2017 Summer Reads

Hello, all! I'm just popping in for a quick post today -- a round-up of the books I've read (so far) this summer. I'm going to try and squeeze in one or two more before school starts, but you just never know with volleyball and inservice. At any rate, I've got a solid number of books on my to-read list, so I'll never be bored in line at the grocery store!

One of my favorite things about summer (and let's be honest, I have many favorite things about summer) is that I finally have an excuse to read, read, read. I definitely read during the school year, but I maybe finish one book every couple of weeks. Maybe. And I hate to admit that weeks go by where I don't read even one page. But summer allows me the time to dive deep into the books that have been gathering dust on my bedside table, and this year I decided to put together what I'm going to call a reading roundup. Hopefully this post inspires you to pick up one or two of these books -- they're pretty much all over the place -- or at the very least, inspires you to pick up any book at all. 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
GoodReads Rating: 4.8/5
My Rating: 4.6/5
What I Loved: If I could teach this book, I would. Actually, I'm trying to work it into my curriculum for this year because it's so incredibly relatable. The characters are resilient, funny, authentic, sassy, broken, and at the heart of this book is a reality that so many in our country are unfortunately facing each day. It tackles racism and police brutality in a way that's not preachy, and it's a YA book that truly educates while still reading like a story. There's a great family and community dynamic running throughout this book and I believe it's an incredibly important read for everyone.

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The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
GoodReads Rating: 4.0/5
My Rating: 4.7/5
What I Loved: First of all, Shonda Rhimes is an incredible human being. There's no denying that. Shonda was incredibly vulnerable in her anecdotes while still being undeniably funny. This book really had an upbeat, feel-good "you-can-do-it" vibe to it, which is right up my alley. As someone who is so quick to say no to things that are outside my comfort zone, much like Shonda, this book opened my eyes to setting aside any instant fears and take a chance every now and then. It reiterated the importance of taking care of myself and that it's more than okay to ask for help. And that saying "YES!" can be as simple as sitting at home playing dolls with your kids. A quick and enjoyable read.

11/22/63 by Stephen King
GoodReads Rating: 4.3/5
My Rating: 5/5
What I Loved: This is not my usual read. But this is also not Stephen King's usual genre. I'm not a big history buff, but I am incredibly fascinated by all things Kennedy. Ultimately, an English teacher by the name of Jake Epping is coerced into going back in time to try and stop the JFK assassination. But in the half decade that he spends in the past, he finds other occurrences to alter along the way. This book is incredibly suspenseful and I found myself sitting for hours flipping page after page. It's historically accurate, it's engaging, it's got a sweet little love story woven in, and it had me longing for the simplicity of a time period I never even experienced in the first place. I finished it a couple of weeks ago and cannot stop singing its praises.

Jackie's Girl by Kathy McKeon
GoodReads Rating: 4.1/5
My Rating: 4.3/5
What I Loved: As I mentioned above, I am incredibly fascinated by all things Kennedy. And I actually read this book before I read King's. It's a coming-of-age memoir by the woman who became Jackie's go-to gal, as you might call her, and I really enjoyed the more private look into Jackie O's seemingly glamorous life. Kathy provided Jackie and the kids with a very sweet and loyal friendship, and all the while Kathy gleaned quite a few valuable life lessons from Jackie. A sweet and charming read.

Good as Gone by Amy Gentry
GoodReads Rating: 3.5/5
My Rating: 3.7/5
What I Loved: When I picked this book up at Blue Willow Bookshop, I had no idea that this book would be set not only in my city, but in the very area of Houston in which I grew up. So that was fun. This book was full of twists and turns, which normally, I love. This one was just a little bit too unrealistic for me, though, and while I really enjoyed the chapters told from the point of view of the kidnapped daughter's mother, the chapters told by the various faces of Julie were a bit hard to follow. It's a very real look into the relationship between a mother and a teenage daughter, and that may have been what kept me reading to the end.

