Things I'm Loving Friday LVII

Happy FriYAY! It has been a crazy week of volleyball tryouts and two-a-days, and now we head out to Cypress to compete day one of the pre-season scrimmages. It's kind of a whirlwind trying to get freshman ready to compete in this fast-paced introduction to the world high school volleyball, but I'm excited to see what today brings. And while I'm doing that, enjoy some of the things I'm loving this week!

Run Fast, Eat Slow
When a four-time Olympian and American record holder (Shalene Flanagan) joins forces with a chef and nutrition coach (Elyse Kopecky) to create a beautiful cookbook full of healthy recipes for athletes, you know you have to check it out. This cookbook features step-by-step recipes that really squash the idea that eating healthy has to be boring and bland, or that you have to follow some strict, joyless diet. There are so many misconceptions out there when it comes to fueling your body, especially for females, and this cookbook is full of recipes that show you that it's okay to indulge while giving your body the right nutrients. The photos are fantastic, these two women looked like they had the time of their lives writing this book, and each recipe is Shalene-tested and approved.

Cult of Pedagogy Podcast
Okay, maybe only my teachers will be interested in this one, but honestly I think there are episodes that any parent or businessperson can also relate to. I've mentioned before on the blog that I'm not a huge podcast listener. Like it really has to engage me for me to continue listening. And this one absolutely does. I know people love podcasts because they can listen to them while they're driving, but with this podcast all I want to do is write down everything I hear, so it works best for me when I listen to it while walking my dog. Anyway, this podcast series has so many fantastic ideas - from classroom management to teaching strategies to personal wellness to the use of technology - and each episode I have listened to has left me feeling nothing but energized for the upcoming school year. Jennifer Gonzalez is upbeat, gives practical ideas and advice, and keeps me coming back for more. Definitely worth a listen, even if you're someone who claims to not be a "podcast person".

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I only just started listening a couple of days ago, but here are a couple episodes I loved:
   Episode 33: Five Powerful Ways to Save Time as a Teacher
   Episode 57: Nine Simple Solutions for Common Teaching Problems
   Episode 60: Six Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2017
   Episode 67: What to Do on Lame Duck School Days
   Episode 71: Why It's So Hard for Teachers to Take Care of Themselves

Gatorade Commercial: The Secret to Victory

I'm not sure how I missed this commercial when it first came out, but ever since I saw it on TV a couple of weeks ago, I have been all about it. It features star athletes such as Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, and Serena Williams, among others. The whole message is if you want to find success, you first have to experience failure. MJ not making his varsity team. Manning going 3-13 in his rookie season. Williams being on the wrong side of the biggest upset in her sport. But aren't these names some of the biggest in sports? Using failure to fuel growth has kind of been my mantra lately, and this commercial did nothing but get me pumped for volleyball season, the new school year, and marathon training.

Russ Rose: Commitment
Russ Rose is a legend in the college volleyball world. And rightfully so. He has coached his Penn State team to seven national championships and has earned the respect of so many across the country. And when Russ Rose was asked to pick one word for "The Word on Coaching" series, his word of choice was COMMITMENT. He talks about being all-in, about being focused on the end goal and distancing yourself from distractions. Of course, he's talking about the work his athletes put in on the volleyball court, but it applies to so many areas of life. If you want to be the best you can be, you've got to commit. I think the best compliment I have received as of late is someone telling me he has always been impressed by my commitment to my training. Maybe I'm not the best runner out there, but I'm going to do whatever it takes to reach my goal. Whether that's with running, teaching, coaching, being a dog mom, whatever. If you want to be the best, get out there and work hard. It's not supposed to be easy.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition
It is no secret that I am a Harry Potter junkie. Like I have to tell myself that there are so many books out there that I want to read and while I will most definitely get something new out of re-reading the Harry Potter series for the umpteenth time, it's probably not the best use of my time. BUT then I was introduced to the illustrated editions of each Harry Potter book and you guys, they are absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I am trying to be good and only purchase one of them at a time (as of today, only Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets have been released), but these are going to make a most excellent addition to my coffee table. And I might even bring them up to school for some of my more reluctant readers. Obviously these books are wonderful for any age (because 25 is not too old to read a picture book), but these would be perfect if you are looking to open up the magical world of reading to a young one. Bravo, Jim Kay, for so beautifully bringing the wizarding world to life.

