Things I'm Loving Friday XLVIII

Happy Friday! Today is my last real Friday of freedom, if you will, as volleyball starts Monday, and inservice the following Monday. So what will I be doing on my last Friday of freedom, you ask? Well, I'll likely be driving circles around Houston as I try and cross every last thing off of my to-do list. Once volleyball and inservice come around, I don't have a whole lot of time for extracurricular activities. After all, I've got practice and meetings and classroom set-up. Last year I was consistently the last car in the parking lot. And while that will probably be the case this year as well, at least I can go home and pass out on the couch.

But first, a workout. And before that, a blog post. Here are some things I'm loving lately, with a little bit of a twist. 

for taste: 18 Nutrient-Rich Power Foods
Calling all athletes! If you're not sure what foods you should be eating, this article is the one for you. From endurance training to illness prevention, many of these foods are easy to incorporate into your weekly recipes. And though I probably won't be making sardines a part of my daily diet, you already know dark chocolate is something I eat on the daily. Along with honey and flax seeds, and I'm obviously a sucker for sweet potato fries. 

Chocolate + cinnamon

for inspiration: Simone Biles
Don't feel like working out? Take one look at Simone Biles and maybe you'll think again. This girl is the real deal, and I could not be more excited to watch her bring home (literally, she's from Spring!) the gold at the Olympics. But she hasn't met such success by simply sitting on her couch and watching episode after episode of The Middle. She has found success by putting in hours upon hours of work at the gym. And okay, we might not be able to flip and tumble quite like she does, and seeing as I can't even do one pull-up, I'm definitely not going to be climbing ropes legless anytime soon. But this is all the motivation I need to complete my dreaded tempo run.

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for a laugh: Bored Teachers: A Year in the Life of a Teacher
I'll let this video speak for itself. Teachers in August are wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, and by May, I consider a day that I've taken attendance to be a good day. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration. But the reason teachers get summer vacation? We need it in order to keep our sanity and recharge for the year ahead. Teaching is a job that requires you to be "on" at all times, so we need a few days where we're allowed to be "off." And if that means drinking wine out of a glass the size of a horse, so be it.

for the body: Five-Minute Expert Guide to Running in Humid Weather
It's hot and humid here in Houston, and I know we're not the only ones experiencing that combination. But that doesn't mean you have to call it quits on the outdoor workouts. You just have to be smart about it. That means not running the heat of the afternoon, staying hydrated before, during, and after the run, and don't stress too much about your time. The higher the temp, the higher your minute per mile. And that's okay. And most importantly, know when to take your workout inside. Or else you'll end up begging the valet guys at Hungry's for a water bottle. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything.

for the ears: Rise Up by Andra Day
This isn't a brand new song, but I just recently became obsessed. If this isn't the ultimate feel-better anthem, I don't know what is. Maybe you've had one of those days - kind of like me yesterday - or you're fed up with all the bad news you hear on the news day after day after day, and you need a pick-me-up. This is my new go-to. I know I'll need it many a time as I attempt to tackle the most hardcore running schedule I've ever been given. But I'll rise up over any tough training days.

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for the mind: 31 Life Lessons They Didn't Teach You in School
You guys know I'm a teacher. And it's in my job description to teach the cardinal rules of reading and writing. But it's also my unofficial job to make sure that my students leave my classroom with lessons they can carry with them for years and years to come. And though the title of this article deals with things you don't learn in school, I think each and every one of the items on this list is something I can teach my kids using literature as my pipeline. My favorite? Never underestimate the value of a handwritten note. Especially in this age of technology.

And with that, I'm off. I've got another jam-packed day today, and I'm hoping to crawl into bed at a somewhat decent hour tonight. Ciao! 

Things I'm Loving Friday XLVI

Happy FRIDAY! We don't have summer school on Friday, and we had Monday off for the Fourth of July, so I'm sitting pretty at only three days of work this week. I was waking up at the crack of dawn so that I could walk Mack before leaving him alone in the apartment for almost eight hours, in the hopes that he would be worn out and just lounge on the couch with his favorite toys. He did great, despite my initial concerns, and he only chewed up a couple of paper towels and empty toilet paper rolls. Not bad for a puppy! Anyway, it was nice to wake up without an alarm this morning, though my internal body clock (and my energetic puppy) didn't let me sleep in much past 6:30am. Which is fine with me. I don't want to get into too much of a habit of sleeping in, and I've got lots to check off the to-do list. The earlier I start getting after it, the better!

