Peace

Happy Monday! I'd venture to say that this is a happier Monday than usual, seeing as I woke up about two hours later than I usually do on Monday mornings. And I had one great weekend. From spending the majority of Saturday at the rodeo with my friends to turning around on Sunday and having some fun in the sun, if you will, I don't think spring break could have started on a better note.

I left you guys just before brunch with Amira, and guys, I am obsessed with Tout Suite. Not only was the food incredible - I'll get to that in a minute - but the ambiance was just the cutest. When I heard that it was "hipster," I didn't think much of it, because after living in Austin, I know hipster. And Houston isn't it. But this place is hipster. Starting with its location and outside appearance. It's just off the freeway, in what appears to be an old, abandoned warehouse. I personally was just thrilled to see that it had a parking lot, because that's not something you typically see in downtown Houston. And when we walked inside, I was immediately enamored with the place. It just screamed, "cool." It actually used to be a Ford dealership, a motor oil shop, a nightclub, and now it's a cafe. And it still has the original floor from 1904. Hipster.

The chalkboard walls, subway tile, hanging clipboard menus, succulents, and fun light structures all really appealed to me, and they all worked together to give the place a very homey, rustic, and chic feel, as though anyone and everyone from any walk of life is welcome there. It reminded me of Pinterest, and you guys know I love Pinterest. And the seating was plentiful, which, again, is not something I was expecting on a Sunday morning at a hot Houston brunch spot. Amira and I had absolutely no trouble finding a table.

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And the food. I had a hard time deciding between the quiche and the avocado toast, but eventually ended up going for the avocado toast. And I did not regret that decision. It would probably be pretty easy to recreate, as it's just avocado, honey, and cracked pepper on sourdough, but oh, it was absolutely delicious. I had no trouble finishing off every last bite. The pepper gave it a little bit of spice, but I was a huge fan.

And though I'm not typically a tea person, I'm trying to ease myself into drinking it on a regular basis, so I ordered a cup of peppermint tea. Though I didn't finish the whole cup, I really enjoyed it. It complimented my toast nicely, and it warmed me up on what started out to be a gray and chilly day. And for those of you who are coffee drinkers, I hear the coffee is to-die for. So there's one more reason for you to check this place out.

Finally, we didn't try anything from the bakery, as it was only about 11:30am, but everything was so beautifully presented. As the sister restaurant to SWEET in City Centre, I would expect nothing less. I will absolutely be returning, as it is worth the 20ish minute drive. This time I'm going to try lunch or dinner, and hopefully they have a vegan sweet treat option. Most places do, these days, so I'm fairly confident on that one. Overall, I give these place five stars. The brunch was very reasonably priced, and it seems as though everything else is, too. Don't be surprised if Tout Suite makes another blog appearance before the week is up!

After we had stuffed ourselves to the brim, we hopped back on the freeway, taking I-45 South all the way to Galveston. Well, actually, there was a wreck on 45 that made traffic move at the equivalent of a snail's pace, so we took a detour through Pearland and Friendswood as a means of avoiding the congestion. Once we hopped back onto I-45, it was smooth sailing. And, the sun came out, so we were convinced that it was meant to be.

We found a parking spot pretty easily along the Seawall - I didn't even have to parallel park - and I pulled out my bike while Amira traded her tennis shoes for blades. We biked and bladed along the Seawall, expertly weaving through people, for about half an hour to 45 minutes. The weather was seriously perfect, and the sea breeze felt incredible. I couldn't believe that I was in Galveston, as I kept commenting on how blue the water looked.

After our cardio session, we walked toward the pier to purchase tickets for Galveston Island's Historic Pleasure Pier amusement park. I had been to Pleasure Pier a few years prior, but because the weather was so bad, a majority of the rides were closed for the day. Fun fact for you, Pleasure Pier has more rides over water than any other theme park. We rode the swings, which is something I wish you all could have experienced. We flew high up into the air, and the view was incredible from up there. I didn't risk snapping a picture, but it was blue for miles and miles.

We rode the ferris wheel after that, and Amira and I both commented on how at peace we both felt up there, looking out into the water, feeling the sun tan our skin. She let the stress of her looming deadline go, and I haven't thought about school or STAAR in days. I felt as though I had not a care in the world, and I loved it. We all deserve days like that, and often. They're just so good for the soul.

And because we couldn't stay peaceful for long, we then boarded the Iron Shark, possibly the world's scariest roller coaster. Kidding, but you know those roller coasters that go straight up, and then more than straight down? That was the Iron Shark. It lasted maybe 30 seconds, but I was screaming my head off for that entire 30 seconds. I was talking to myself as we were ascending, saying, "It's almost over, it's almost over, it's almost over." I know, that's the very thing that I don't want to do in life, but roller coasters are a different story. I love the thrill, but I'm still scared silly.

So after one fun-filled, sun-filled day, we were ready to make our way back home. And I wish I could say that I was productive once I arrived home, but I watched a documentary until falling asleep. Another night with over nine hours of sleep. I could get used to this.

And that's all I've got for now. I'll pick back up tomorrow or Wednesday!

Cloudy Day Fun

Happy Monday! I hope if you are reading this that you had the day off from school or work and are looking forward to another day off tomorrow. If not, cheer up, Monday is OVER! My Monday started early and it was fantastic. I am really loving this break - it is much needed. It started with my alarm clock going off at 5:25am so I could hit the gym for a 6am spinning class. I am still wondering as to why I felt the need to take a spinning class at 6 o'clock in the morning, but hey, it got me up and moving! I thought the class was pretty tough, but then again, I haven't taken a spinning class in almost three months so of course I am going to think it's tough! I'll consider it a warm-up for Felipe's classes Wednesday morning! I then went upstairs to do a mini arm workout followed by 15 minutes of incline walking on the treadmill while reading The Hunger Games. I have to read it for one of my English classes - rough life, huh?

After breakfast, a shower, and a nap, I was ready to drive to Galveston with Gayle for some fun in the sun. Or in the clouds, but hey, we still had a great time and managed to get at least some color!

Galveston may not be as beautiful as St. Pete, but it gets the job done!

I was pretty tired when we returned and have basically been sitting in the same spot on the couch while my brother is enjoying front row seats at the rodeo. It's okay, I have some quality entertainment lined up for the night.

The Blockbuster near my house is going out of business and everything must go, so I stopped in to check out the $1.99 movies. Clearly I am channeling my inner middle schooler with these purchases. Hey, Mary Kate and Ashley movies never get old.

Now I am off to analyze fill out my March Madness bracket. Who are you rooting for? Obviously I am rooting for Texas, but Duke basketball has always had my heart. Go BlueDevils!

Tough decisions! Who will be the big upset this year?