Have a fabulous Friday!

Make the Change

It’s always so hard for me to open up blogger after a hiatus like this. Granted, this is definitely not my longest hiatus, but remember that time I made a goal for myself that I would write one post a week? I applaud myself for sticking to that for four months, but here I am, a month after my last post. But, May got crazy, as May typically does, and blogging was the first thing to go. And you would think that because it’s summer vacation I would be able to do this on a more consistent basis, but I took one look at my bank account and told myself that if I want to continue traveling and running (because whoever said running is cheap therapy has definitely not bought a new pair of running shoes or a new watch or the myriad of accessories that go along with this "cheap" sport lately), okay, and shopping at Anthropologie – so sue me – I better suck it up and teach at least a little bit of summer school.

So, while it was certainly no three-week trek through the beautiful country of Argentina, I managed to keep myself busy by teaching what I like to call STAAR Boot Camp. It was draining, to say the least, but I appreciated being able to stick to a regular routine. I got up to walk Mack, hopped in the shower because we’re at the point in the year where any sort of physical activity requires a change of clothes, and upon arriving home, took the pup on yet another walk before parking it on the couch in preparation to hit either the running trail or the pool. These summer temps have encouraged me to bring back the one-piece tan, but have really messed with my running training plan. But I'll save that for later.

Anyway, just because I was on the work grind doesn’t mean I haven’t allowed myself to have a little fun this summer. I cultured myself by visiting the Ron Mueck exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts (and displayed my maturity level when I absolutely could not handle the sculpture of a woman giving birth),

Natalie puts the size of these sculptures into perspective

as well as the Pixel Forest exhibit, which was much more up my alley.

I have finished reading seven books and am starting in on my eighth,

I wrapped up another season of sand volleyball with Team Practice Safe Sets (we went out of the playoffs in a most disappointing fashion, but we will certainly be back), and a couple of weekends ago one of my college roommates came to town and four out of nine members of the Clubhouse were able to reunite and spend the weekend catching up with one another. I had a lot of fun being a tourist in my own city – we ate a lot of delicious food, did a little bit of shopping, spent some time relaxing by the pool, and we even sat front row at River Oaks Theater (we had a little too much fun at dinner, whoops!) – a Houston landmark.

I have spent some time cleaning up my apartment, I’ve done a good amount of dog- and house-sitting (if you need a laugh, ask me to tell you the story of how I locked myself out of the house and had to climb the fence in the pouring rain),

I have done a little bit of planning (read: brainstorming) for this upcoming school year, and I have even done a little bit of work in the kitchen. I like to think that I’ll get these recipes posted, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here.

Anyway, now for the meat of this post. I know, I’m long-winded. But earlier I mentioned that my runs were suffering as what I think is a direct result of the weather. If you have never visited Houston, just know that summer means two things: hot and humid. And rain, which only adds to the humidity. Man, I couldn’t do anything. My heart rate would skyrocket at even the slowest paces, and I had a hard time running consecutive miles under what I would normally consider to be a moderate pace. And if I did manage to do that, I would stop and walk before starting the next mile because my whole body was just shot. I began dreading each workout – forget about the Brooks tagline to “run happy”. That was not happening. And it definitely showed on my face. I started getting inside my own head and really started doubting my big goal: Boston.

My first ever race

I did not want to take to the treadmill. I don’t know what it was, but the treadmill more than intimidated me. Actually, I do know what it was. I was scared of what the treadmill would tell me about my running ability. As much as I hated running in 80+ degree weather with a dew point almost as high, I liked having the weather as an excuse for why I couldn’t do a workout. That sounds horrible when I put it on paper, but our minds are a funny thing.

