Things I'm Loving Friday LVI

I'm really glad I picked the last week of (my) summer to start writing again. I'm not sure what has gotten into me, but maybe I'll pop in a time or two over these next couple of months when inspiration hits me. Or when I have a free moment and something I want to share. But let's just focus on the fact that I'm getting a post out today. Another roundup of some Things I'm Loving lately, so without further ado, enjoy!

I Skeptically Tried Practicing Gratitude

If you have been around for awhile, then you know how much of a sucker I am for articles like this. If you start losing yourself on Instagram, you'll see a lot of posts with captions that include the word "grateful". And I totally understand that that word can elicit eye rolls from many. But I totally believe in the gratitude thing. There's a lot of negativity around us. And it's really easy to find things to complain about. But by consciously focusing on just five specific things to be grateful for each day, that's a game changer in my opinion. When I'm having "one of those days", I have to remind myself that every day may not be great, but that there's something great in every day. A little gratitude can go a long, long way, and I'm hoping to pick the habit back up at the start of the new school year.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

And with my 11th book of the summer, I present to you this monster written by Stephen King. This book had been on my list forever, but I was a little intimidated by the sheer length of it. I was an English major in college, and I am an English teacher, but I avoided reading a book because I thought it was too long. So, okay. Anyway, I borrowed this book from a friend and let it sit on my bedside table for a week or so before grabbing it as I was heading out the door for the airport on my way to Chicago. And guys, if you haven't read it yet, do yourself a favor and READ IT! I'm incredibly fascinated by the Kennedy family, and this book ultimately deals with trying to travel back in time to try and stop the JFK assassination. But more than that it deals with the idea of love and the butterfly effect and history and dancing and sappiness and do-overs and what ifs and some truly extraordinary characters. Once I really got into it I absolutely could not put it down, and though it is only my second Stephen King book, I see there being more in my future. 

Off-the-Shoulder/Cold Shoulder Tops

Sometimes I'm super on board with the big summer trend. Other times I'm not. This summer I'm 100% on board and then some. I absolutely love the off the shoulder trend that is taking over the Instagram world. Living in Houston (and honestly anywhere), summer months call for as little clothing as possible. But is still appropriate. Tank tops are always a go-to, but I'll be the first to admit that my arms are not my favorite part of my body. I'll rock shorts in the middle of December, but this off-the-shoulder and/or cold shoulder trend allows me to stay cool while not having to feel self-conscious about my upper body. It's a win-win! My favorite OTS top is this one -- only $35 from Nordstrom and it comes in so many fun summer colors! And I recently purchased a couple of OTS dresses from Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale and I can't wait for them to come in.

Dairy-Free Cupcakes
This really only helps my Chicago readers (do I even have any of you guys?), but this cupcake tasted so good that I think it's worth posting about. While on the Signature Dishes tour through Bobby's Bike Hike (which, if you are ever in Chicago, I highly recommend you do this tour -- we had a blast), we stopped for deep dish pizza, cupcakes, Chicago dogs, and beer. I was thrilled when we walked into this cute little bakery – Swirlz – and saw that there were multiple dairy-free options. For those who have a gluten intolerance, there are also gluten-free options available! I opted for the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and even after telling myself I would only eat half, I ate every last crumb. And I think that's more important than the fact that the cupcake tasted delicious is the fact that I allowed myself to eat it. The entire thing. I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I let myself eat an actual dessert that wasn't a cop-out like one scoop of sorbet or a bowl of fruit or something. And you would think I would understand this by age 25, but as it turns out, I didn't gain five pounds, it didn't affect how I performed during my half marathon, and while it's not something I am going to indulge in every single day, it was a sweet reminder that I can allow myself a treat every now and again.

Bitmoji
I know I'm incredibly behind the times here. But to be fair, I knew about Bitmoji as it was becoming popular, I just never acted on it. And the reason I finally created my Lizzie McGuire voice is because I saw other educators using Bitmoji in various Google forms, and I wanted to do the same. I'm definitely thinking of having my students create theirs so it can be used throughout the school year, but for now I'm enjoying communicating with my friends solely through Bitmoji expressions. 

