Things I'm Loving Friday L

Happy FRIDAY! Can you believe there are only TWO days until Christmas (if you celebrate Christmas, that is)? And if you celebrate Hanukkah, it's even closer. Time is absolutely flying, and I'll admit that while I don't have all of my Christmas shopping done yet, and I certainly don't have all my wrapping (aka stick the present in a Christmas bag and add some decorative tissue paper) and card-writing done, I'm almost there. And I plan on getting it totally finished today. I did some major gift-giving last week when I was delivering baked goods to all my teacher friends, and baking out the wazoo for my students because that's the deal I have with them -- every semester when final exams roll around, I'll reward their hard work with baked goods. They particularly enjoyed the slutty brownies.

But as much as I enjoyed baking for my students, I have more than enjoyed this break. I am batting 1,000 when it comes to naps, and I have already finished reading four books. I've caught up with friends, I've run quite a few miles, and I have spent some quality time with my precious pup. And now, it's time for another round of Things I'm Loving Friday.

Daring Greatly
I read Brené Brown's Rising Strong this past summer, and I have listened to a few of her TED talks, and I fell in love with her outlook and perspective on how we live our day-to-day lives. I was a little out of order, but I picked up Daring Greatly at Brazos Bookstore while doing some birthday shopping for my dad, and I finished it three days. Embracing vulnerability is what this one is all about, and she talks a lot about the difference between guilt and shame. I found so many points that are applicable in the classroom, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to live a wholehearted life.

Chocolate Pretzel Bites
If you're looking for an easy, last-minute, aesthetically pleasing and also tasty treat to bring to your family Christmas, look no further than these chocolate pretzel bites. You'll probably spend more time arranging the pretzels and unwrapping the Hershey's Kisses than you will putting on the M&M finishing touch. All you need are a bag of window pane pretzels, Hershey's Kisses (or Hugs or holiday-themed Kisses), and holiday-themed M&M's. The beauty of this dessert is that it's customizable to any holiday. You unwrap a Hershey's Kiss, place it on top of the pretzel, and stick it in the oven heated to 350 degrees for two to three minutes, or until the Kisses begin to melt. As soon as you take them out of the oven, press down with an M&M so that the chocolate covers the pretzel. And that's it! They make a nice appearance, and you can make a lot of them in a small amount of time. And the best part is, all there is to clean up are the Hershey's Kisses wrappers. I'll take it. 

Anthropologie Golden Monogram Mug
I was (secretly) super bummed last semester when a student reached over my desk and accidentally shattered my golden "K" mug. It wasn't that it was worth a lot of money -- I got it for only $8, but I knew that because it was limited edition, I wouldn't be able to replace it. I don't drink coffee or tea, but I like to use mugs to hold my various pens, pencils, and 

highlighters, which is why it sat on my desk at school. So when I saw the email from Anthropologie that announced the return of these limited editions mugs, I jumped right on it and got myself a new one. TBD if I am going to bring it to school with me.

Josh Groban's 'O Holy Night'
Hands down my favorite Christmas song of all time. There were days when I listened to this song on repeat the entire drive to school. His voice is magical, and it's somewhat fitting that my favorite line of the entire song is "a thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices." I think we can all agree that 2016 has left us a little weary, and we'll take any ounce of hope that we can get going into 2017.

Cherry Glacier Gatorade Frost
I was never a big Gatorade drinker growing up. I really only started drinking it within these last couple of years because I'm the world's saltiest sweater, and I needed something to replenish the electrolytes I was losing while running. And I was always really grateful that yellow Gatorade is what is on the majority of race courses, because I thought that was the only flavor I liked. Rewind to a few months ago when the JV girls gave the freshmen girls a "Beat Lamar" basket, and in it was this Cherry Glacier Gatorade Frost. I put it in my refrigerator, not giving it a second thought until I came home from an exceptionally tough Sunday run and this was the only thing in the fridge. It was love at first gulp, and now it's my go-to flavor when stocking up on Gatorade. It sure has come in handy in these 70-degree December temps.