The views are nice, though

At some point I realized that I was tired of using the weather as an excuse for why I couldn't do a workout. It’s like this headline flashed across my brain: You've lived in the great state of Texas for all 25 years of your life, and there's zero chance that it's going to get any cooler. Either you're going to stop pouting about it, or you're going to have to change something. 

I was also tired of having to do an entire outfit change in the middle of my long runs that were literally happening at a snail's pace because I was so sweaty. Nobody has time for that much laundry, you feel me? Anyway, once I admitted these things out loud, and I was told that the weather outside should scare me more than the treadmill does, I decided to make the change. I pushed fear to the side and picked a treadmill at the gym. And while I am still wiping up an impressive amount of sweat, this seemingly simple change has made such a difference. Instead of feeling defeated before and after a run, I feel strong. I know that I've got a long way to go when it comes to achieving my ultimate goal of qualifying for Boston, but not only have I actually logged some good miles, my confidence in my running ability has done a 180. I’ve made a change and I’m starting to see results. I even got an "A" after reporting back on how today's workout went. Funny how that works.

Also, shout out to my girl Taylor for finally releasing all of her songs on Spotify. That was huge.

I talk a lot about running on my blog because it's a huge part of my life. It's not my entire life, but it has taught me a lot of lessons that can be applied to other areas of my life. Such as teaching and coaching, which makes up another large chunk of the Kelli Tomlinson puzzle. I have a couple of “big goals” for this upcoming school year, but one of them is that when something isn't working, make a change. If my students aren't engaged, or if they aren't understanding something one way or if I find myself doing something “just to do it”, it’s on me to do something about that. With running, the “easy” thing for me to do was run my familiar tree-lined route, knowing in the back of my mind that I had a ready-made excuse for why it didn’t go well. The hard thing for me to do was turn on the treadmill and crank out a tempo run at a pace that I hadn’t seen in awhile.

It's so easy, especially during volleyball season, for me to do what has always been done with the curriculum. It’s all right there for me, and it doesn’t require a ton of effort on my part. But I want to challenge myself to make whatever learning happens in room 327 relevant and powerful. I want them to get something out of it and not just feel as though they are doing busywork. I want them to learn how to think critically and know that it’s okay to struggle and work outside their comfort zones. I feel as though some of my high school years were wasted – I spent so much time worrying about the grade I received on an assignment that I couldn’t tell you half of what I learned in some of the most interesting courses. There’s a whole world out there just waiting to be discovered – and so many of my students are ready to take on the challenge! – but in order for that to happen, changes have to be made. That's not to say that it will always be easy. Or that progress will always be immediate. I've run enough miles to know that not all of them are going to leave me feeling like I can conquer the world. But if we want to see results, we've got to at least give it a try.

Spring Break To Do List

Okay, so I didn’t tell you my whole running story yesterday. I was on such a runner’s high that I didn’t want to share this embarrassing story with you guys until today. It’s sure to make you laugh, because if it’s not one thing, it’s another. So, I was about 3.5 miles into my run when the water I chugged just before I left caught up with me. I was running up Kirkwood when I decided I would run into a neighborhood family favorite – Sam’s Deli Diner – to use their bathroom. I walked in, said hi to the people working, and asked if I could use their bathroom. Getting the okay, I headed toward the back of the restaurant, I guess not noticing the “Wet Floor” sign. I’m sure you know where this is going. But I’ll paint a picture for you anyway. I must have been walking too fast, slipped, grabbed a chair in an effort to catch myself, and proceeded to fall to the floor. I did land on my elbow, but I think I hurt my pride more than I hurt the bone. But I got up and walked it off and I lived to tell the tale. Thankfully, the restaurant wasn’t too crowded, and I hurried out without making eye contact with anyone. Happy hump day to me!

And because we have O N E school day left to spring break, I thought I’d share my Spring Break To-Do List with you guys. It’s more general than specific, but these are a couple of the things I hope to accomplish on my N I N E glorious days off from school. I am so glad my spring break wasn’t this week, because the weather has not been very spring break-esque. My fingers are crossed for sunshine next week so that I can finally get a little bit of color into my vampire-like skin.