Sad Perfect by Stephanie Elliott
GoodReads Rating: 3.8/5
My Rating: 4.2/5
What I Loved: This book deals with some incredibly difficult topics. A teenage girl who is fighting an eating disorder - AFRID, one I had never heard of - dealing with anxiety and depression, and has a fairly dysfunctional family to boot. I love that Elliott decided to tackle these topics because they're real and raw and it's important to bring them to light. And while this book definitely takes on a more serious tone, the romance between Pea and Ben is cute enough to induce a few "aww" moments, and make you wish that every Pea had a Ben. What's most interesting is that this book is told - very well - in the second person.

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The End of Average by Todd Rose
GoodReads Rating: 4.0/5
My Rating: 4.6/5
What I Loved: The teacher in me loved this book. But I think those in virtually any profession would enjoy it. Without using such strong words, it's essentially about how ridiculous it is to use the average when talking about anything. And it's crazy to really sit and think about how often we use the "average" measurement -- when talking about height, weight, GPA, performance, salary, IQ, everything. It got me thinking about how much my students miss out on because they are given this label - how far above or below this average they are - because so much of what we do is geared to fit the "average" student. As it typically is with clothes that come with a one-size-fits-all label (they never fit all), a one-size-fits-all is about the worst thing we could do in the education world. I enjoyed how Rose brought in examples from all areas - history, science, education, business - to support his claim that it's about time we do something about this flawed system. 

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
GoodReads Rating: 3.7/5
My Rating: 4.7/5
What I Loved: This book was SUCH a page-turner. This author's debut novel had me hooked from the get-go, and I devoured it while riding Chicago's CTA. Not everything is as it seems for Anne and Marco Conti, who seemingly have it all when they leave their six-month-old baby as they go next door for a fancy dinner party. Though they have the baby monitor, somehow baby Cora is snatched from her crib. But what I really loved is that both Anne and Marco have their own secrets that they couldn't possibly have the other find out, which just goes to show that no relationship is as picture perfect as it looks. The ending was pretty crazy and unexpected, but it's a psychological thriller I'd definitely recommend. 

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Peak Performance by Steve Magness and Brad Stulberg
GoodReads Rating: 4.3/5
My Rating: 5/5
What I Loved: Honestly, this was probably my favorite book of the summer. I could relate to it on so many levels. I will admit that I picked it up for running purposes, but it's truly applicable to so many aspects of life and I guarantee you'll get something out of it. I could probably write an entire blog post about this book alone, so I'll keep it short and sweet here. If you want to get better at anything, you have to push your mind and/or body past their comfort zones. But you also have to give your mind and/or body rest. It again preaches the idea that growth comes from a struggle, and it forces you to really take a hard look at yourself and what drives you. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What works best for your personality? An excellent book with easy-to-apply information.

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
GoodReads Rating: 3.9/5
My Rating: 4.5/5
What I Loved: If this book doesn't make you think twice about getting married, I don't know what will. Jack and Grace are another example of the picture-perfect couple, but you learn very quickly that Jack is out of his mind. He is an absolute control freak and won't let Grace out of his sight. Essentially, he's holding her captive while still forcing her to portray the role of the perfect housewife. And honestly, what got me was that this situation could happen all too easily to anyone. All it takes is a handsome man with a charming smile to make a woman fall hard. I didn't feel as though there were any plot holes, and my heart was racing as I read on to find out what would happen next. 

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Grit by Gillian French
GoodReads Rating: 3.4/5
My Rating: 3.6/5
What I Loved: Okay, just being real here. This was probably my least favorite book of the summer. I didn't hate it, but it didn't captivate me the way other books I read did. I enjoyed the very real relationship that between Darcy, Mags, and their cousin Nell. As well as their mothers who live right next door to one another. Darcy, our main character, is kind of a rebellious teenager who doesn't have a great reputation around town. Of course, this is set in a small town in Maine where everybody knows everybody's business. The pain each character experiences and the way this pain is dealt with felt very real to me, and I appreciated how French tackled some of the more difficult subjects - rape and complex relationships and rumors and slut-shaming. 