Define: Bounce

So, my last post saw me mentioning that I was hoping to do something this Christmas break besides just run, and though I have mainly stuck to running and walking my dog, I decided to give the Define studio just a ten-minute walk away a chance. The first class is free, and I wanted something that would be both low-impact - my shins have taken a beating - and fun. I contemplated taking a Body Pump class, but I knew that would leave me feeling so sore that my Thursday tempo run would suffer. I checked the Define website, and saw that there was a bounce class happening Wednesday morning, and for those of you who know me, you know that I love a good trampoline session. I was a little nervous when I got to the studio and I was told that this class was all about staying with the rhythm of the music because I've got very little rhythm. I ended up absolutely loving the class - the 45 minutes absolutely flew by, and my entire body got a workout. It may be low-impact, but it's seriously high in intensity, and FUN!

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The Stretch Factor
The only downside I see to this place is that it's a little bit of a drive for me, as it is located in Katy, Texas. It's easy enough for me to hop on the Westpark Tollway all the way there, and it's also an excuse for me to stop by my parents' house, as they live smack dab in the middle. This place, which just recently opened its doors, was introduced to me by a teacher at school. He's the same one who is kicking my butt with this running plan he has me on, but he promised me that this place is the real deal. And after just my introductory session, I was hooked. I practically floated off the table. Seriously. I'm notoriously bad about stretching, and I definitely don't place enough emphasis on it even though I know I should. The Stretch Factor is 30 minutes (or an hour) of personalized stretching that I could absolutely not achieve on my own. They focus on your individual needs as an athlete and a human being, and target areas that will help you to maximize your performance and get the most out of your life. I've chatted with both Ryan S. and Ryan T., and they have been nothing but helpful and knowledgeable. Because I am running with more focus and more intensity, I see this as another step in the run and recovery process. Anyone can benefit from a visit to The Stretch Factor, so take advantage of that free 30-minute consultation!

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And on that note, I'm off to get some stuff done around the apartment. It's a wet morning here in Houston, so it's perfect for crossing a few things off the to-do list. Have a great one!

Sunday Fitness Survey

Happy Sunday! I know this post is coming at you late, but because I didn't have to spend my Sunday grading papers, planning for the upcoming week, or prepping food, I spent it doing some Christmas shopping in the Village, and lounging on my couch finishing book number three of the week. This is the first time I've opened my computer since recording grades on Friday morning, so I'm feeling pretty good. But it is Sunday, and I did make a promise to keep up with my weekly survey post, and I'm going to stick to that promise. Especially since I fully intended to do a Things I'm Loving Friday post, and then opted for the two-hour post-first semester nap. What can I say?

All grades are DONE!

1. What’s your favorite type of exercise?

Running. With the training plan I’m on, that’s really the only exercise I have time to do. And it has always been my favorite type of exercise, but I’m hoping to squeeze in a couple of Body Pump classes and leisurely neighborhood bike rides over this two-week holiday break.

2. What’s your biggest personal exercise pet peeve?

I’m going to go ahead and copy what the person before me wrote and say when my ponytail comes loose. I used to wear my hair in a bun when I did any type of exercise because I hated the feeling of my sweaty hair touching my neck. But lately I’ll get maybe half a mile into a run and I’m having to stop and fix my hair because it has come loose. I have since fixed the problem by quickly pulling my hair back into a French braid, but there is no time for hair to be an obstacle.

 

Almost always with a headband

3. What’s your biggest gym pet peeve?

People who use the equipment so blatantly incorrectly. And I most definitely don’t know how to use every piece of equipment in the gym, but I am pretty good about observing other people and/or looking things up so that I don’t embarrass and/or injure myself. I think this incorrect use is most common when two people are working out together, and the conversation is more important than the workout. Which is fine. But there’s likely a coffee shop in the area.

4. How many days a week do you workout?

I run five days a week. I guess I theoretically could do something those other two days, but I walk my dog multiple times a day, and I typically use those two days to see friends or catch up on any grading on which I may have fallen behind. Besides, after a tough speed or tempo run, my body craves a bit of a break.

5. What’s one exercise you love to hate?

Burpees and jumping lunges. I haven’t done either of those exercises in forever, but man, they absolutely kill me. But in the best way.

6. What is one form of exercise you wish you loved but don’t?

Yoga. I know it would benefit me to get into a good stretching regimen, but one, I can’t ever seem to get the breathing down, and two, I am always so self-conscious about how absolutely inflexible I am. Which is probably a pride thing. But I think the fact that I’m so bad at yoga actually adds stress as opposed to relieving it. Plus, I like to sweat when I workout.

