2017 Goals

Guys, 2017 is TOMORROW! In case you haven't looked at a calendar lately. And I'm just like most people who like to look at a new year as a clean slate, and a chance to start fresh on some of the things we may not have done the previous year. I'm not big on resolutions - I'm not going to start doing yoga, I'm not going to suddenly have every part of my life together, and I'm not going to become a completely different me. But it's always good to want to be a better version of ourselves, and I figured my 2017 goals would not only make a good blog post, but that blogging about it would also hold me accountable. So, without further ado, here's what I hope to do more of in this new calendar year.

Floss my teeth
In 2015, I was a flossing machine. I flossed morning and night, and then about a week into 2016, I fell off the flossing train. So here's to getting back on it in 2017.

Write at least one blog post a week

I already know that this one is going to be the toughest goal to accomplish. Sometimes my weeks just get crazy busy, and when I get a moment of free time, the last thing I want to do is write. But I can definitely minimize the time spent taking BuzzFeed quizzes, because how important is it really to know what flavor PopTart I am - and dedicate that time to fitnessandfroyo.

Read at least 25 (new!) books

Re-reading the Harry Potter series for the 17th time does not count. I lost count of how many books I read in 2016, though I would venture to say that it was right around the 25 mark. Reading is so good for the soul, and I've got to make more time for it. And I will take any recommendations you guys have got!

Discover a new place

You guys know me, and you have to know that this one is already in the works! Instead of one big trip like I did this past summer, I have a couple of smaller trips that are slowly but surely coming together. At least, that's my plan at this very moment. It could be something completely different come tomorrow.

Church at the top of Tibidabo in Barcelona

Cozumel

Bariloche

Get outside my comfort zone in the classroom
This one will definitely come in the form of technology. I was having lunch with two of my closest friends just the other day, and we were talking about how, while we learned a lot and did well in high school, we didn't really get to try much outside of the standard curriculum. And technology certainly wasn't as prevalent. It was the pen and paper, teacher-at-the-front kind of thing, and that's what was most comfortable to me as I stepped into the teacher role. But these kids are 21st-century learners, and I'm working really hard to embrace that. And I'm lucky that I've got people around me who encourage me to step out of my comfort zone and take those risks.

Creating digital portfolios

Write at least one letter, postcard, encouraging note, etc. a week
This one is probably my favorite goal. There is not a lot that I love more than a handwritten letter or note. I promise you I keep every single one. So, whether it's sending a birthday card, writing a note of encouragement to a coworker, sending a postcard in the mail to a student's parents to brag on him/her, I hope to write at least one a week. It can be admittedly difficult to stay in touch with some of my out of town friends, so I'm hoping this will make that a little easier. Plus, it gives me an excuse to buy cute stationary.

Walk the halls at school without scrolling through my phone

This one seems so small and insignificant. But I hate it when I'm walking through the halls and someone says, "Hi, Ms. Tomlinson", and I look up, absolutely startled, because I've been catching up on my Twitter feed, or scrolling through Instagram. Or checking my email. From here on out, I'm going to be the one who says hi to a student or colleague when I see him or her, because I'm determined to not have my face buried in my phone.

Among other things, I hope to have more meaningful conversations and focus on people over my to-do list, 

don't reach for my cell phone when I'm out to dinner with family or friends, volunteer more, really try and stick to a budget (adult eye roll), be in the moment, keep my car organized, say no to things when I'm feeling overwhelmed, as opposed to just continuing my people-pleasing ways, focus on the positives and practice daily gratitude,

take more pictures, even if it annoys my friends, reach out to friends on a more regular basis, 

love extravagantly, practice patience, watch more sunrises and sunsets,

and don't sweat the small stuff. 2017 is my quarter-life crisis year, and I'm determined to "live a great story" and make it the best year yet. FEARLESS is my 2017 word, and I plan to wear it well.

Here's to all of us keeping our 2017 goals! And here's to a safe and fun New Year's Eve!

Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016

Hello, hello! And HAPPY 2016! I read a tweet today that said we are the same amount of time away from 2024 than we are from 2008, and I won't lie and say that it didn't stop me in my tracks for a second. In 2008, I was a junior in high school. And in 2024, I'm going to be on the edge of my 32nd year. So, there's that. But we won't get too ahead of ourselves, and we'll simply focus on the year ahead of us, shall we?