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The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
GoodReads Rating: 4.0/5
My Rating: 4.6/5
What I Loved: I loved going to Chicago and knowing a good chunk of the city's history thanks to my reading of this book. I didn't know I was as into architecture as I apparently am, but I think what really hooked me was the drama running through the construction of the 1893 Chicago World Fair with the serial killer H.H. Holmes posing as a pharmacist and used his charming personality to lure young women into his trap. Daniel Burnham is a name I heard many times throughout my time in Chicago and it is evident that he is an absolute genius and I loved how the city's history was only enhanced by the description of how difficult a task pulling off the construction of this World Fair was. But it still read like a (terrifying) story when you have the absolute chaos precipitated by Holmes.

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Love Lives Here by Maria Goff
GoodReads Rating: 4.5/5
My Rating: 4.8/5
What I Loved: Maria Goff is Bob Goff's husband, and you guys, I am obsessed with all things Bob Goff. They live their lives with such whimsy and while Bob is all things spontaneous and energetic, Maria errs on the side of quiet and intentional. Maria talks all about remaining focused on what's important when the world is busy throwing all these distractions at us. This book reads like an encouraging and honest conversation that made me want to start living a more full and present life where I love and care for others extravagantly and purposefully. 

Bob and Maria Goff (Source)

The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs
GoodReads Rating: 4.4/5
My Rating: 5/5
What I Loved: Wow. All I have to say about this book is that it's beautiful, heartbreaking, filled with joy and sadness both, funny, real, raw, honest, and makes you appreciate the life you're living right now. The good days as well as the bad. Nina was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 37 and while at first it seemed like just "one small spot", it quickly turned into a cancer that would never really get better. Nina is actually the great-great-great granddaughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson (yes, that one) and his work, and the importance and beauty of literature in general, is threaded all throughout this memoir. Nina truly had a bright outlook on life and her diagnosis, and she found the beauty in the midst of suffering that will hit all of us in one way or another. A book that touched me far more than I anticipated, I would highly recommend this book for everyone.

Okay, clearly you can see that I'm a huge fan of psychological thrillers. What that says about me, I'm not entirely sure. My friend told me it means I have a pretty boring life, which may be true, but I'll take that over leading a life like any of the ladies in these books! I am all over the genre spectrum, though, and I am always in the market for new book recommendations, so if you have any favorite reads, PLEASE send them my way. Happy reading!

Grit

I started my "read 25 new books" resolution with a bang this year -- three days into the new year and I've already knocked one out. And it wasn't a conscious decision, but I think it was the perfect book with which to start out a new year. It almost makes me want to change my 2017 word to Grit, but I think "Fearless" and "Grit" go hand-in-hand.

Anyway, this book. Incredible. Amazing. Fantastic read. I couldn't put it down. Five stars on GoodReads. 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. That last one is just for movies? Oh, well. At its core, this book is about how, in the long run, hard work takes you farther than talent. Effort counts twice. And that is something with which I resonate deeply. I've always, always believed in the power of hard work. I'm living proof of it. And before I go into my gritty anecdotes, please don't think that I've got a perfect grit score. Not even close. But for as long as I can remember, I've taken a lot of pride in being able to say I gave it my all, and that I have nothing left to give.

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I could probably take this idea back to my elementary school days, but for the sake of this post, I'll only go as far back as high school. I made straight A's in high school. I was in all the advanced classes, and I truly excelled. I was able to graduate as a "co-valedictorian" (because my school district has a very interesting ranking system). I had quite a few friends who were in the exact same boat. But some of them put in maybe 1/3 the amount of effort I put in to graduate with that medal around my neck.

And that's not to toot my own horn, rather, it's to say that I surrounded myself with some extraordinarily bright friends. I mean, we're talking scary smart. One of my best friends missed just two questions on the SAT. But I digress. I was the kid making straight A's, but I was also the kid who went to tutorials in the morning if I didn't understand something. And in Physics and Calculus, that was a lot of the time. When an APUSH test rolled around every couple of weeks, I was rereading the many textbook pages so that I could be fully absorb every piece of information. I did all of my homework, and then some. I was the flash card queen. I made good grades, but it certainly wasn't effortless. And I have zero regrets about how hard I worked in high school, from freshman year to senior year - I had a social life as well, I promise - because it instilled good habits in me when it came to college. But we'll get there.