7. Do you prefer to workout alone, with a friend, or in a group?

When it comes to running, alone. I can’t carry on a conversation when I run, and I use my runs as my (much-needed) “me” time. That being said, I L O V E group exercise classes. I still miss my high school gym and Felipe’s killer classes. Felipe had me doing exercises that I most definitely wouldn’t do on my own. Same with Body Pump. I love the idea of weight training, but doing it in a group that is led by someone who has a routine down pat makes it so much more enjoyable.

8. Do you match your workout clothing to your shoes?

… No. Though I do love buying athletic shoes.

9. What’s your biggest fitness triumph?

Man, before I started this running training program that I’m currently on, I would have definitely said completing the Chevron Houston Marathon. But I think being able to stick to this training plan and be able to physically track the progress I have made. When I first started, at the end of July, I would shudder at the thought of an 8:00 min/mile pace. Now I’m frustrated when I run a mile above an 8:00 min/mile pace. And I still have my not-so-great days, but it’s moreso what I’ve accomplished mentally. I’ve proved to myself that physically, I can do it. So when I’m told to run four miles at a sub-7:15 min/mile pace, I know that I can do it. And as not exciting as this may sound, running a 7:02 min/mile pace at the Bellaire 5K in November was a huge bump to my confidence.

10. What’s one of your fitness goals this year?

Because the year is almost over, I’m going to go with my first big goal of 2017, and that is running the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in under 1:45. Does putting it in writing make it real?

2015 Goals

And with that, I’m off to open up another book and call it an early night. I’m hoping to get all of my Christmas shopping and card-writing DONE before Wednesday, so here’s to making the beginning of this week a productive one. Have a great one!

1000 Rep (+ a few) Workout

Hello, hello! Happy Thursday! Whew! This week has gone by quickly. Yet, the days have been long. Good, but long. And though my time was short, I still managed to feel as though I crossed (almost) everything off of my list. Grades were due on Tuesday, so I should have a bit of a break, right? Wrong. I'm still drowning in a pile of grades, but I remember feeling that way last year, too. I want to start off taking everything for a grade, so that my students take everything seriously. As the year goes on, I will lighten my own load, but they're still getting used to my feedback and my expectations. So, I'm not complaining too much. Besides, they're still making me laugh. And they're making me proud.

"People think about Houston when they say America." I like it.

After reading "How the Lottery Can Ruin Your Life"

Anyway, I wanted to pop in and share a quick workout with you guys, as I flip between the Texans game and the Astros game. Crush City, baby! The Astros are back in the postseason for the first time in 10 years. In fact, the last time we were in the postseason (and the World Series!), I was in the 8th grade. And now I'm teaching 9th graders. Crazy! I digress. The other night, a delayed volleyball game and a closed pool left me at a loss for what to do to get my sweat on. I was far too sore from Saturday's volleyball tournament and Sunday's long run (honestly, mostly the volleyball tournament) to go for a run. The pool was closed, so I turned to Pinterest to provide me with a quality strength and cardio combination workout. The 1000 rep workout is tough, but the fact that you do 50 reps and then you're done with that exercise prevents me from getting bored. And motivates me to push through. Because once I hit 50, or the timer hits 50 seconds, I never have to see that exercise again. Until next time, anyway. This workout left me nice and sweaty, and also a lot little bit sore. I finally ran out the soreness this evening, but, without further ado, here is my 1000 rep (+ a few to round out the night) workout.

And that's all I've got. Tomorrow is FRIDAY and I'm pretty pumped about it. I've got a relaxing, yet fun, weekend ahead of me, and you better believe I'll be cheering on my Longhorns!

1000 Rep Workout

Hey hey hey! How's it going? I'm surviving week one, so I'm going to go ahead and say that things are pretty darn good over here on my end. You can't ask for much more than that when you're talking about the first week of school. Even if you have to Uber to school on occasion, but that's a story for another time. It probably doesn't help that I started out the school year feeling sleep deprived, but that's just the nature of juggling teaching with volleyball season. And trying to maintain some semblance of a life. I'm struggling a little bit on that last one, but I'm doing things here and there, I promise! When you realize you spend more time around 15-year-olds (and 50-year-olds, just being honest) than you do people your own age, it's time to put down the red pen and get out of the house.