Body Pump
I talked a lot about Body Pump when I was living in Austin because the gym closest to my house had an excellent Body Pump instructor. I fell in love with the class because I'm not often motivated to do any strength training on my own, but with this class, I work my entire body in one hour. I moved recently, thus, ending the long-standing Kelli-MAC relationship, and I now live minutes away from a gym that has multiple Body Pump classes a day, thus contributing to my recent decision to pick the Body Pump habit back up. Though I make the effort to go at least twice weekly, the squat and lunge tracks never stop being killers.

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My last day at the MAC - also known as my second home

Museum of Fine Arts
If you are a Houston resident, or if you happen to be visiting, you have to experience the Kusama Universe Exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. I'll be the first to admit that I am not the biggest museum goer, nor am I the biggest art enthusiast. In fact, my favorite part of the annual elementary school MFAH field trip was rolling down the hill at Miller Outdoor Theater after eating lunch. But I had heard nothing but good things about this exhibit, so I had to check it out. It's colorful, it's ethereal, it's abstract, and just overall visually pleasing. It's a very peaceful, almost trippy experience, and I found it to be more than worth the wait. It's here until mid-September, so be sure and check it out! And an insider's tip for you guys: Reserve your tickets online prior to going. It's very possible that it will be sold out if you just show up hoping to catch a glimpse.

Love is Calling

Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity

7 Reasons You Should Travel Solo
I resonated with this article on such a deep level. As most of you know - and I really am going to do some kind of recap - I recently spent three weeks traveling solo through Argentina. And I was telling someone at school just the other day that I'm not sure I'll ever take a big trip like that with another person again. That might be taking it to extremes, as I love traveling with my family and friends, but as I am such a people-pleaser, it was so nice to be able to do what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. I got to do everything that I wanted to do while I was in Argentina, and that was because I only had to answer to myself. I am also a very quick and timely person, and when I'm ready to go, I'm really ready to go. Give me a time, and I can 99% guarantee I won't be late. I didn't have to wait on anyone, I didn't have to worry about running late anywhere, which, if you know me, is a huge pet peeve of mine. I got to walk everywhere, I met so many new people along the way, and I got to spend time with my own thoughts, and learn how to handle situations on my own. I believe everyone should travel alone at some point in his or her life. And it doesn't have to be out of the country! A quick solo trip to a city down the road should do the trick.

The Olympic Trials
I am obsessed with the Olympics. Every four years, my life shuts down and everything I do revolves around what Olympic event is taking place that morning, afternoon, or evening. And while I love the actual Olympics because it brings a few weeks of unity to such a typically broken world, the trials are so much fun to watch because you get to watch these athletes' dreams come true. Most of them have been working for this moment from a very young age, and I know it was not without sacrifices along the way. And then you have athletes like Michael Phelps, who is just an absolute phenom.

Kassidy Cook and Abby Johnston - both from Texas! ( Source)

Simone Biles - guaranteed to stick! (Source)

Michael Phelps - the greatest Olympian of all time (Source)

Fruit
I love eating fruit year-round, but I absolutely devour it in the summer. It's juicy, it's refreshing, it's healthy, and it's delicious. I cannot get enough. Cuties, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, canteloupe, plumcots - you name it, I'll eat it. And while obtaining fruit is not quite as easy as it was in Argentina, where you could walk to the next corner and be faced with a beautiful display of all the fruit you could ever want, I find myself making multiple trips to the grocery store each week so that I can replenish my supply.

And I can't end this post without mentioning my heavy heart for the events that have taken place in this country this past week. It seems as though every morning we wake up and there's a new #hashtag taking over the social media world, and I'm just so sick of it. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around such senseless violence, and my heart breaks for those whose family members were taken from them too soon. And I've read so many beautiful words regarding these acts, but I want to end with some great words shared by Houston author Brené Brown:

I woke up this morning looking for someone to blame. Someone to hate. Someone who I could make the single target of my fear about the officers killed in Dallas and what happened to Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. It was such a desperate feeling to want to discharge the uncertainty and scarcity. Then it dawned on me that this is the exact drive that fueled what's happening right now.