Dirty SRDy study room memories

Another area in which grit came into play was volleyball. I don't know how much volleyball you've watched, but at the very least, you probably recognize how very tall most of the girls are. And if you don't know me personally, I'm simply of an average 5'5" height. Considered small in the volleyball world. I was a setter, meaning I was the one who set up the hitters so they could swing away and mark down a kill. Setters are the quarterback of the team, and I got to be a part of every single play. And I loved it. And I was a good setter. I met quite a bit of success throughout my career, and while I certainly wouldn't have played at a powerhouse like Texas or Penn State, I probably could have played somewhere collegiately had I chosen that route. 

Following the same pattern as my schoolwork, I worked very, very hard to become the player that I was. I drove 30 minutes each way, three times a week, to condition for 45 minutes, go through 30 minutes of setter training, and then two hours of team practice. And I did this for six years. That doesn't include the bi-monthly tournaments, nor does it include the hours I spent hitting the ball against the side of the house. My parents will tell you how much that cost. But I had a pretty mean serve because of it. It doesn't include the camps I was fortunate enough to attend, nor the private lessons I took in order to refine my skills. I once asked for a special setter ball for Christmas so that I could get more repetitions and strengthen my wrists while I was watching television.

Did I make mistakes? Absolutely. I made mistakes up until my very last game, but I didn't let them control me. I only let them motivate me to work even harder so that I wouldn't repeat them.

In college, when I was taking my first real English class as an official English major, I brought home a D on my very first paper. I had never even seen a grade that low on a piece of my writing, and I was absolutely crushed, as there was no way to recover from this grade and make an A in the class. Of course, my first thought was maybe that English wasn't the major for me. Maybe I wasn't as great a writer as I thought I was. And I wasn't. But that was the last time I saw a D on any one of my English papers. My Astronomy exams, now, that's a whole other story. Anyway, that poor grade motivated me to change my approach to the papers I was assigned. I began to write drafts, go to office hours, and go to the writing center, that semester and the remainder of my semesters. Eventually, I learned how to analyze text and develop my own voice, and the B+ I received in that first English class was the most proud I've ever been of a grade. Because of how hard I worked for it.

In one final personal example, let's talk running. You guys know that running has been a big part of my life for about six years now. Up until this past summer, I saw running as a way to stay in shape. I saw it as my time to think. And I enjoyed signing up for races as a way to challenge myself and push myself to run farther, but I had never pushed myself in terms of speed. In a sense, I never knew how good I could be at running. And at the beginning of this "deliberate running", we'll call it, I failed many a time. I mean we're talking, "Maybe I should quit running and take up Zumba" failure. It was hard. And it's still hard. And I still fail. But I have a purpose and a goal when I run. And while it may not always be fun (I'm talking to you, Thursday tempo runs), that deliberate practice is going to (hopefully) show on January 15th when I take on the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. I'm not the most talented runner. Not even close. Hard work just really, really matters.

This book stands out to me because I really and truly felt as though I was having a coffee (if I drank coffee, that is) with Mrs. Duckworth. It's personal, it's backed with an insane amount of research that actually makes sense to me, and I just can't stop thinking about it. Granted, I just finished reading it last night. But I think everyone should read it. It's applicable to so many aspects of life, and it certainly resonated with me in terms of running, but it really hit home for me as a high school teacher and coach. Particularly the idea of a fixed vs. growth mindset. This absolutely kills me, but for whatever reason, so many of my students are of the fixed mindset that "school just isn't for them," and I'll have players tell me, "I'm just not good at setting (or whatever skill)." Whatever the reason for that type of mindset, as we begin this spring semester, I want my students and players to develop a growth mindset. I want them to know that their "ability to learn is based on their effort, their hard work, and their dedication," not what they've been told in the past. I want them to take on the hard things, and push themselves beyond what they think they can do. I want them to challenge themselves beyond what they may believe to be possible. Failure isn't forever. Failure is motivation to get up and start again. To persevere and stick with it. So much of life is about effort. You have to ask yourself how badly you want something, and how hard you are willing to work to get it.