So, I'm not too big on New Year's Resolutions. Because you work really hard on them for all of two weeks, and then you get busy with other things, leave them in the dust, and come the end of the year, you're left feeling bad about all of the things you didn't do. Did I attend at least one yoga class a month? Nope. I sure didn't. But you know what? That's okay. It doesn't mean I'm a failure, rather, it means that I can always continue to improve. Which is why I'm going to present to you my list of 2016 goals. I am a very goal-oriented person (as I am sure you guys have figured out by now), and I like that goals are something I can continue to work on until I actually achieve them. Some of these are tangible goals, while others of these are more big picture items. And they can be achieved via many different means.

So, without further ado, I present to you guys my 2016 goals, with a short blurb about each:

• Keep my room organized
• I work so much better in a clean space.
• Make my bed each day
• Shout out to Admiral William McRaven for this one.
• Run 1,000 miles
• Thanks, Mr. Avis for never letting me rest on my running laurels. I'm never one to back down from a challenge. And on that note, be my friend on Daily Mile!

• Visit a new-to-me place
• This one's already starting to come together, and it's coming to the blog sooner rather than later. Let me just say that it's a good one!
• Cook a new-to-me dish
• All I have to check Pinterest for this one. Maybe I'll get creative and shy away from my usual meat and vegetables dish.
• Try a new-to-me exercise class
• The possibilities are literally endless for this one. I would love to take some sort of dance class, because I have taken exactly one dance class in my 23 years of life, but hey, we'll see what materializes. 
• Make stretching a priority
• Okay, so maybe I won't be a regular at Black Swan Yoga, but I can certainly be more conscious of how often I stretch and foam roll.
• Read 25 books
• I'm not sure exactly how many books I read this year - probably between 20 and 25 - but I want to make reading during the school year more of a priority.

• Write two letters a month
• It is no secret that I love handwritten notes and letters. Absolutely love them. So, I am going to make it a goal to put at least two letters per month in the mailbox. Because I know it will make that person's day.
• Keep a 2016 memory jar
• This is something I pinned YEARS ago. And this year, I'm actually going to do it. At the end of each day, I will take one slip of paper and write down one thing I want to remember about that day. And maybe some days it will be the fact that I made it to work. But I already can't wait to open up that jar on the eve of 2017.
• Learn how to and establish a budget
• I am not entirely sure how to begin with this one, but it's definitely something that needs to happen. Because impulse Anthropologie trips can't last forever. Here's to adulting.
• Choose joy
• This is probably my biggest goal. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Every day may not be great, but there is something great to be found in every day. And I want to harp on the good rather than the bad.

• Try 10 new Houston restaurants
• Instead of going to Hungry's every time my stomach growls, I'm going to make an attempt to go to at LEAST 10 new-to-me restaurants. Houston's restaurant scene is HOPPIN', and this foodie just can't be on the outside.

Mod Pizza

The Dunlavy

• Be less judgmental
• While I am not consciously judgmental of others, I most definitely am. Just because someone is different than I am, doesn't make that person wrong. At all. I really realized that this past year, and I'm continuing to realize it.
• Spend less time on social media
• Yeah, yeah. The usual. Much easier said than done. But if I added up how many hours I wasted on social media (58 weeks deep, anyone?), I would be ashamed of myself.
• Be grateful
• Too much of my time is spent complaining. And yes, there is a time and a place for letting off steam, but instead of complaining about how hot my classroom is, shouldn't I be grateful to even have a classroom? Yes. Yes I should.