And while I don't have long to chat, I do have a great workout to share with you guys. It's nothing new, as there are so many versions of this workout out there - variations that focus on the upper body or the lower body, variations that work the whole body, etc. My workout contains cardio, upper body work, and lower body work, and it probably took me about 35 minutes to complete. I finished my 1000 reps with 10 minutes on the elliptical, simply because I had that 10 minutes, but this workout alone is more than enough to get you going in the morning.

I think all of these exercises are ones that you recognize, but let me just tell you that the squat jumps, pushups, and chest press absolutely did me dirty. And I'll give you guys a laugh when I tell you that I actually contemplated doing 50 burpees instead of 50 seconds of burpees. I promise you that 20+ was more than enough. The reverse crunch is just what it sounds like. Instead of raising your shoulders off the ground, you keep your shoulders on the ground and raise your hips off the ground.

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It's a toughie, but a goodie. And the possibilities truly are endless when it comes to this workout. And the best part is, once the 50 reps are over, you don't have to do that exercise again. And sometimes that's all the motivation you need.

Catch y'all later, but don't hold me to that one!

Healthy Living Habits

Hello! I hope y'all are having a most fabulous Tuesday. I'm just popping in for a long-overdue post. I was approached by Petro at ETB Fit with the request to write about some of my healthy living habits. While I am by no means an expert on anything that I am about to write, I simply know what works for me. I know there are so many people out there who know the science and the reasoning behind living a healthy and balanced lifestyle and I'm grateful for the articles that those people put out there for the public to read and learn from. But I have been interested in health and fitness for quite some time, and I've found what has and hasn't worked for me, and I would love to share it with you guys.

Fueling a Workout

Hydration

If you're anything like me, you have woken up with achy legs that are begging you to do anything but get out of bed at this early hour and exercise. Or maybe you've been in the middle of a workout and started feeling light-headed and weak and there’s no way you can perform your best if you’re feeling like that. And hydration isn’t just important when you’re exercising. It affects the entirety of your day. Especially now that we’re in the dog days of summer, but I’m conscious of this every day, I keep a refillable water bottle on me at all times. I try to drink a bottle each hour, especially on the days when I know I am going to sweat a lot. That doesn't always happen, but the reusable bottle makes it so easy to get my recommended daily water intake. And hydration also comes from eating water-rich foods, such as watermelon, grapefruit, cucumbers, berries, and carrots, among other things.

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Carbs

I’m guilty of restricting carbs in the past, and I have many friends who do the same. Suddenly your pants start fitting a little tighter, so your knee-jerk reaction is to cut out any and all carbohydrates, thinking that’s the solution to all of your weight loss problems. And it’s really not your fault that you feel that way, because that’s what so many diets and articles tell us. But I find carbs to be such an important part of my healthy living regimen. No, I don't need to have a pasta party the night before every run, but carbs are a great source of energy. It's the glucose that gets converted into energy, fueling the brain and the body. Oats (cooked are my favorite!), whole wheat pasta, sweet potatoes, wild rice (for when you're feeling wild), and bananas are some of my recommendations, but whole grain pancakes, whole grain cereal, and peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread are some more good pre- and post-workout options.

Working Out on an Empty Stomach

DON'T DO IT! I say this, but I'll admit that I'm sometimes guilty of it. When you're waking up in the four o'clock hour to squeeze in a workout before school, food just doesn't sound that appealing. So only if I'm working out in the four and five o'clock hours do I skip the fuel. Otherwise, I try not to exercise without something in my system. Not that I want a heavy Mexican meal in my stomach, but there are a few things that I swear by. Just before a workout (maybe 20-30 minutes before) I'll often pop a couple of cuties into my mouth. They're easy to eat, easy to eat while driving to the gym, and they are a simple carb that operates as a quick energy source, and they are also chock-full of electrolytes. Or maybe I'm feeling banana slices and peanut butter, though I usually save this snack for race day. Luna minis are my recent favorite, as they don't weigh me down as much as an entire Luna bar would, yet they are a great source of iron, calcium, and protein. And it tastes like you're eating a candy bar. And of course, I often love to scarf down one or two of my banana-oatmeal-almond butter muffins. Full of good carbs, nuts, and just enough sugar. Just don't eat too many of them!