Maze Dog Bowl

This one was an absolute game changer for Mack. And I actually learned about while on one of my dog-sitting assignments this summer. One of the dogs I stayed with was a Doberman, and they tend to scarf down their food in about four seconds flat. That's typically not very good for a pup's digestion, so his owner showed me her way of slowing the giant down - a Maze Bowl. My beagle is also one to just scarf down his food, cleaning his bowl in less than 30 seconds, but this particular bowl causes him to to take minutes to eat his mere half a cup of food (he's also on a slight diet, so I'm pretty sure he's always hungry). He has to actually work for his food, so I like to think that he's enjoying it a little bit more this way. These bowls come in different sizes depending on the size of your dog, and it is probably the best $9 I've spent in a while.

Have a great Friday, everyone! Make sure and do something fun and summery this weekend -- fingers crossed for sunshine here in Houston so I can get some last-minute work on my summer tan. Priorities!

Foodie Survey

Happy Sunday! I’m not sure how we went from the freezing Friday temperatures to temperatures in the 70’s today, but this is Houston and I suppose I should be used to it by now, right? Last night I was glad to be bundled up in a tacky Christmas sweater as I made my way over to a friend's apartment for an Ugly Sweater party, but this morning I walked outside and the weather had done a complete 180.

Throwback to 2010, in case you're wondering if I've always been this way

I have yet to motivate myself to get out and run the nine miles that I need to run, but I think I’m just bitter that it’s 70 degrees in the middle of December. DECEMBER. Especially when we’ve had a little taste of winter. But before I get too riled up about the weather, let’s start this Sunday off with a survey, shall we?

LIST 5 THINGS YOU EAT/DRINK EVERY DAY

·         Water, obviously

·         Yogurt

·         Something with chocolate (okay, multiple things)

·         Chicken

·         Fruit – right now I have an obsession with mango

WHAT ARE 3 THINGS YOU REFUSE TO EAT?

There are many things I refuse to eat – I’ve been a picky eater for as long as I can remember, but I’ll stick to the survey requirements.

·         Creamy sauce of any kind – The fact that I’m lactose intolerant makes this an easy choice.

·         Oysters – I just can’t get over the texture.

·         Doughnuts – I know this is such a weird food to refuse to eat, but something about the smell of them just makes me cringe. Even as a kid I was able to take maybe three bites before pushing it aside, and though I enjoy making donuts, I won’t eat them.

WHAT IS THE WORST THING YOU’VE EVER COOKED?

This is embarrassing to admit, but I’m really horrible at using the crock pot. How a person can be bad at using a crock pot, I really don’t know, but I can’t seem to get it right. I’m much better at the traditional pots, pans, and oven method of cooking. And I’ve butchered more than a few dessert recipes along the way, too.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LABOR OF LOVE?

Made-from-scratch baked goods. I understand that boxed cookies are much easier and much less of a mess than it is to make cookies from scratch (and I’m not hating on the pre-made stuff, as I use those often), but homemade baked goods really do taste so much better. And I think this Fourth of July layer cake was probably the most labor-intensive cake I’ve ever made, but you have to admit, it sure is pretty!

WHAT ARE YOUR 5 FAVORITE THINGS TO SPLURGE ON?

·         Hopdoddy hamburgers – Worth the hour+ wait, worth the few extra dollars, and worth the extra cals.

·         Local Foods Garden Sammie – I live about a half mile away, and my bank account is feeling this splurge.

·         Frozen yogurt – Always hits the spot, and always worth it.

·         Bacon – I rarely crave bacon, but when I do crave it, there’s no stopping me.

·         Verts Mediterranean Grill – There’s one just down the road from my parents’ house, and I go all out – the kebap and sweet potato fries – and I enjoy every bite.

SALTY OR SWEET?

Salty. I have a really hard time turning down popcorn, (healthy-ish) chips, or French fries – especially if they’re from Hungry’s.

FAVORITE MEAL OF THE DAY?

BREAKFAST. I eat the equivalent of about three breakfasts, and I would be fine eating breakfast food for every meal of the day.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO COCKTAIL?