• Do something I've never done before
• The possibilities are literally endless with this one, and hopefully I cross this one off more than once!
• Study Spanish
• Could this one possibly be related to "visit a new-to-me place"? Stay tuned!
• Get out of my comfort zone
• This introvert is perfectly happy sitting at home on her couch with a book, a blanket, and a beagle. And some nights, that's all I can handle. But then there are times when getting out of my comfort zone is a very good thing. This happened today, in fact. So, here's to learning to love the uncomfortable. Besides, isn't that where the growth happens?
• See 10 movies in theaters
• I'm horrible at seeing movies in theaters. HORRIBLE. I probably saw four movies in theaters this past year, and there were definitely more than four movies that I wanted to see. Sometimes, it's okay to treat yourself. And this year I'm going to do just that.
• Play more volleyball
• I'm excited about this one. And while I'm not entirely sure what this one will look like, I look so forward to playing more of my favorite sport.

• Live in the moment
• I'm pretty bad at this. And I often regret that. My Type A personality is to blame. So, instead of looking ahead to the next item on my list, I am going to focus on enjoying the exact moment I'm in.

• Join a small group
• One of the things I miss most about college is the community. And I've finally found a church that I really like here in Houston, so it's time to take that next step and get plugged in.

The Austin YoungLife community is something special

• Volunteer
• I've actually already taken the first steps to volunteer with an organization that is very near and dear to my heart. Let's hope I can get it off the ground within these next couple of weeks!
• Be kind
• This is another one of those big picture goals. I found myself with my foot in my mouth a few too many times this last year, so this year, I'm going to focus on being the "Kind Kelli" I always introduced myself as on the first day of school.

And you know I'll be documenting (as much as I can!) every step of the way. And with that, I'm off to walk the pup. It's been a cold, rainy start to the new year, but despite the actual weather outside, the new year is looking bright. Cheers!

Boston Dreaming

Remember when I thought things would slow down after the STAAR test? I'm not sure what I was on, but it seems as though things have picked up the pace. But that could be because finals are right around the corner, and I'm realizing just how much I have to do between now and then so that my students are adequately prepared to take it. Anyway, I am actually not going to talk about school in this post. What I meant by bringing that up is that I have been off my blogging game lately. It's getting harder and harder for me to squeeze in a weekday post, which is why I have yet to get back to you guys on the exciting fitnessandfroyo news I promised you in this post. So, let's first talk weather. The weather in Texas has been absolutely wonderful this week. I'm in full-on sandal mode these days, but when I walked out the door to go to school this week, the words "Oh, it's chilly out here!" surprisingly escaped my mouth. I mean, come on, it's May in Texas. And while I truly don't mind the heat, I'll take temperatures in the high 60's any day of the week.

Which leads me to the next item on the agenda - running. Before I get into the good stuff, I ran a race this morning! As a faithful Texas Ex, whenever I received an email about the 2015 Lone Star Stampede happening at the Houston Co-op, I immediately signed up. I always love a good 10K - it's easily my favorite distance - and the money raised goes towards scholarships for students attending UT. I can get on board with that. So, I woke up later than I do on a school day and hopped on I-10, which led me to 610, which led me to Uptown Park. I easily found the (free!) parking, and met my friend Cheyney in front of the Co-op before the race began.

As I mentioned above, the weather has been an absolute delight all week. This morning was not a disappointment, and I'd venture to say that the 55 degree temperatures at the start of the race were just about perfect. I started off fast - really fast - as my first mile came in at 7:22. Actually, the first four miles were under 8:00, and the last two came in at just over 8:00/mile. Certainly one of my fastest 10K races.

And as for the race itself, I had an absolute blast out there. I loved being among a sea of fellow Longhorns, many of them sporting burnt orange, and I saw quite a few familiar faces along the way. A perfect morning for a run through a beautiful Houston neighborhood.

And while we're on the subject of running, let's talk marathons. Some of you probably saw my Instagram post earlier this week, which talked of my recent marathon registration, and you knew what the exciting news was that I had to talk about. If you didn't see it - surprise! I registered to run a marathon. Yep. When I was much, much younger, and we still had a desktop computer, I remember sitting down and creating a Bucket List - things I want to do before I kick the bucket. Fingers crossed that I have a while before that one happens! And while some of the items on this list were somewhat silly - getting my driver's license and attending my high school prom, for example - some of them were a bit loftier. Travel to all 50 states. Skydive. Run a marathon. I haven't yet finished the first, I have crossed off the second, and earlier this week, I made the first move in crossing off the third. I signed up for my first full marathon. 