Spring Break To Do List

Try three new restaurants

• I have a Houston Restaurant List that is about a mile long. While Houston has plenty to do, our restaurant scene has got to be our claim to fame. And I’m a little bummed that I spent so much of my life eating at restaurants in my own little Memorial bubble, and even then I’ve missed some good ones, because there are so many good ones out there in Midtown, Montrose, the Heights, and Rice Village. So, this break I am going to try at least three new restaurants, though I can almost guarantee that Hungry’s will make a spring break appearance. Old habits die hard.

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Read a book

• This past Sunday I finished reading Mindy Kaling’s book, and I have yet to start a new one. This spring break I am going to start (and finish!) one of the many, many books that I have recently purchased. Once upon a time I told myself that I would finish all of the books I already have before buying any new ones. Ask me how long that vow was kept.

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Declutter

• Remember the 30-Day Minimalism Challenge? Yeah, I haven’t been consciously completing that one very well. But one thing I really want to accomplish is decluttering my room, my closet, my bathroom (which I’ve pretty much already done), my car (this is an ongoing goal), my computer (both school and personal), and my cell phone. Let me explain a little bit. I repainted and redid my room over LABOR DAY WEEKEND. How many months ago was that? And I still have boxes of things that I never really unpacked when I moved home from Austin. I think I was in denial. Or lazy. Or busy. I’ll let you be the judge. Anyway, organization has got to happen. And as for my car. Well, I seem to live out of my car, and I would be embarrassed if anyone were to look inside and see all that I keep in there. And last but not least, we have technology. I have this habit of taking screen shots of quotes or workouts or restaurants that I like or want to remember or try out of visit, and then I don’t do anything with them. Which may be why my phone constantly tells me that it’s almost out of storage. I want to write those quotes or workouts down and keep them all in one document on my computer so that I can delete the photos off of my phone. And speaking of computers, it’s time to go through both my personal computer and my school computer and get rid of unnecessary photos, documents, and downloads. Organization is the motto this break! 

Watch a movie

• I’m a horrible movie-watcher. It’s hard for me to sit down and just watch and enjoy a movie, however, there are many movies that I do want to watch or see. So, my goal is sit down, watch, and enjoy a new-to-me movie. Because there are too many movies that I just haven’t seen. And maybe I’ll even make my way over to an Alamo Drafthouse because evidently teachers get free admission to one movie from March 7 – March 22 for their self-proclaimed Teacher Appreciation Week(s). I can dig it.

Play volleyball

• I’m sure you guys know by now that I played a little volleyball back in my day. And that I coach a little bit in my spare time. Just in case you’re new around here. And I really, really miss playing volleyball. I played some this summer and I absolutely loved getting back into it. And I’ve told myself now that I’m back in Houston I am going to attend open gym at Spike Sport Volleyball Club. It doesn’t start until 8:30pm, and we all know that’s getting close to my bedtime. But a couple of our volleyball managers play for the men’s club there, and they say that open gym is a good, competitive time. So it’s my goal over spring break to attend at least one open gym, because coming back to the game you played for so long is just like riding a bike – It never really leaves you.

Try two new recipes

• Ever since I moved back home, baking has been going strong. Cooking, on the other hand, well, not so much. And I’m really good at pinning really pretty and delicious-looking recipes on Pinterest, but I never actually follow through and make them. It’s just so easy to have leftovers or eat whatever my parents are eating, that I don’t take the time to cook anything for myself. Maybe I could even cook something for my parents, to attempt to thank them for all that they do for me. And if I don’t get back on the cooking grind now, I’ll lose my touch and end up being one of those people who eats only Lean Cuisine in the event that I do move out of my parents’ house. Don’t worry, it will happen, just not quite yet. So, in addition to trying three new restaurants, I also want to try two new recipes, one of which has to be an actual meal, not a dessert.  I’ll likely pick a recipe that includes Brussels sprouts, because I’ve been craving that tasty veggie lately.  

Zucchini Noodles are high on my list (Source)

Try something new

• This one is really open to interpretation. Maybe it will be a new exercise class, a new skill or hobby, a new activity, if you will, but I want to do something outside of my comfort zone. Not even my comfort zone, but just something out of the ordinary. I’m sure it won’t be too hard to find something that fits this bill!