I’m just a big fan of wine. I used to be a white wine only kind of girl, but I’ve since learned the error of my ways and I no longer discriminate.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT GUILTY PLEASURE?

Sweet potato fries. I did a dangerous thing where I keep AlexiaWaffle-Cut Sweet Potato Fries in my freezer, and sometimes I come home from school just craving them. And nine times out of ten, I give into that craving. I also love gelato, and I’ve got an excellent gelato establish just down the street from my apartment. Dangerous.

CURRENT FAVORITE HEALTHY SNACK

My giant Oatmeal-Zucchini-Banana-Chocolate Chip Muffins. They’re healthy (they contain vegetables, duh), yet they still satisfy that sweet tooth. Plus, they freeze really well, so I can whip up a bunch when I’m feeling particularly domestic and have them for a week or two.

And on that note, I'm off to run and get a jump start on my Christmas baking and card-writing. I've already created a fun (well, I think it's fun) finals review game for my students, and I've already mentioned that all I've got left to grade are final exams. I suppose I could get ahead for next semester, but I think a little downtime is necessary every once in a while. Besides, what else will I do while my students are testing? 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! 

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!

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.

(Source)

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.

(Source)

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 XLVII

Happy Friday! I hope you guys have enjoyed a wonderful week. It has been hot, hot, hot here in Houston, but that hasn't stopped me from running, walking the pup, walking with Sarah around Rice, laying by the pool, and enjoying this last little bit of time off. Actually, volleyball unofficially starts tonight with the first day of our freshman volleyball camp, where we start teaching the incoming freshman the Bellaire Volleyball Way. I always look forward to getting a look at my future players, and I've got my fingers crossed for a good turnout. And a setter!

Dog days of summer

But before I get going on all that I hope to accomplish today before heading up to school, let's take a minute for our regularly scheduled events.

Pikos
Guys, I am obsessed with Pikos. From tops to dresses, I can't seem to get enough of them. They're such a staple in my closet - in any closet - and I just love how versatile they are. You can dress them up by adding a piece of statement jewelry and fun shoes, or you can dress them down by wearing a Piko dress and Keds. They're comfortable, they come in every color imaginable, and I wear something Piko at least once a week. I may or may not have just ordered four new dresses. Judge away.

Spotify Discover Weekly
If you don't have Spotify, you need to get Spotify. $10/month, and all the music your heart desires. I love Spotify because not only does it allow me to easily access my favorite songs, it also lets me discover new music based on the songs that I already love. Discover Weekly is a feature that creates and delivers a two-hour playlist every Monday morning. It's unique in that it combines the kind of music that you typically listen to with what's popular with other listeners, allowing you to discover new music that you might not have discovered otherwise. I absolutely love this feature, as I have added quite a few new songs to my repertoire.

And then sometimes you get great throwbacks like this one

Teacher Bumper Numbers
Do not watch this video if you are in a place where it would be frowned upon for you to burst out laughing. Maybe it made me laugh so hard because I'm both a runner and a teacher, and I can identify with this quick clip on so many levels, but I think this will make even the non-teachers laugh. Gerry Brooks is a principal in Lexington who claims to spread humor in the world of education. And that he does. I'm also very fond of his PLC video. Professional learning community, or places ladies converse? Because we all need a Friday laugh.

That time I convinced my PLC to go bowling

Veggie-Stuffed Sandwiches
I will admit that I have been extra lazy when it has come to cooking this week. Nothing has jumped out at me as something I really want to make, and when I have so many great restaurants within biking distance. Lately, I've been loving sandwiches that are chock full of veggies. And chicken, because a girl needs her protein, but I can't get enough of the Garden Sammie with Chicken from Local Foods and the Roasted Vegetable Sandwich (with added chicken) from La Madeleine. Protein, carbs, and health all stuffed into one delicious, toasted sandwich.

Veggies for days

Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mega Chunks
It's no secret that I love all things chocolate. But I have to be careful that I don't upset my lactose intolerance. Luckily, Enjoy Life products cater specifically to dairy-free people such as myself. These chocolate chunks are said to be great for baking, but I prefer to enjoy them mixed in with my favorite Chobani yogurt. They are free of any additives, and they actually taste like chocolate, so I don't feel like I'm sacrificing the delicious taste for the sake of my digestive system.