Instead of feeling hurt we act out our hurt. Rather than acknowledging our pain, we inflict it on others. Neither hate nor blame will lead to the justice and peace that we all want - it will only move us further apart. But we can't forget that hate and blame are seductive. Anger is easier than grief. Blame is easier than real accountability. When we choose instant relief in the form of rage, we're in many ways choosing permanent grief for the world.

Southpaw

I had mixed feelings upon waking up this morning - there is truly no greater feeling than waking up in your own home, but knowing that I couldn't turn on NBC and watch whatever Olympic sport happened to be on was a sad realization. I l-o-v-e the Olympics (as I am sure you all have gathered), and I am already looking forward to Rio. It makes me sad knowing that we saw the end of Michael Phelps and the May/Walsh duo. They have given us twelve years of incredible moments and they will forever hold a place in my Olympic-lovin' heart. 

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I drove home from Austin last night, getting home around 6:45 due to quite a bit of traffic on I-10 - a fitting welcome back to Houston - stopping home to say hi to my family, and immediately heading out to meet a friend at, you guessed it, Berripop! We ended up staying there until closing time, just talking and catching up on our respective summers. Gotta love seeing those high-school friends!

A fitting welcome back to Houston

This morning was filled with my final essay, unloading my car, and of course, a trip to the gym. Today began Week 4 of Tina's Best Body Bootcamp, and it was very similar to last Monday's workout, the only change being that I held the actual moves for four seconds, which most definitely added to the fatigue. I have been slacking lately on doing the actual bootcamp workouts, so I am excited to get back in my groove. After a filling smoothie from Smoothie King, I headed home to shower, unpack from this summer session, and repack for the big move into my new house. Life of a college student - constantly moving! The amount of stuff I have just seems to keep growing.

Loving my Angel Food after a sweaty morning at the gym!

My packed car

Moving on, today is a very special day, as it is a day dedicated to celebrating lefties nationwide: National Left-handed Day. Being a lefty myself, I am a huge proponent of this day, because we lefties are a special breed. While I love being left-handed now, I used to hate it. I was always singled out at sports camps, and I was always told to "just do what I do backwards." Because that's easy to do. One time I got sassy and told them that if they want me to do what they do backwards, they need to provide me with a mirror. Yes, I actually said that. Oops! I eventually got over my aversion to being a lefty and grew to love it, throwing people off while playing various sports with a left-handed spin on things. Though I still struggle with smearing things every once in a while, and have a hard time finding left-handed scissors, I think being a lefty is the coolest, so happy lefties day to all my fellow southpaws out there!

I was once told that I had a "wicked left-handed serve" 

My friends found a lefties store in Spain!

Trampolining

It's hard for me to believe that four weeks ago I was traveling home from (or sitting grumpily in the Frankfurt airport due to a flight delay) my seven-week study abroad in Barcelona. I still can't believe I got to spend seven weeks in paradise, and I remember when I was posting about only having four weeks until I left. They're not kidding when they say time flies! I have a couple friends who are currently abroad and I am loving keeping up with their travel blogs, remembering just how incredible it is to literally have the world at your fingertips. I am already itching to go back to Europe and beyond - I have definitely been bitten with the travel bug!

Luxembourg Gardens

I'm at a payphone..

Me encanta Barcelona!

Well, now that my trip down memory lane is out of the way, I will continue on with my usual ramblings: food, workouts, and the Olympics.

I went to bed last night with the intention of waking up around 7:00, eating some breakfast, and heading over to Northwest Austin for a free Saturday morning bootcamp that I randomly found online. My body had other ideas, however, and opted for an extra hour of sleep. Fine by me, I got up a little before 8:00, ate breakfast, ran a few last-minute house errands, and came back to SRD, where I changed into my swimsuit and packed my swim bag and headed over to Gregory Gym to work on my one-piece tan. Well, I went to get in some good exercise, but I came away with some even better tan lines. Anyway, I swam my usual 72 laps before getting out and reading a little bit of Shakespeare while soaking up the sun. I was pretty hungry by this point, so I trekked on over to Jamba Juice for a little fuel - a Strawberry Whirl to be exact - before heading back to the pool for some more reading and swimming. It was just too pretty of a day for me to spend inside, especially when I had six hours of sitting at a desk ahead of me.

