three things are such a huge burden, so I am sure I am receiving all of your sympathy right now. But I am hoping to get a lot done this week, while still maintaining some regularity with this blog. Here's to hoping that I have a completed to-do list before I leave for a weekend in Austin on Friday afternoon!

Breakfast

I've got another new recipe to share with you guys today! It looks far more complicated than what it actually takes to throw this creation together. After waking up and going for a neighborhood bike ride, and running the hill up at Stratford, I was more than ready for something cool and refreshing. Thus, this smoothie "parfait" was born. 

Ingredients:
For the smoothie -

• Pink portion
• 3/4 cup sliced strawberries
• 1 sliced banana
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• Handful of ice cubes

• Green portion
• 2 handfuls baby spinach

For the parfait -

• Granola
• Blueberries

Directions:
1. Line the bottom of a mason jar with granola. I used my own version of this homemade granola, but any granola will work.
2. Place all ingredients for the pink portion in a blender, and blend until smooth.
3. Pour half of pink portion into the mason glass, over the granola.
4. This is where it got tricky for me. I happened to have blueberries handy in my fridge, and they are not the most buoyant fruit. They didn't sink to the bottom, but they didn't quite float on top of the pink portion. In any case, I added in blueberries as my next layer.
5. Add two handfuls of spinach to the blender, blending the spinach into the remaining portion until smooth.
6. DO NOT JUST POUR THE GREEN PORTION OVER THE PINK PORTION! Instead, and this is a bit more time-consuming, spoon the green portion over the pink portion, going around the edge of the glass first. Once one layer is complete, keep spooning the green portion into the mason jar until full.
It really doesn't take that long, and you'll get an Instagram-worthy breakfast.
7. Top with another spoonful of granola, and another handful of blueberries.
8. Enjoy!

Movie Mania

You guys may or may not know that I am not a big movie-goer. It's rarely something that I will choose to do, and even if suggested by another person, it's a 50/50 chance that I will actually go with said person. It's not even that movies have gotten so incredibly expensive, because they have, but it's that I often feel guilty about sitting for two hours, doing nothing but looking up at a big screen. I feel as though there's something else I could be doing, and while that is usually true, sometimes being still is exactly what I need at that point in time. And even then, I'll often choose reading over seeing a movie. Which is why I haven't seen a movie in theaters since October, when I saw Gone Girl (which, by the way, didn't hold a candle to the book).

However, when my uncle came to Houston in late April, he talked about how he spent an extended afternoon at Sundance Cinema downtown. And this wasn't the first time I had heard talk of Sundance. Many of the teachers at school frequent it, because it's the type of place that won't be overrun with teenagers. Not that we don't like teenagers, of course, but if how they behave in the classroom is any indication of how they behave when they are out and about, I can speak for all teachers when I say that we'd prefer not to share a movie theater with them. I'm just saying. Anyway, I had heard that Sundance is the best of the Houston movie theaters, so as a devoted Houstonian, I knew I was going to have to check it out. So after Friday evening's massage, I made my way downtown, drove around a bit trying to find the best parking (sidenote: Sundance will validate parking up to three hours. Score!), and ventured inside for my first Sundance movie experience. And after having a Sundance movie experience, I'm not sure that I can ever go to another theater. And here's why -

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1. Reserved seating. This isn't required, but if you buy your ticket online, you get to pick your seat. So if you have a favorite spot in the movie theater, you can make sure it's yours.
2. The seats rock, for lack of a better word. Roomy and comfortable, and the armrests are huge. Which is a nice plus because then you don't have to feel as though you're in your neighbor's lap throughout the entirety of the movie. It feels like you're on an airplane, you know, without the plane part. This would really be an ideal date night theater.
3. Though I didn't check it out, as I was riding solo this round, Sundance has a bar, with food and drinks that are made to be carried into the theater with you. Like I said, ideal date night theater. 
4. And mainly catering to the adult crowd, there are both indie and mainstream movies shown here. The prices aren't that much more than they are at any other movie theater, and to me, the experience was worth it. Though I don't see my movie-going percentage increasingly significantly, I will certainly be returning to Sundance the next time a movie craving hits.