And on that note, I’m off to make sure I’ve got everything covered for the week after spring break. My last goal is to not do any school work over the break. And I’m starting that one off on the right foot by giving in and showing a movie tomorrow in my English classes. So sue me.

Things I'm Loving Friday XX: Wish List

Another Friday is here! Another work week is almost in the books. And tomorrow I am headed to Dallas to celebrate the MARRIAGE (!!!) of one of my college roommates. She also teaches high school English, and I could not be more excited to celebrate the life that she and Patrick have ahead of her. Sarah is wise, funny, and just a fun person to be around. If I hadn't had her during that last year of college, well, I'm not sure that I would have kept my sanity.

So, I'll be sure to post a full recap on what is sure to be a wonderful weekend. Not only do I get to attend her wedding, but I get to reunite with (almost) all of my roommates! And that is something to get excited about.

Clubhouse ladies

But because it's Friday, let's get going on our weekly rendition of Things I'm Loving. And because my birthday is less than a week away, I'm doing something a little bit different this week. I didn't exactly make a birthday list, but these are just some of the different things I have been saving up to purchase in the coming weeks or months. Maybe you'll be inspired to send some of these things my way next Thursday. I am totally kidding about that, by the way.

Underwater Audio Waterproof iPod Shuffle and Headphones
It's no secret that I love to swim. I love that it's a full-body, yet low-impact, workout. Running isn't exactly easy on the joints, and it's nice to mix some swimming in with all of the running I do. Music truly does make a workout easier, and I would love to be able to listen to music as I swam back and forth down the length of the pool. The only stipulation is that I would have to update my iTunes playlist, as there is no way, that I am aware of, to put Spotify on an iPod shuffle. Worth it?

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Fujufilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera
I was wandering around City Centre (shocker, right?) when I found myself in Urban Outfitters. Though it is a sister store to Anthropologie and Free People, Urban is less of my style. But I do love the books and trinkets they have near the register, and I found myself falling in love with this pink Polaroid camera. I love photos, and though I am not the most skilled at the art, I do think it would be fun to have this instant picture-producing gadget. Better nail that smile the first time with this camera, right?

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Kitchen Basics Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer
Zucchini noodles are all the rage these days, and I am itching to jump on that train. But I am not about to take the time to spiralize (is that a word?) vegetables by hand. Is that even possible? Anyway, this vegetable slicer slices vegetables perfectly in a matter of seconds. The foodie in me gets so excited thinking about all of the new recipe ideas that this appliance would make possible!

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Passion Planner
Okay, I understand that this might not be the most ... productive purchase to make right now. After all, we are almost done with the first month of 2015. HOWEVER, word on the Frequently Asked Questions page is that they plan to release a 2015-2016 academic planner. I am a planner. I love writing down assignments, I love creating (and crossing things off of) to-do lists, and this planner, described as "the one place for all your thoughts" might be a dream come true for someone like me. There are appointment calendars, to-do lists (one personal and one work-related), inspirational quotes (this kickstarter gets me), a weekly "good things that happened log," blank space to be used as you desire (hello, blog thoughts), and so much more. Perfection.

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Asics Gel Kayano 21
I know I said that my next pair of running shoes would likely be Mizuno, but I have had success with Asics in the past. I overpronate when I run, meaning my feet roll inward more than the ideal 15 percent, aka, injuries waiting to happen. Especially knee injuries, which I already have to watch thanks to many years of volleyball. Anyway, to supplement this overpronation, I have to purchase running shoes that offer with motion-control or added stability. Aka, the more expensive running shoes. But knock on wood I haven't had any major injuries yet, so I'll gladly shell out the extra bucks if that means staying injury-free! Plus, what's not to love about this pink and emerald combo? Look good, run good, right?

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And that's all I have for now. I hope your Friday is wonderful, and full of excitement for the upcoming weekend.