Speaking of, I often find myself working the desk straight through dinner time, so I have had the opportunity to discover the many restaurants that deliver to SRD. While I have stuck with some of my favorites, such as Pita Pit and My Fit Foods, I have also discovered a new love: Austin Java. I ordered a spinach and mushroom omelette from there a couple of weeks ago, and tonight when I was craving both bread and something grilled, I opted for a grilled chicken sandwich with a side of vegetables. It really hit the spot and I am already looking forward to my next Austin Java experience!

Trampolining

For those of you who really know me, follow my blog, or follow me on Twitter, you know that I am obsessed with the Olympics. I just can't get enough! If it was up to me, I would do nothing but sit in bed watching every Olympic sport possible. Unfortunately, that is not possible, nor would it be very good for me, but I have been able to watch quite a bit of the Olympics. Naturally, I have watched all the big events - gymnastics, swimming, track and field - but I have also discovered some hidden gems, one of those being the sport of trampolining. Yes, a sport dedicated to jumping on a trampoline and doing crazy amounts of twists and flips before landing on a red X and doing it all over again. I have always loved the trampoline, and though I am not flexible in the least, I have enjoyed learning new flips and playing around on my trampoline over the years. When NBC featured a few of the Olympic trampolinists, I was very intrigued and more than impressed with the crazy skills that these people were able to do. I am not sure what it takes to become an Olympic Trampolinist, but my friend and I have come up with a motto: Jump to Rio 2016. I'm feeling a new twitter trend - #jumptorio2016 - who's with me?! Maybe not, but it sure would be a fun event in which to compete!

Trampolining (Source)

Dong Dong of China - he brought home the gold on the trampoline! (Source)

I am more than a little guilty of taking too many trampoline pictures!

Now, I am hoping this next hour passes quickly so I can assume my position on my bed, eyes glued to the TV, watching Michael Phelps swim his last race ever. I can't imagine an Olympics without him - thanks for the memories, Michael! You sure made it fun! Enjoy your Saturday evening!

Fab Five

Happy Hump Day! Only two more school (or work) days until the weekend, and I for one could not be more ready! After this week, I have just one more week until I get to spend a little bit of time at home for the first time since May. You could say that I am a little excited!

Excited Face Number One 

Excited Face Number Two

This week has been a little bit slow for me, what with an Economics test to study for and a Shakespeare play to read when all I really want to do is watch the Olympics (don't worry, I have done that too), and it feels as though tomorrow should be Friday. Today was a great day for me though because I officially made the decision that I am not going to pursue a degree in Business Foundations. It is a wonderful program, offering students a little taste of business while pursuing another degree, but it just is not for me. I have never been interested in the business side of things and I have a lot of newfound respect for those business major friends of mine. It is tough! It was also going to be really difficult to fit those extra business classes into my already crammed English and education schedule, and it would have involved quite a bit of online class, summer school, and 17-18 hour semesters, something to which I am just not willing to submit myself. This will make graduating in four years a heck of a lot easier, and it even gives me room for a few elective classes -- maybe a few kinesiology or nutrition classes for the fitness lover in me? We'll see, but it feels as though a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I am ready to cruise through these last seven class days.

Workouts

I have continued to (loosely) follow Tina's Best Body Bootcamp this week, with workouts very similar to last week's workouts, and though I am still sore, I am not quite as sore as last week. That's a relief, because walking was a struggle for me last week. Seriously. I opted out of the interval and core workout that was on the agenda for today in favor of a 2-ish mile swim (the Olympics have inspired me), but I plan on just pushing everything back a day, so intervals are on the agenda for tomorrow!

I am rockin' a pretty sweet one-piece tan these day!

I kept the same two goals as last week, and though I am rocking the fruit and vegetable part of my goal, I have been slacking a bit on the water. Staying hydrated is so important in this Texas heat, and it provides numerous health benefits. Tomorrow will be better!

SRD has also been on top of its game in the meal department, and I have enjoyed some delicious and nutritious meals that I most definitely have to learn to replicate next year. And when I say next year, I mean in three weeks - when did I get so old?