Post-Workout
I've been told that it's best to eat within 30 minutes of working out. I'll admit that I'm not always the best about following that, as sometimes a shower and getting ready for the next item on my list takes precedence, but I do try and eat at least a little something to keep from feeling faint and light-headed later on. Yogurt and granola, or granola and almond milk is my most-recent post-workout favorite. But not the sugar-laden, store-bought granola. I prefer to make my own. I promise it's not hard, and I love that I'm in control of the ingredients going into it. A big, juicy apple with a tablespoon or two of peanut butter is another one of my post-workout go-to's, as pairing fruit with protein is always a good idea. A turkey sandwich on whole-grain or whole wheat bread is another tasty option, and you can add as many veggies as you want. Just be sure and skip the mayo. And while I can't actually drink it, chocolate milk is an excellent post-workout recovery drink. But I can drink smoothies. And I'm pretty fond of them, especially when a few greens have been snuck in.

Working Out

Mix Things Up
This one is tough for me. If I had it my way, I would just run and run and run. Nothing else. Except maybe the occasional, leisurely bike ride. But I learned firsthand what too much mileage does to you. And I'd rather not have to take that recovery procedure again. So I make a very conscious effort to mix up my workouts. A run one day, a swim the next, a strength class the next, and I'll also be sure and throw in some sprint and hill workouts, among a spin class or two. And you can't forget about rollerblading. And the beauty of all that I just listed is that it's not even close to all of the exercise options out there. Playing a sport, taking a TRX class, and even walking, are more great options. The point I'm trying to make is that it's important to mix things up. Not only do different workouts and exercises work different muscles, but they challenge us in a way that doing the exact same workout gets monotonous. It means we're getting stronger, but don't we want to continue to get stronger? Mixing things up will prevent you from hitting a plateau, and most of all, it will prevent boredom. One of the biggest reasons I see people not exercising is because "it's not fun." I promise you there's something out there that you will like. And I never tell a lie.

Paddleboarding is an excellent workout - arms and core, baby!

Strength Training
Can I take a minute and harp on the importance of strength training? I used to be a cardio queen, and I still am, to some degree. Melissa, my freshman year roommate, nicknamed me Krazy Kardio Kelli, because given the choice, I would always choose cardio over weights. I didn't feel like it was "doing anything," and that cardio was the best way to burn calories. Not true. Strength training aids in the muscle-toning process, helps you to get stronger, helps maintain weight loss, protects bone health and muscle mass, and calories are burned during and after. Ladies, it won't bulk you up, as I know that's a common concern, and I urge you not to be intimidated by those male muscle builders next to you. Strength and resistance training is an important part of any fitness routine - male or female - and I guarantee you will reap the benefits in more ways than one.

REST
This one is even tougher for me than mixing things up. I feel like taking a day or two off from exercising will cause me to gain ten pounds. Irrational, but it's a true story. Except it's not true of our bodies at all. In fact, our bodies crave and need rest. It gives our muscles time to heal, rebuild, and recuperate. If you don't incorporate rest days into your workout regimen, you run a greater risk of injury, especially if the exercise you do is of the high-impact variety. Trust me, your body will thank you for giving it a little bit of time to rest. And taking a day off doesn't mean sitting on the couch all day, watching a Harry Potter marathon and binge-eating tortilla chips. Take a leisurely walk around your neighborhood. Try paddleboarding out for size. Give yoga a shot. Just don't go all-out every single day. Take a day or two off so that you can give maximum effort the next day. Just give your body some love. I speak from my own experience, because I've certainly beat mine down before.

Or else you'll be sporting KT Tape (though it does come in fun colors)

Extras

Sleep

This one is big for me. I have always, always, always been conscious of how much sleep I'm getting. I know first-hand what doing too much on too little sleep does to you, and while it may seem like you're surviving on sleep at the time, all it leads to is getting run-down and sick and more susceptible to injuries,and then you lose so much of the hard work that you have already put in. There are busy seasons in life. I get it. Trust me. I'm about to enter into mine. But also trust me when I say that your work will still be there in the morning. My papers aren't going anywhere. And in order to do a more effective job, sleep is essential. Seven to eight hours is what I aim for every night, and I also try (try being the operative word here) and go to bed at a reasonable hour each night. 