I've nixed the granola and go all chocolate chunks

And that's all I've got. I've got quite the to-do list to tackle today, so I'm over and out. Have a great start to your weekend!

11:11, Make a Wish

Happy Sunday! This post is coming a little later than usual, but that's because I got to spend a most wonderful weekend in Austin, and I'm just now sitting down to complete my usual Survey Sunday. And before we get started on that, I'll share a few of my favorite Austin moments. On Friday, I drove straight to my freshman and sophomore year dorm - Scottish Rite Dormitory. It has a couple nicknames, but I'll save them for another post. I got to visit with Emily and Jessica and my favorite maintenance guys - Joseph and Robert - while remembering with fondness all of the tours I gave and the phone calls I answered. And the pranks I pulled, but again, that's a post for another time.

It was so good to see them, and to hear that life is good at the SRD. Some of my sweetest college memories were made at this palace, and I met some of my very best friends while living here. I'm putting my future daughters' names on this list the minute they are born.

Naturally Mack and I had to make a visit to campus - we were on a hunt for his namesake, the one and only Mack Brown, but we had no luck. But I think Mack enjoyed it all the same.

My Longhorn pup

We walked Town Lake, ate at some of my favorite Austin hot spots, walked up and down South Congress, and slept like rocks before starting all over again the next day. We enjoyed an early morning walk, got our veggies in with smoothies from JuiceLand, made a visit to Anthropologie (heads up, teachers - there's a 15% discount on your entire purchase for the next two months with a valid teacher ID!), and ate lunch at the most charming sandwich shop tucked away in the back of a Hyde Park neighborhood with two of my former YoungLife girls. It was hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that they are going to be SENIORS in high school, as I met them when they were just 8th graders. How time flies, but I'm so proud of the young ladies they have become, and I can't wait to see all of the incredible things they accomplish in the coming years. Shout out to social media for making that possible! After a few more stops at my favorite Austin spots, it was time to hit the road again. A short, but really sweet, visit to my home away from home.

Avenue B Grocery

And now, it's time for our regularly scheduled Survey Sunday. Though this one is a little bit different. You give 11 random facts about yourself - this was much easier said than done - and then you answer 11 random questions. I love learning things about other people, so I never feel too self-centered when I share these surveys about myself. Happy reading!

1. I ate my first hamburger at the age of 10. Seriously. My mom was freaked about mad cow disease, and took every precaution necessary to prevent me from getting it. She would even go so far as to tell other parents that “I don’t eat hamburgers” whenever I spent the night out. Now, I’m a hamburger fanatic. Gotta make up for lost time!

2. I’m not a big fan of concerts. I love music, but I really don’t enjoy attending concerts. I think it’s a combination of the crowds, the length of the concert (they always go on far too long, in my opinion), and I don’t typically know enough of an artist’s songs to make attending a concert worth it. I love things like ACL and the rodeo, where shows last about 45 minutes – my concert sweet spot.

Rodeo 2015

Rodeo 2014

3. I have never had a cup of coffee. Seriously. I worry that even one cup of coffee would LITERALLY have me bouncing off the walls, as I’m already enthusiastic enough in the mornings without it.

4. For as much as I love health and fitness, I’m pretty pitiful when it comes to stretching. In fact, I can’t even touch my toes. This is why I should do yoga.

5. I loathe talking on the phone. I would so much rather text than talk on the phone. I’m sure this can be chalked up to my introverted tendencies, but I think it also has to do with the fact that talking on the phone tends to be such a complicated process. Press this number followed by this number followed by this string of 10 numbers, or I’m forced to wait for 20 minutes before talking to an actual person.

Jeff - on my right - is really good about regular phone calls to catch up

6. Though I am genuinely super eager to give help to other people when asked, I’m really bad at asking for help. I hate the thought of possibly inconveniencing anyone, which is why I will try and do everything on my own before asking for help. Typically, if I ask for help, I’m super desperate. I’m working on this.