I know, I know. I'm crazy. That thought most definitely crossed my mind as I was reaching for my debit card to pay the entrance fee to this race. Which, by the way, was far cheaper than the entrance fee to running the Houston HALF Marathon. It pays to run a smaller race. So, let's move on toward the logistics, shall we?

The Race: The Woodlands Marathon

• When I first decided that I really and truly wanted to start training for a marathon, my first thought was to change my Houston half registration into a full. And then I realized that had me training throughout the entire volleyball season, and let's be real, there's no way I will be running more than even 6 miles during volleyball season, and the training plans I have looked at call for a couple of 10 mile weekday runs. Sorry, but that's just not going to happen. Volleyball is the extracurricular priority in the fall. But, I did know that I wanted to run my race before it got too hot outside. Which brings me to my next point.

Race Date: Saturday, March 5th, 2016

• The weather in Texas is very fickle, to use one of last week's vocabulary words, so there's really no telling what the weather will be like on race day. I've got my fingers crossed for temperatures no higher than 60 degrees, but realistically I've got to be prepared for anything. I really didn't want to travel for my first marathon, as I have read horror stories about the change in routine throwing people off their running game, so I knew I was going to stay in the state. Houston happens too early in the year, and Austin has too many hills, but a flat Woodlands course in the beginning of March seemed just right.

Training Plan: Hal Higdon's Marathon Novice Training Plan

• I haven't solidified this one yet. Which I think is acceptable, seeing as I still have about ten months before race day. I have, however, looked into some different race plans. The one that seems to be the most popular is Hal Higdon's Novice Training Plan. I can't decide whether I'm going to go with Novice 1 or Novice 2, but I think his is the winner. It's 18 weeks long, and typically the midweek distances are equivalent to the weekend long run. I shudder to think of the day I venture out and run 20 miles, but I'm leaning towards finding a running group to join. I know Houston is full of them, and not only will it make those long runs easier (or so I hear), but I'm sure to meet some top notch people along the way.

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But this training plan is where it's going to get tricky for me. I know I've talked on the blog before about how hard it is for me to truly take a rest day. Even on the days I intend to be rest days, I often end up doing something. However, I've read enough and I've heard enough to know that I have to take these rest days seriously. I can't only run, and what's even more important is that I make sure I am adequately fueling my body. I learned firsthand what it's like to run a long distance without enough food and water in my body, and it was not a fun experience. While I can't eat whatever I want - I've read that one over and over again, too - I also can't deprive myself of what my body needs and craves. Overall, I think this will be really good for me - both physically and mentally. I know that I have to rest in order to be successful, so unless I want to crash and burn the way my English classes did when I had them attempt to act out Shakespeare, I had better take those days seriously.

I have mentioned to a couple of teachers at school that I signed up for a marathon. Almost all of their first responses went something like this, "Oh, that requires a lot of discipline!" But then they followed it up with something encouraging, ie, telling me that I seem to be a very disciplined person. And I am. The reason I was so successful in the classroom is not because I'm naturally smart. It's because I knew the amount work that I would have to put in to it to get the results I wanted. It was the same thing with volleyball. Sure, some of it was athleticism. But it was repetition after repetition that allowed me to play at the level I played. So I'm not too worried about the discipline aspect of this. I know there will be times that I have to say no. I know this is going to be a lifestyle. But a girl can only run so many half marathons before she starts to crave a new challenge. And what better time to do it than when I'm young, right?

And I have a lofty goal for this first marathon of mine. I desperately want to run Boston one day, and I would love to knock it out with this first marathon. I know it's not a good idea for first-time marathon runners to have a goal time in mind, as the biggest goal should be to finish. And mine is, I promise. But I'm too competitive a person to not give myself something to aim for. I've got a lot of work to do, but that's never stopped me in the past. Obviously, Boston is the high goal for so many runners. And it's one that not everyone meets. In fact, for the age group I'm in, only 7.9 percent of marathoners - male or female - qualify to run Boston. So, while odds aren't necessarily in my favor, when have I ever let that discourage me? Getting a job at Bellaire my first year out of college was a longshot, but here I am, surviving each day (barely, some days). And I remember very vividly what happened on Marathon Monday in 2013. It shook me to my core and affected me more than I ever would have thought it would, because running means something different and special and personal to each individual runner, and to qualify for Boston the highest honor, and I couldn't believe that someone would try and take the joy and accomplishment away from so many. Ever since that day I knew I wanted to run Boston one day. Because I can run, and there are so many out there who can't. Because I'm not one to back down from a challenge, and I've learned that no dream is too big. Because I'll have to rely on strength that is not my own to get through this one, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