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And I actually saw two movies this weekend. I know. We're going 0 to 100 real quick over here. Friday I saw Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which I absolutely loved, but made me cry in such a way that no movie has done in a while. I'll even step out and say that this film was better than the film adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars. I didn't love that movie, though I absolutely loved the book. I digress. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is actually based on a young adult novel as well, and it chronicles the senior year of three teenagers - Greg, Earl, and Rachel. It's the typical "high school" story - the relationship between a teenager and his overbearing parents, the reality of high school cliques, and the unique relationship between student and the "cool" teacher, but it does it in such a way that truly mimics reality. It captures the stereotypical high school moments, but not in a stereotypical way. It's tough to be a teenager, and that's highlighted in the protagonist, Greg, who is clearly not comfortable in his own skin, even preferring to call his best friend Earl his co-worker because he doesn't want to give someone the friend label and then be let down. High school is a time when self-esteem issues are commonplace.

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And then we have Rachel, the girl with leukemia. Something no teenager should ever have to face, but unfortunately, something that teenagers do face. Rachel isn't interested in those who pull the cancer card, and while Greg originally hangs out with her on his mother's request, a genuine (doomed) friendship eventually develops between Rachel and Greg. And Earl, too. Greg lets his guard down when he lets Rachel view the films he and Earl have made growing up, and they even try to put together a film for Rachel as her condition continues to decline. 

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I obviously have a soft spot in my heart for high schoolers. I really think they're the coolest. And I appreciated the way this movie captured the complexities of what it means to be a high school student today. Self-loathing, low self-esteem, selfishness, genuine friendships, feeling out-of-place, bumps in the road. And I really appreciated that this wasn't a cliche love story. Because believe it or not, high school boys and girls can just be friends. A raw and real portrayal of adolescence that gets five stars from me. 

Saturday's movie was an accident. I was hanging out with Gayle as she unpacked and organized her room from her big move home from College Station - okay, I probably distracted her more than anything - but she and a college friend who has also moved home to Houston had plans to hang out that evening. She invited me to join them, and it was decided that we would do dinner and a movie. Gayle's mom suggested we see Spy, but neither Gayle nor I am a big Melissa McCarthy fan. And I've heard only good things about Disney Pixar's Inside Out. So Inside Out it was. And I absolutely saw what all the hype is about. 

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Another coming-of-age movie, this one focuses on Riley, a girl who is taken from her life and friends in Minnesota when her family moves to San Francisco. As is the same with everyone, she is guided by her emotions - Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust - the little voices inside her head who work in Headquarters to guide her through life. Joy prides herself on the fact that many of Riley's memories are just that - joy. But when she moves away from everything she knows, she begins to experience loneliness, isolation, and sadness. And I think what is most memorable about this movie is the importance of Sadness. Without it, Joy can't do her thing. It allows viewers to understand that sadness is real, sadness is normal, and that it's okay to feel it. We just can't be happy all of the time, and more often than not, sadness is what draws our loved ones closest to us, which allows us to feel that joy again.

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I won't even begin to pretend that this is scientifically correct, because I do remember some things from my AP Psychology class senior year, but I thought it was a wonderful presentation of the complexities of our feelings and emotions, and how it's okay to feel them. We don't have to put on a happy face all the time, and acknowledging these other feelings will often result in genuine happiness.

And with that, I'm off to sit by the pool and read before heading up to Bellaire for tonight's open gym. I've got my fingers crossed that I'll even get to play tonight, as many players are in New Orleans for Junior Nationals. Catch y'all later!

Chocolate for Breakfast Round Two

Happy FRIDAY! I'm back with another post for you guys today. And this one is a great one because it centers around yet another easy and healthy breakfast recipe that includes my very favorite ingredient - chocolate. It really doesn't look a whole lot different from this recipe right here, but I did make a couple of changes to it. Minor changes, but to me, they made all the difference.