 

Turkey breast and baby carrots

Poblano chicken and black bean couscous

Fab Five

U-S-A! U-S-A! Do any of the rest of you guys get emotional during the Olympics? I sure do! I am so proud to be an American, and there is nothing like hearing our national anthem play and watching those athletes up on the podium mouth the words. I love seeing the athletes be rewarded for their dedication and sacrifice over the years, and they sure make the sports look a lot easier than they actually are!

I have mentioned before that one of my favorite events to watch is gymnastics, so I was excited to see what the Fab Five was all about. Since I was in Spain during the Olympic trials, this was the first time I got to see these young gymnasts in action. I was heartbroken along with Jordyn Wieber on Sunday night, and I was so excited to see her bounce back and dominate her routines alongside her incredibly talented teammates.

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Gabby Douglas has a smile that brightens the entire arena, and I loved hearing her credit God for her success. It just blows my mind that these girls are only between the ages of 15-18! I mean, I won a bronze medal at the Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships when I was 15, but I imagine that nothing compares to winning an Olympic Gold! I was so, so excited to see America atop the podium for the first time since 1996, and I imagine they slept well that night!

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Priceless (Source)

In other Olympic news, a huge congrats to Michael Phelps for becoming the most decorated Olympian in history! I have always been a Phelps fan, but I have a whole new level of respect for him after his interview last night. He owned up to what most would consider to be poor decisions, and he is just out there having fun - doing what he loves to do.

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Houston, We Have a Winner

What did y'all think of the Opening Ceremonies last night? I actually didn't get to catch a lot of it live due to having to work the desk, but I watched videos and, of course, stayed updated via Twitter. I did get off work just in time to watch the USA athletes walk the arena and y'all, it brought tears to my eyes. The joy on these athletes faces was just the best thing - they are just as excited to be there as we are to watch it. Overall, I thought some aspects of the ceremony were rather strange, but done very, very well. I loved J.K. Rowling's reading and I have to say that the Queen's entrance was pretty darn cool!

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J.K. Rowling reading Peter Pan (Source)

I can't wait to watch the big Lochte / Phelps showdown this afternoon - swimming is one of my very favorite events to watch. Swimming, diving, gymnastics, beach volleyball, and track and field have got to be my favorites (I have alerts on my phone!), but I will watch just about anything. Case in point: I am currently watching cycling as I type this post.

Now to the title of this post. Yesterday, Forbes released their list of coolest cities in America. What city topped that list? New York City? Los Angeles? Austin? While they all made the list, none of them topped it. Houston, my hometown, was named the coolest city in America. Houston, home of NASA, 

NASA (Source)

the eighth wonder of the world,

Astrodome (Source)

the first word spoken from the moon, excellent shopping, and some hot and humid weather, may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of cool cities, but it is very up-and-coming. At least according to this list, it is! This list took into account recreational opportunities, diversity, employment, pro and college sports teams, and the number of people who relocated there in 2011, among other things. Surprisingly, Houston actually experienced job growth last year, as well as many new stylish housing developments, restaurants, and museums. There is getting to be more and more to do, and I am very proud to call this place home.

My pretty friends at an Astros game in 2010

Supporting our home town 'Stros

I have never had anything against Houston, sure, it doesn't have a Town Lake or a South Congress, but it does have Memorial Park and the Heights. There are some darn good restaurants, and I constantly find myself missing peaceful bike rides on the bayou. Unfortunately, I didn't discover some of Houston's hidden gems until right before I left for college, and now I love returning to Houston to explore these new discoveries, as well as visit some of my favorites. My appreciation for Houston definitely increased as I moved away, as is the case for almost everyone, and I can honestly say that if I end up living in Houston after I graduate, you won't hear any complaints from me. There is no greater feeling than driving down I-10 east on a sunny day, blaring my country music, knowing the next exit I take will take me home.

Ruggles Green - one of my favorite restaurants, in CityCentre, one of the cities newest attractions

Amira, Lindsay, and I enjoying a beautiful night at CityCentre

Hungry's - my all-time favorite restaurant ever! 

Houston is just one hour away from the beaches of Galveston

Gayle and I at the Houston Rodeo - an annual tradition! 

Gayle and I on our favorite ride at the rodeo

There's nothin' better than the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!

Question of the morning:

What do you think makes a city "cool?" Was your city on the list?

I have to agree with Forbes - there's something about that Houston skyline (Source)