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(Almost) A New Year

I have been very bad about keeping up with this little blog over the break. To keep you up to speed with what I have been doing:

• Eating at some of my favorite restaurants in Houston

Black Walnut Cafe - Pulled Pork Carnitas Tacos

His and her gelato - Pistacio and Raspberry Sorbet

• Catching up with high school friends
• Going on beautiful runs (and walks) around my neighborhood

• Watching entirely too much football with my family - Go Eagles and Longhorns!
• Braving the crowds at City Centre and the Galleria
• Resting

One of my favorite skylines

It was a crazy semester, and I am getting ready to start an even crazier semester, so, with this new year (my graduation year, eek!) quickly approaching, I figured it would be a good time to reflect on this year and what I'm looking forward to in this new year. 2013 will sure be hard to beat, but 2014 will certainly be a big year, too. Mainly due to the fact that I will be making my grand entrance into the real world. Yes, it's a thought that scares me too!

• A bad habit I'm going to break: Worrying about things that have not yet happened. I have a really bad habit of fretting about things that are way off into the future, and are often times not worth the wasted energy spent worrying. I want to really learn how to take one day at a time, and live in the present, enjoying what is in front of me for that very moment.
• A new skill I'd like to learn: I'm about the least crafty/artistic/musical person on this planet, so I'm going to go with something in that category. I love the idea of scrapbooking, but I feel like this blog is the equivalent of a scrapbook. I would love to be hit with the design and decorating bug, as I will no longer be residing in suite 1 as of July 31st, a thought that makes me very sad. However, I want to put my pins to good use and transform my future living space into something Pinterest worthy. I always have these lofty ambitions, but I tend not to follow through with them, so let's hope that this is the year!

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• A person I hope to be more like: At first I found this to be a tough question, but it's really pretty simple. I want people to see Jesus in me - I want to love people extravagantly, I want to live simply, and I want to be joyful always.
• A good deed I'm going to do: I am always so touched by the "pay it forward" stories, and, if you remember, that sweet couple who bought Dylan and I dessert on his birthday, so I would love to have my own pay it forward story, though it probably won't be as meaningful if I share it with you guys, huh?
• A place I'd like to visit: Washington D.C. - more on that to come soon!

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• A book I'd like to read: My list of books I want to read is never-ending. Though there are plenty of books that I want to read, as evidenced by my Pinterest board and GoodReads account, but two books that I really hope to read are:
• The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
• One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp
• A letter I'm going to write: That is one of my major 2014 goals major - more letter writing. I don't know anyone who doesn't love receiving a handwritten letter in the mail, and, I have tons of stationary that I just love. So, on that note, I'm going to try to write at least two letters a month.
• A new food I'd like to try: One of the (many) great things about dating Dylan is that he forces encourages me to try new food. I used to be the world's pickiest eater, and I would never try anything new. However, I've really improved on that front. While I still can't bring myself to try sushi, I hope to bring myself to try Indian food, Lebanese food, or maybe even get fancy and order lobster one of these days. Luckily, there is no shortage of new and ethnic restaurants in Austin!
• I'm going to do better at: There are so many things that I could do better at, but one of them, and that goes along with the bad habit I want to break, is living in the moment. So often I find myself with a group of friends, but I will be worrying about something else. I want to focus on the people I'm with. I also want to be better at understanding the value of a dollar. While I've made a little bit of progress on that front, I still have a long way to go in just five short months!

And on that note, I'm off to get in a quick swim before getting organized and maybe even study for certification exam #2. It is my remainder-of-2013 goal to blog every remaining day of this year (I know, two whole days, what a big commitment), so I will be sure to be checking back in with you guys soon. Have a great Sunday!