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The conclusion of this book is what really hit me. It reads, "To be gritty is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. To be gritty is to hold fast to an interesting and purposeful goal. To be gritty is to invest, day after week after year, in challenging practice. To be gritty is to fall down seven times, and rise eight." This book is challenging. This book is powerful. It fires me up, and it gives me hope. Like we were told when we were little kids, when we fall off our bikes, we've got to get back up and try again.

Things I'm Loving Friday LI

Happy LAST Friday of 2016! I know it's said at the end of every calendar year, but how are we at the end of another year? We're finally getting some cooler temperatures here in Houston, and I am loving it. It's nice to be able to wear yoga pants and a Nike dri-fit while running errands, and it's nice to not have to turn on the air conditioner in December, and it's especially nice to be able to run outside and actually enjoy it. Even if I did nearly blow over in the 30mph winds. 

But, it is Friday, so I'm going to end this year on our normal Friday note. With some Things I'm Loving!

Books by Jennifer Mathieu
Okay, I might be a little biased because not only do I get to work with this fabulous woman, I actually get to share my room with her. And she's got a little routine down - she'll come into my room before school and write her objectives on a small part of my board, and I love that part of the routine because it means I get to chat with her if I'm in my room at that time. And she doesn't just teach. She writes, too. She's a young adult novelist, and our English 1 PLC contemplated changing up our summer reading novel, so we decided to check out her first novel, The Truth About Alice. I tore through it in a day. I told her how much I loved her writing, and the next morning, I had a signed copy of her second novel, Devoted, sitting on my desk. I had finished it by the next morning. Her characters are so real, and she captures their thoughts and personalities so well that it's easy to understand why I couldn't stop reading.

Under Armour "Rule Yourself" Campaign
We all know that I'm borderline obsessed with the Olympics. Okay, maybe not borderline, but it's fine. I love this video for a couple of reasons. One, it takes away the idea that females are not as dedicated or strong when it comes to athletics (is that even still an idea?), and two, it shows how much work goes into just a couple minutes of fame on the biggest stage in sports. All elite athletes put in so much work, and make so many sacrifices in order to be the very best they can be. They'll be the first to tell you that it's not all smiles and sparkles, but I have no doubt that it's worth it. After all, "it's what you do in the dark that puts you in the light."

Hydro Flask 40 oz. Water Bottle
This water bottle was the best $40 I ever spent. I purchased this water bottle in the summer of 2015, and it has been by my side ever since then. Seriously. If any one of my students or coworkers saw this water bottle around the school, I'm fairly certain they would know it belongs to me. First of all, it's 40 oz, so it lasts me through a couple of class periods. Second, it keeps cold beverages cold, and though I can't personally attest to this, it also keeps hot beverages hot. It's easy to clean, they come in tons of fun colors, and it never sweats nor leaks. My Hydro Flask is my right-hand man, and I wouldn't make it through the school day without it.

HelloGoodbye Doormat
It only took me eight months to get a doormat, but hey, I finally did it. Better late than never, right? I found this gem of a doormat at Target for only $10. It's cute, it's sturdy, and gets the mud off of my feet and Mack's paws before we step foot inside my apartment. We won't talk about how I went to Target with the goal of picking this up, told myself I would pick it up from Guest Services on my way out, and made it to my next destination before realizing that I did not pick up the doormat. Whoops.

Running as the Thinking Person's Sport
If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm a runner. You may think I'm crazy, but I fell in love with the sport six years ago and have never looked back. It keeps me in crazy good shape, it gets me outside, it challenges, and it gives me time to think. So I wasn't too surprised when I saw this article from the New York Times claiming running requires more higher-level thinking than many people may have thought. Researchers at the University of Arizona acted on their suspicions and found that running seems to be a "mobile math puzzle." It's not to say that runners are smarter than any other human beings, rather, runners have to play a lot of mental mind games to get to that finish line. Many have scoffed at this article and study because of the small number of subjects, but ask any runner about the concentration and discipline running requires.

Have a fabulous Friday! And here's a PSA - it's Harry Potter Weekend on FreeForm (formerly ABC Family). You can thank me later.