I don't know how you fall on the quinoa spectrum, but I absolutely love it. I've never been a huge fan of rice, and couscous, while delicious, has few nutritional benefits, but quinoa is just plain addictive. And good for you. And I often end up cooking far more than what I actually need at that time, and it's not one of those foods that keeps particularly well. So if you have leftovers, you have to use them pretty quickly. Which is why this healthy quinoa pancake recipe is absolutely perfect.

And even though every day feels like a Friday when you're a teacher and you still have summer vacation, thank goodness for Fridays, right? Chocolate is obviously a must.

Chocolate Chip Quinoa Pancakes

Prep time: Less than 5 minutes

Cook time: 4-5 minutes

Makes approximately 8 small-medium pancakes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 1/2 cup almond milk (or any milk, but I'm on the dairy-free spectrum)
• 1/2 cup egg whites (or 2 eggs)
• 2 tbsp. chia seeds
• 1 1/2 tbsp. baking powder
• Dash of honey (or sweetener of your choice)
• Pinch of salt
• Sprinkle of cinnamon
• Handful of chocolate chunks

Directions:

1. This recipe makes the most sense when you have leftover quinoa, but if you don't have leftover quinoa, cook up some quinoa. It requires minimal effort and takes less than 15 minutes.

2. Put quinoa, milk, egg whites, honey, baking powder, cinnamon, and chia seeds in a large bowl.

3. Mix all of the above together until smooth. Batter will be thick.

4. This is where we may differ, though it will certainly end with the same result. I have a Perfect Pancake Maker, because I am the world's worst pancake flipper. So I simply scooped batter into each of the four rounds, sprayed down with cooking spray, and placed the pan over medium-low heat. If you don't have a Perfect Pancake Maker, no stress! Simply spray down a large skillet and scoop your pancake batter into three or four rounds.

5. Once the pancakes are in the rounds, sprinkle the chocolate chunks into the batter.

6. With a pancake maker, close the lid, give it 2-3 minutes on one side before flipping it over for 1-2 minutes on the other side. The same goes for using a skillet, you just don't have to close the lid. It may even be easier because you can keep an eye on the pancakes and flip them when they turn a golden brown color.

7. I totally intended to eat these topped with strawberries and blueberries, because those two fruits plus chocolate are hard to beat, but I got so excited that I completely forgot about the fruit. Next time. But garnish as desired - fruit, syrup, Greek yogurt, butter, etc.

8. Enjoy! Because chocolate for breakfast is always a good idea.

And that's it. An easy breakfast that will keep you full for hours afterward. My breakfast of four (okay, maybe five) pancakes fueled me for another one of Felipe's strength and circuit workouts. It was a toughie, but I really enjoyed it. I felt strong and full of energy throughout the class, and some of the exercises we did had my brain churning with potential circuit workouts. So be on the lookout for some of those. And with that, I'm off to fix myself a (very) late lunch before heading downtown-ish for a massage and a movie. Because every once in a while you just have to treat yourself.

Change of Plans

Hump Day! How it's already Wednesday is beyond me, but I'll roll with it. I spent much of today sitting down with my pull-out map of New York City and mapping out all of the sights, places, and restaurants I have on my New York City To-Do List. Okay, I spent about 30 minutes on it before heading to the pool to tan. But I'm really not familiar with the city at all, and while I am not going to plan out every minute, rather, I am going to see where the city takes me, I want to have some of my bearings about me. It's all about maximizing the time I've got. Besides, I'm well aware that I will be a tourist, but I don't want to scream tourist. I can be a New Yorker. Though the non-New York accent might give me away.

Breakfast

This week, we're back to the old tried and true breakfast of scrambled egg whites and spinach. A grocery store trip has been on my list for a couple of days now, but I just don't have it in me to sit down, make a list, and then execute said list. I've gone with some old favorites this week instead of being adventurous and trying something new. Next week is my week. I promise.