Things I'm Loving Friday XIX

Whew, another Friday is here! I love four-day work weeks, and I not-so-secretly wish we had them every week. Four days of work, three days of play. That sounds about fair, doesn’t it? Anyway, this Things I’m Loving Friday post is a little bit all over the place, but that’s sort of how this week feels, so let’s just go with it, shall we?

Athleta Balance Capri 

I mentioned in last week’s Things I’m Loving Friday post that I have sort of strayed away from the popular Lululemon apparel in favor of clothes, especially leggings and yoga pants, from Athleta. Athleta opened a store near me a couple of summers ago, but I hadn’t checked it out until recently. I tried on a pair of leggings just to see how they fit, with no intention of making a purchase, but I absolutely loved the way they fit my body. They were tight in all the right places, but they were loose enough around the middle that I didn’t feel as though I were being squeezed into them. I’ve worn them recreationally while lounging around the house or running errands, and also while exercising, and I can attest that they are a very versatile pair of leggings. So much so that when they were having a 20% off sale last week, I had to take advantage of it and purchase another pair. Wouldn't you do the same?

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Kendra Scott Jana Bracelet

When Kendra Scott has a sale, it’s almost like it’s a crime to NOT take advantage of it, right? Just kidding, but just days after my mom and I were talking about how beautiful the Jana bracelet is, she got an email saying that everything in the store was 15% off from 4pm until midnight. So how could we not jump on that sale? I used to not be a watch or bracelet person at all, but now my wrists feel naked without them. This is a very delicate piece, and it comes in just about every color you can imagine. My mom and I opted for the Bright Red, but we also love Slate, Emerald, Chalcedony, and Orange (Hook ‘em!).

Longchamp Le Pliage

I have a longtime love for the Longchamp brand. It started in high school, with my very first purse in the medium sized taupe color, and it has not yet stopped, as I currently have about five bags in this brand. I know, I know. But they’re such handsome, reliable bags. And it probably doesn’t help that when I went to Paris a few years ago, I had the chance to visit the actual Longchamp Le Pliage store on Champs-Elysees, and the prices over there were far cheaper than they are here in America. I have a medium size bag, a large size bag, and a backpack, and I carry them with me all the time. They’re great for traveling because they fold up into almost nothing, and when they’re expanded out into purse form, it’s as if they have an expanding charm on them. Their one downfall is that it sometimes takes me a while to find what it is that I am looking for, but I can fit almost my entire life inside of one. I carry them with me to school, when shopping, and at just about any other time you can imagine.

Rockin' our Longhchamps in Madrid - Summer 2012

24 Must-SeeDiagrams That Will Make Eating Healthy Super Easy

I saw this just before I went to sleep the other night, and I made sure to screenshot it so that I could read it at a later time. That later time came the next morning, and I especially loved numbers 2, 4, 5, 11, 13, 19, 20, and 21. I am a very visual learner, meaning I am a student who needs to see to be able to understand. Most of the time. So, these aesthetically-pleasing diagrams are simply brilliant for someone like me.

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Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens

Yes, there pens are a little bit on the expensive side, but they are my absolute favorite pens, tied with my beloved Sharpie pens. They are the perfect “teacher pen,” and they also make me feel a tiny bit artistic, and trust me, I am the least artistic person in the history of the world. They write smoothly, they don’t bleed through the page, and they come in a whole package of pretty colors. Last weekend I was feeling inspired, and I took them up to my elementary school playground and wrote out the things that make me feel the most alive, as per our first small group activity my freshman year of college. And you know felt tip pens made the list.

Dash Cam Cop

I sincerely hope that all of you have seen this by now, but if you haven’t, let this video brighten your day. I was watching the news last weekend with my parents, and they showed this cop from Delaware jamming out to Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off.’ That song is catchy, and evidently this cop felt the exact same way. This video was the first in a series of “DashCam Confessionals,” and you can’t help but smile when watching this video. They filmed it mainly as a thank-you to their local followers on social media, because the more people they have following them on social media, the faster they can get the word out regarding serious or important events in the area, but this video has gone absolutely viral. It’s worth a watch, and it’s something to bookmark on a not-so-good day.