Taking after my girls

Music
This one may seem less important than the other items on this list, but I promise it will make a huge difference in your workout. I honestly think a good workout playlist is the difference between a good workout and a great workout. There are just those songs that put a little bit of extra pep in your step. Right now I'm loving Cheerleader (it's okay, go ahead and judge me), Shut Up and Dance, Geronimo, Fight Song, Time of Our Lives, Ridin' Solo (talk about a throwback), and What's My Age Again (blink182 is always relevant), but I've got about 100 songs that I listen to while running, biking, and strength training. I prefer Spotify, but iTunes will give you Taylor Swift, many people choose Pandora, and I'm willing to bet there are plenty of budget-friendly music apps out there. And while I personally don't enjoy running with an armband, it's worth it to be hands-free.

I'm very grateful that Petro reached out to me, because I had a great time thinking about and examining my own healthy living habits. What do I eat pre- and post-workout, and what would improve the quality of not only my workouts, but what I do before and after? I invite you guys to check out EBT Fit's products, as they really pride themselves on offering some of the market's cleanest and best pre-workout fuel available. If you're a female looking to get toned or gain some pre-workout energy, there's something for you. If you're a male looking to muscle up or to rebuild some of those muscles, there's something for you, too. I encourage you to check out their website not only for their products, but for their healthy yet indulgent-tasting recipes as well. And before signing off, I want to reiterate that I am in not a personal trainer, a registered dietician, or even someone who knows all of the science behind exercise and healthy eating. But I know what has and hasn't worked for me, and that is what I want to share with you all.

30-Minute Circuit Workout

Hello, hello! Have I got a workout to share with you guys today! But we'll get to that in a minute. I can't let this post go by without addressing yesterday's National Running Day. I celebrated accordingly, of course, by going on a nice 5.6-mile run around my neighborhood. Temperatures have been climbing high here in Texas, but you won't hear one word of complaint out of me. Temperatures in the 90s beat endless rain any day of the week. And I did it to myself by choosing to go out there in the heat of the day. New tanlines, right? For a accurate and concise explanation of Why I Run (and why many others run), please read this article.

After my run, I grabbed my Menchie's coupon (thanks, Bellaire, for all of the coupons and gift cards) and headed over to Bellaire. It had been a while since I'd been over there, so I had to make sure I still knew my way. Anyway, what is fitness without fro-yo, right? It had been a while since I had treated myself to some frozen yogurt, and yesterday seemed as good a day as any to hit up the Bellaire Menchie's for a combination of chocolate sorbet and original tart topped with strawberries, blackberries, coconut flakes, and a sprinkling of chocolate sprinkles. The best post-run treat.

And continuing on with the fitness trend, let's talk circuit workouts. I ran on both Tuesday and Wednesday, so I wanted to switch things up a bit today. I contemplated attending one of Felipe's Muscle Blast classes, but I didn't wake up in time to attend the 7am class, and I didn't feel like waiting all day for the 5pm class. So, I made my own. Though Felipe's class will always be harder. Anyway, I created a workout that consisted of six rounds, five exercises apiece. I planned on completing each exercise for one minute before moving onto the next one. As you can see, the rounds on the top row very closely resemble the second row, but there's enough of a change to give it a little bit of variety and to prevent the rounds from being repetitive. The minutes passed quickly, and I was nice and sweaty by the end of the half hour.

I will comment on a couple of things before I sign off - I did not last the full minute on the jumping lunges. Jumping lunges have always been difficult for me, so I completed 26 total jumping lunges (13 on each leg) and did reverse lunges to close out the minute. And on the stairs, the (one) means I took the stairs one at a time, and the (two) means taking them two at a time - I'm always up for some added hip stability work.

And on an unrelated-to-fitness note, I used Canva to create the above image, and I am officially obsessed. Get ready to see a lot more of them on the blog!

Twenty Minute Express Workout

Happy Monday! And happy first day of June! Today I am feeling extra grateful because, one, HISD seems to be the only school district that is out for summer, and two, today feels like the first real day of summer, as Saturday and Sunday were spent over at Rice University playing student. Though juggling two weeks of preseason volleyball with two weeks of inservice was one of the more stressful couple of weeks, it's worth it to get out of school before it hits June. Besides, I'm already at school for practice anyway, so I might as well just make it an all-day affair, right? And though it was a struggle for me to sit still for as many hours as I did, I truly enjoyed my time at the Art of Coaching Volleyball Houston clinic.