Workout

I was beginning to think we were never going to have a full day of sun around here, but when I woke up and checked the weather on my phone, I was pumped to see sunshine nearly ALL DAY LONG! I knew a long swim would be in the books for today, and then I plopped myself down on a lawn chair and pulled out my most recent read - Jon Krakauer's Missoula. It's quite an intense read, and really unlike anything I've read before, but I saw it on display at Barnes & Noble when buying a Father's Day present for my dad, and since my Kindle officially tapped out on me while I was in Cozumel, I plucked this one off the shelves. Krakeuer's Into the Wild is on my summer reading list, but if I don't get to that one, I figure another book by the same author fits the bill just fine. My list, my rules.

Lunch

After slicing through the pool, and then sweating my way through my book, I was more than ready for lunch. Not wanting to whip up anything too complicated, because I was pretty hungry right then, I settled on an old favorite - my dairy-free vegetable-filled pizza. I've actually shared this recipe on the blog before, what feels like many moons ago, but I'll be sure and share an updated recipe for those who might want to recreate this deliciousness. Full of veggies, and I would have added dairy-free cheese had I been in possession of it, this pizza is really whatever you want it to be. It absolutely hit the spot, and I have a feeling this will be making a regular appearance in my diet this summer. It makes for a most perfect lunch, and though I haven't yet been, I think I give the custom pizzas at Mod Pizza a run for their money.

Chevron Houston Marathon

Remember this post from a couple of months ago? That announced I was planning to run my very first marathon in 2016? Well, I am still planning on running a marathon in 2016, but I'm moving my run date up about six weeks. Instead of running the Aramco Houston Half Marathon for the second year in a row, I am going to be running in the Chevron Houston Marathon. That's right - 26.2 miles through my beloved city. This was actually the dream all along, but I worried that between the start of school and volleyball season, I wouldn't have time to adequately train. Because if I'm going to run a marathon, I'm going to do it right. Or at least to the best of my ability. And that means not stepping up to the starting line feeling as though I could have prepared better.

When I first announced my decision to run a marathon, I received more than a few comments encouraging me to either get a running buddy or to join a running group. I went with the latter, because while I love running for the alone time I get, I know that I'm going to need the camaraderie and motivation that comes from running with a group. You are a special person if you can get out there and run 20+ miles all on your own. Because nine miles is about all you will be able to squeeze out of me. And that's why I am now an official member of Houston Fit. Their winter season begins on July 11th, and it lasts 26 weeks until, you guessed it, the Chevron Houston Marathon. I was going to join a running group regardless of the race I ran, but because this one culminates with the Houston race, I figure, what the heck. This race is preferable for a number of reasons - the time of year being my number one concern. The Woodlands Marathon takes place in March, which is a risky time in Texas. Really, any time of year in Texas is risky, but at least there's a greater chance of having cooler weather in January. I may be absolutely freezing at the start of a race, but it takes me all of .25 seconds to start sweating once I've started running. So a January run is right up my alley.

After running - and loving - the Aramco Houston Half, I could not be more excited to be doubling that distance as a participant in the Chevron Houston Full. Am I nervous? Of course! Whenever I cross the finish line of a half marathon, I am always thankful that I don't have to run yet another 13 miles. Well, it looks like I'm going to be one of those crazy people this time, because 26.2 miles seem to be calling my name. And what better place to do it than the city in which I grew up? I've grown up knowing and watching and dreaming of this marathon, so to finally be one of those runners is a dream come true. Remind me of these happy feelings when I hit a wall at mile 20.

(Source)

And though I can't officially change my entry until August 1st, I'm counting on the fact that I'll be able to easily make the switch. I spoke with a marathon representative just yesterday, and he assured me that it's as simple as filling out a form, and paying a fee, of course. And once I get going with Houston Fit, I'll be sure to give you guys a full recap. I've only ever heard good things, and I'm not surprised. A whole group of people who love running? Yeah, I can get in on that.