 

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The Republic of Tea Strawberry Chocolate Red Tea

I am not typically a tea person. It takes a very particular flavor of tea in order for me to drink it. And that flavor is of the fruit variety. I found an absolutely delicious fruit-flavored at the Nutcracker Market, a la Cheers to You, but I have not yet ordered any more of it. So, a couple of weeks ago when I was shopping at Paper Source, I spotted a very cute container with Strawberry Chocolate flavored tea, courtesy of The Republic of Tea. We started off the week with very pleasant, almost perfect, weather, but another cold front hit us yesterday, making it the perfect warm tea weather. The combination of fruit and chocolate (which you guys know I love), is delicious and delectable, and it makes for the perfect healthy dessert flavor. Among many other benefits, red tea contains powerful antioxidants, can relieve skin conditions, and can encourage restful sleep. Three thumbs up in my book!

And that concludes another rendition of Things I'm Loving Friday. Enjoy your day, and have a fabulous (hopefully sunny!) weekend! And before I go, I have to thank you for all of the sweet support and words of encouragement you provided me with after reading my last post. I am someone who would much rather listen than share, so that was a major leap of faith for me. It's funny that Dylan was one of the people who taught me how to be more vulnerable. Life sure has a way of coming full circle, doesn't it? Anyway, you guys are the best, and I've said it before, but you make writing this blog fun!

Recipe To-Do List

And we're back! Happy Tuesday! Today is my first day back at school for the spring semester (which I'm told moves quite a bit slower than the fall semester, but we'll see), but because I don't have a classroom, I also don't have a homeroom class, meaning I have about 45 extra minutes of free time this morning. So, why not try and crank out a quick blog post?

I was winding down last night - though I still wasn't able to fall asleep until close to midnight, but that's entirely my fault for getting out of my habit of going to bed at 10pm - and I found a (typical) BuzzFeed article titled "45 Healthy Recipes For Almost Every New Years Resolution Diet." It has recipes that fall under the paleo, vegeterian, low-carb, vegan, and gluten-free spectrum. And though I am not specifically any of those things, I always love finding new recipes to try and tweak.

For a very quick post this morning, that will probably make you hungry for lunch, I'll list off some of the recipes from this list that I hope to try. I will not follow every recipe exactly, but that's the fun of trying new things. I can add my own twist to a recipe, and then I can add it to my cute little recipe box that my mom gave me for Christmas. All of the pictures I use on this blog will come from the BuzzFeed article, and I guarantee you the pictures that I take of the food when I make it will not be quite as pretty, but it's not always about how it looks, is it?

Asian Chicken Stir Fry
This recipe is not something that I would normally cook up for myself, which is why I think it appeals to me so much.

Sausage, Kale, and Spaghetti Squash Boats
I love spaghetti squash, and I go through phases where I'll eat it until I'm sick of it, but I often use the exact same recipe. I think this variation will keep my taste buds guessing!

Greek Style Chicken Kabobs
Kabobs are one of my favorite meals, so I have very high hopes for this one!

Asian Salmon and Green Bean Stir Fry
I am a little bit iffy about this one, mainly because I tend to gravitate away toward cooking any seafood for myself, just in case I accidentally undercook it and end up making myself sick. There's just no time for that!

Clean Harissa Chicken Zucchini Meatballs
I am a big-time meatball lover, though I know they are not always the healthiest option. I love seeing a healthy meatball recipe, filled with ingredients that I really enjoy.

Picadillo Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers was a big trend for a while, and it's never something I tried, though that was because I wasn't sure I could make it look as pretty. Executing parts of a recipe perfectly is often harder than it looks!

Almond Oat Banana Crepes
This one, y'all, gets me pumped. I'm not a huge crepe fan, I will admit, but that's often because I know that I won't be able to eat it. I can make a few tweaks to this recipe to make it dairy-free, and it will make a most perfect weekend indulgence!

Brussel Sprout and Apple Grilled Cheese
This one will obviously need the most work, as I cannot have cheese. But stay tuned, because I'll surely think of something!