And segwaying off of that, I've got a workout to share with you guys. I didn't leave Rice until about 5:00pm on Saturday evening. And I won't even talk about the ten minutes I spent sprinting through another one of Houston's torrential downpours. But after sitting in the same spot nearly all day, I knew I wanted to get some sort of physical activity in. But I was pretty worn out after an all-day session. Which is beyond me, because the only thing that moved was my hand when I was taking notes, but I digress. After heading home to change into dry clothes, I headed up the road to the MAC to get in a quick circuit workout. Twenty minutes is all I needed to get in a little bit of everything - cardio, core work, upper body, and lower body. I simply completed each exercise for one minute, and I did four rounds of the circuit. You could increase the number of rounds for a longer workout, you could change up the exercises to focus more or less on one area, and really, you can make this workout your own. I certainly felt it the next day, and this could be a workout that you do when you're pressed for time, but want to squeeze in some form of physical activity. It also makes for a nice travel workout, and you could easily change up the exercises so that no equipment is needed. Burpees for the jump rope, tricep dips for the bicep curls - the possibilities are endless.

And that's all I've got! I'm off to make these first couple weeks of summer productive ones. Here's to not getting lazy and spending much of my days on the couch. Have a great one!

Bootcamp

We have made it over the hump! Hallelujah! Just seven more school days to spring break, though I can't get too excited about that one, yet. It is officially crunch time, and my to-do list seems to be getting longer and longer each day. We have just 12 (!!!) school days until STAAR, and I tried to instill some fear in my kiddos by writing this on the board - today was 13 - but I think I only instilled fear in myself.

Going over the calendar made it all very, very real. That ready or not (and trust me, some of my students are certainly not ready), the STAAR test is coming. I'm going to offer a STAAR Bootcamp these next two weeks during lunch tutorials, in the hopes that some of my students will soak up some extra test-taking strategies. If nothing else, my hope is that they will become more comfortable with the format of the test, because it is no easy feat. While STAAR is looking more and more like TAKS every day, I more than remember being exhausted after sitting in a room for five hours just reading and writing and reading and writing. And then when you finish you get to read some more! I say this like I didn't love TAKS week, but now that I'm on the other side of it, I'm realizing just how silly it all really is.

But I won't even get into that right now. Let's talk exercise! Because I'm still not running (ugh, it's killing me), I decided to stay after school and attend a 4:30pm bootcamp class at the 24 Hour Fitness right by school. I have attended this bootcamp before, but it has certainly been a while, as evidenced by one attendee who said, "I don't recognize you. You must be new." Hey, I think I held my own! That being said, today's workout was tough. I was absolutely drenched in sweat by the time the clock hit 5:30pm, and again, I don't want to compromise the instructor and his class by sharing what the entire class looked like, but I'll share a couple of my favorite exercises with you guys.

We started out the class with some jump rope - 1 minute, 2 minutes, and 2 minutes. That got my heartrate up quick! We then did four rounds of a circuit that included six different exercises. We only did 10 reps of each exercise, but that was enough. Trust me. I thought when I graduated from high school (and volleyball), I had graduated from burpees. Nope. They follow me everywhere I go. But these burpees looked a little bit different. They go by the name of Lateral Burpees, in which a bar was placed on the ground, jumped over twice laterally, and then completed a burpee. I think this move is very crossfit-esque, but whew, it got me good. And you could easily make it harder by building a higher step, but honestly, it's hard enough as is.

(Source)

And I was surprised by how difficult this exercise was for me. I consider myself to have a fairly strong core, but I will admit that I have neglected targeted core work in favor of running, running, running. So these also got me good. The only piece of equipment needed? Two pieces of felt. I got in push-up position, with one piece of felt under each shoe. I completed two mountain climbers before getting down in plank position (on my elbows) and brought my knees to my chest (at the same time), twice. I then reverted back to push-up position and completed that sequence ten times. Okay, I took a couple of breaks. But don't knock it 'til you try it because it's much harder than it sounds.

It looked like this, though we were on our elbows (Source)

After bootcamp I headed back over to school, because sitting in 5:30pm Houston traffic is one thing that is not on my to-do list. I blasted some music, spread out my papers, and made myself comfortable as I cranked out grades and comments for the expository essays my kids wrote on Tuesday. It was my goal to get them finished as soon as possible, so that I can get them back to my kids and actually talk about them and see what last-minute improvements they can make to help make that jump from the 1/2 range to the 3/4 range. My cart is overflowing, my folders are stuffed to the brim, and I am counting down the days until I can chunk all things expository- and short answer-related.