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 Funday

Hello and happy Sunday! I'm trying to figure out how I go back to school tomorrow (teachers only, for now!), and how the heck summer flew by so fast. Week one of volleyball is already in the books, and time doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. And I would have posted a couple of times this week, but my computer was otherwise occupied. That is, Mack went running full speed ahead after a tennis ball and knocked my computer to the floor. Shout out to the IT department for getting my computer up and running before the start of inservice!

Bellaire Volleyball, Round Three

Anyway, after this week's whirlwind of volleyball activity, I am a little surprised at how productive I've managed to be today. I've prepared breakfast and lunch, whipped up another batch of my zucchini chocolate chip muffins, and managed to do a little bit of cleaning before the Swiffer drove Mack absolutely crazy. I have him back for a couple of days while my parents are forced out of their house for the completion (!) of their new hardwood floors. You certainly won't hear me complaining. But let's kick off this new week with a survey, shall we?

What is your favorite food? Nothing beats a turkey burger and sweet potato fries. That is hands down my favorite thing about pre-race day. Though I also look forward to ordering seafood when I eat out, as that's probably the one thing I'm not yet comfortable preparing myself. Salmon is probably my most frequently ordered entree. 

How do you de-stress? Either I go for a run, or I do something fun with Mack. Maybe I'll talk him for a walk, or we'll play a round of fetch, or we'll have a puppy playdate with other pups in the neighborhood. Just walking in the door to his sweet face is enough to turn any day around.

Where do you get your ideas for new posts? My own life and experiences. Things I'm doing, things I'm loving, things I'm eating, etc. If I'm traveling (okay, or if I've just returned from traveling), I'll write about my experiences there. If I just ran a race, you'll probably read about it before you hear about it. Though I do get my surveys from other blogs. And the Friday Things I'm Loving feature came from my favorite blog of all time - Peanut Butter Fingers.

Cookies or Pie? Oh man. I'm not typically a huge pie person, but the peach pie from Royer's Pie Haven in Round Top is pretty unbeatable. That being said, I've always been a cookie monster. When I was in college, my grandmother would send her famous chocolate chip cookies to my dorm or house as part of a care package, and I once ate 17 of them in one day. IN. ONE. DAY.

What’s your favorite movie? There are so many movies I enjoy, but The Breakfast Club is one of those movies that will never get old. Remember the Titans is another one that won't be turned off should I ever come across it while flipping through channels.

What is your least favorite chore to do around the house? I loathe folding clothes. I don't particularly like ironing either, but I don't even own an iron, so that's not a chore I even worry about. I'll take cleaning the bathroom over folding clothes any day of the week.

What’s your favorite hobby/activity to do in your spare time? Obviously I enjoy running - or any form of exercise, really - cooking, baking, reading (I just finished The Cursed Child, and I'm dying to discuss it with someone!), writing, and spending any amount of time with my almost one-year-old (!) beagle.

Do you play or watch any sports? Do I play or watch sports? D U H. I played every sport under the sun growing up - except for tennis, that is - and I still play sports whenever I get the chance. I've been on a sand volleyball team, a soccer team, I'll shoot hoops every once in a while, and sports is almost always what's playing on my television. Right now, and for the next 16 days, the Olympics will be playing nonstop. And when I can't watch it on TV, I'll be streaming it on my phone. I am a huge sports fan, but Texas football has to be my favorite. We are just 28 days away, people. Hook'em forever.

Throwback to Fall 2010

Are you a country or city girl? I am a city girl through and through. I've never not known life in a big city, or at least, a bustling city, and I am not made for small town life. I think it's cute and quaint, but I've become too used to living just minutes from a grocery and/or convenience store. There's always something to do in a big city, and though the traffic causes my blood pressure to skyrocket, I wouldn't have it any other way. I wouldn't trade the amenities of living in the third-largest city for anything in the world. 

And speaking of running, I'm off to sneak in today's long run. This running schedule I'm on is no joke, and I'm having to drag myself from the couch in order to hit the treadmill. 

At least I've got the Olympics to occupy the miles! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!