And on that note, I'm off to get some things ready for my first class of the day - let's hope I still remember how to do this teaching thing!

A Capitol Picnic

Remember my special trip to the grocery store that I talked about the other day? Well, it was so I could get all of the necessary ingredients to prepare a delicious picnic lunch. A couple of weeks ago, Dylan and I sat down and made a list of "Austin-y" things we want to do together, and one of my contributions was a picnic at the Capitol.

It was my turn to pick what we would cross off, so, as I am sure you all could guess by the title of this post, I chose a picnic at the Capitol. I love picnics, and I also love preparing food, so I took this one completely into my hands. I wanted to make something more fun than sandwiches (but don't get me wrong, sandwiches can be very fun), and I already had a lot of what I would need to make quesadillas. Additionally, Dylan frequently teases me about not being able to eat cheese, so I decided to surprise him by preparing what is typically a very cheesy dish.

Here is what our picnic consisted of -

• Chicken and pineapple quesadillas
• Homemade guacamole and pita chips
• Grapes and baby mandarins

I have pinned healthy quesadilla recipe after healthy quesadilla recipe after healthy quesadilla recipe, but I have never before acted on them. Yesterday was finally the day, and I have to take a moment and brag on myself. I lightly followed a few quesadilla recipes, but the finished product ended up being something of my own creation.

Yesterday, while perusing Pinterest, I found a chicken and pineapple quesadilla recipe. That screamed "summer" to me, and I knew I had some pineapple slices in the refrigerator at home, so I decided to go for it. I cut them into smaller chunks, before sautéing them like I would vegetables. I didn't have a grill handy, so sometimes you just have to work with what you have.

I put the pineapple chunks aside while I got to work on sautéing the chicken. I used two thin chicken breasts, and cut them into long slices, similar to what you might see in a restaurant quesadilla. I sauteed them like I normally would, topping them with my favorite lemon pepper.

After putting the chicken on a plate, I got out my low-carb FlatOut Multigrain with Flax wraps, lightly sprayed the frying pan with cooking spray, and put one of the wraps in the pan. For my quesadilla, I covered half of the wrap with dairy-free cheese, grilled chicken slices, pineapple chunks, and red and green bell peppers. I almost forgot to add in the salsa, but I remembered last-second. Phew. Dylan's quesadilla was exactly the same as mine, though his included real cheese, and a bit more of everything. Once I had everything loaded onto one side of the wrap, I folded over the other half and let it cook for a few minutes on each side, until the cheese was completely melted.

With the quesadillas taken care of, I set to work on the guacamole. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I had never before made guacamole, so this was also a new recipe for me. Before even cutting open the avocados, I cut up part of a white onion, a red onion, half a tomato, and some more pineapple chunks, before setting all of that aside. I then cut into two avocados and scooped the flesh into a bowl. I mashed the avocado with the back of my fork, and then threw in the extra ingredients, mixing them well. I then added a dash of lemon pepper and squeezed two lime halves on top of the guacamole in order to keep it fresh.

Next time I would be sure to add cilantro, but that completely slipped my mind until I walked out of the grocery store the other night, and I just didn't have it in me to go back and search for it. However, I would say I did a pretty good job for my first attempt at guacamole!

All of the food preparation took about an hour, and I absolutely loved doing it. It's been a while since I have tried a new recipe, and this one was fairly easy, fun, and delicious (at least, I thought so, and Dylan is too nice to say otherwise). We had a very nice picnic on the Capitol lawn, managing to stay somewhat cool in the middle of a warm Texas afternoon. Dylan even got to cross feeding a squirrel off of his bucket list. Austin squirrels are probably the funniest animals you will ever see - they are fearless, yet very friendly.

I ended my day on one of my favorite notes - a sunset walk on Town Lake. I attended my favorite Austin spin class earlier that afternoon, but it was too perfect of a night to pass up, plus, all of my roommates were out and about, so a walk seemed like the perfect way to kill  some time before they got home. I sure am thankful that I get to live here, enjoying views like this daily.

And now I'm back at work after a wonderful day off. Have a great Thursday, and Go Spurs Go!