And normally I don't use an actual red pen

But until that day comes, I will probably be seeing some later hours of the night, my kids will probably be seeing more of the Kelli bun, and some of them will likely be seeing more of their principal's office. Though today a student asked me, "Do you really think the threat of going to my principal is going to make me behave?" Excuse me? If a teacher ever even uttered the words "principal's office" to me (spoiler alert: this never happened), I would have started crying in the middle of class. I would have apologized profusely, and I probably would have brought him or her Starbucks every day for the rest of my life. My oh my, how times have changed!

I hope your Wednesday has been just wonderful. Stay warm, because this arctic freeze is coming!

Four Facts Survey

Happy Wednesday! Thanskgiving Eve, and we could not have asked for a more beautiful day here in Houston. Sunshine and temperatures in the low 70s, and I could not be happier. Especially after sharing a delicious breakfast with Dylan this morning at The Egg and I. Delicious though it was, our time at the restaurant was one little mistake after another. We decided to cut them a break, as it was relatively busy while we were there. And even if we were forgotten about in our little secluded corner of the restaurant, nothing can beat cleaning my plate with him. Seriously. Every time we go out to eat we both have absolutely nothing left on our plates at the end of the meal.

Anyway, because I don’t have much more to report, I saw this survey posted on Julie’s blog over at Peanut Butter Fingers and though it’s not Sunday, and I’m fairly sure that I’ve filled this out before, I decided to complete this Four Facts Survey. I doubt my answers will be the same, and if they are, it’s fun to see that some things stay constant amidst change.

Four names that people call me other than my real name:

1. Kel

2. KT

3. KTom

4. Kelli Kat

Four jobs I’ve had:

1. Teacher

2. Volleyball coach

3. Resident Assistant

4. Volleyball scorekeeper

7/9 of the '11-'12 RA's

Four movies I’ve watched more than once:

1. She’s the Man

2. Remember the Titans

3. The Breakfast Club

4. Harry Potter (for some reason these movies are always better when it’s Harry Potter Weekend)

Four books I’d recommend:

1. Redeeming Love

2. Harry Potter (the entire series)

3. Catcher in the Rye

4. East of Eden

(And so many more, but I'm trying to stick to what the survey calls for)

Four places I’ve lived

1. Houston, TX

2. Austin, TX

3. Barcelona, Spain

4. Bellaire High School (I kid, but during volleyball season I did spend more time at school than at home)

Miss that skyline on the reg

Four places I’ve visited (and want to revisit):

1. Maui, Hawaii

2. London, England

3. San Francisco, California

4. Telluride, Colorado

Four places I’d like to visit:

1. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

2. Interlaken, Switzerland (I’m dying to go canyon jumping!)

3. Alaska

4. Maine

Four things I prefer not to eat:

1. Cheese & Milk

2. Avocado (I love guacamole, but I’m not a huge avocado fan)

3. Applesauce (it’s a texture thing)

4. Mayonnaise

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Frozen yogurt

2. Salmon

3. Dark chocolate

4. Honeycrisp apples

Four TV shows I watch:

1. Boy Meets World

2. Friday Night Lights

3. Dancing With the Stars

4. Family Feud (guilty pleasure)

Four things I’m looking forward to this year:

1. Friendswood Friendsgiving

2. Dylan’s 22^nd birthday!

3. Christmas break, and Christmas-time in general

4. Wilchester mini-reunion

My first Friendswood Friendsgiving

Two girls I can't wait to catch up with!

Four stores I frequent:

1. Anthropologie

2. Target

3. Paper Source

4. Barnes and Noble (I heart books)

Four forms of exercise I enjoy:

1. Running

2. Swimming

3. Rollerblading

4. Walking

And on that note, I’m off to go enjoy the beautiful weather, and maybe get a head start on some of the schoolwork I need to accomplish this week. I always say that I’m going to finish it early so that I can enjoy the majority of the break, and then Sunday comes and I’m complaining about all of the work that I still have left to do. So, hopefully the next time I check in with you guys, I’ve accomplished much of what I want to accomplish! Have a great rest of your day, and I will be back tomorrow with a Thanksgiving post.