7. I can’t parallel park to save my life – shout out to Driver’s Ed in a Box – but I’m pretty dynamite when it comes to backing into parking spots. And I was good at this even before I had a back-up camera.

8. When I was younger, I really wanted to be an astronaut. I was obsessed with all things stars and space. I was super excited about my Astronomy class in college, and it ended up being one of my least favorite classes throughout my entire college career. Go figure. That being said, I’m still interested in all things space.

9. One of the first things I notice about people is what arm they wear their watch on. Because I’m left-handed, I’m quick to notice any fellow lefties.

10. I love a good pun.

11. In fourth grade I was eliminated from the finals of the school spelling bee on the word “museum.” I happen to pronounce it “mu-zam”, and I spelled it as though it has an “a” in it. I’m actually a really good speller, though this word still haunts me.

And for the 11 questions -

1. Coffee or tea?

As you guys read above, I have never actually had a cup of coffee. And I’m not a huge fan of tea, either, despite my best efforts to become a tea drinker. I have found one flavor of tea that I really love – Cheers to You Cranberry Celebration – and I restock my supply at the Nutcracker Market every year.

2. What is your favorite meal of the day?

I LOVE breakfast. One hundred percent my favorite meal of the day. From yogurt to pancakes to frittatas to waffles to chocolate zucchini muffins and so much more, you just can’t beat it. And there is truly nothing that can bring me down on First Friday.

3. What is your favorite place that you’ve traveled to and why?

SHOOT. What a tough question! I’ve traveled to some pretty incredible places. San Francisco holds some of my very favorite memories – a long weekend with my mom + a half marathon, a long weekend with four of my very best friends – and it’s just an incredibly beautiful city. I lived in Barcelona for almost two months, so that city will always hold a very special place in my heart. I fell in love with London on a short weekend trip from Barcelona, and my Argentina trip this summer was an absolute dream. I can find something great to say about every place I’ve traveled, but I’ll quit before your eyes glaze over.

Recoleta Cemetery

4. Which blogger(s) do you most admire?

Julie over at Peanut Butter Fingers was the blog that inspired mine. I so admire her outlook on life, and the way she balances a healthy lifestyle with her family, friends, and her energetic dog. Just reading her blog taught me that calorie counting really isn’t necessary – it’s more about how you feel. That exercise should be something you enjoy doing, and that it doesn’t look the same for every person. And that it’s okay to indulge every once in a while, and these are all principles that I seek to apply to my own healthy living journey.

5. When did you start blogging and why?

I started blogging at the very beginning of my sophomore year of college – so September 2011. I had an obsession with reading healthy living blogs, and because I also strive to live a healthy, balanced life, I decided to combine my love of fitness with my love of writing (and my love of frozen yogurt). Thus, fitnessandfroyo was born!

6. What is the last book you read?

I recently finished When Breath Becomes Air, and I absolutely loved it. I had to go back and reread many parts of it, simply because I didn’t know a lot of the medical terms, but it was a really great read. I’m currently reading Stephen King’s The Shining, and I’m loving it. What that says about me, I don’t know, but it has officially sucked me in.

7. If you could meet anyone (past or present) who would it be and why?

I’m going to copy the person who filled this out before me and go with an Olympian. Past, present, future – you name it. I’m absolutely obsessed with the Olympics. I would love to sit down with Michael Phelps, Kerri Walsh, Shawn Johnson, any track and field athlete – but I would love to sit down with any of them and talk about their dedication to their sport. These athletes have given so much, and many of them are only recognized for it once every four years, and I would love to pick their brains.

8. Are you a morning or night person?

I am without a doubt a morning person. I wake up ready to attack the day, almost every day, and I’ve never been one of those people who says, “Don’t talk to me until at least 10am.” When I’m up, I’m up, and I’ve found that my brain is sharpest, and I’m far more productive in the mornings. Plus, I’m typically in bed by 10pm – something my friends have teased me about for years!

9. For April Fools’ Day, have you ever pulled a prank and what was your best one?

I can’t remember a specific April Fools’ Day prank, but I have pulled quite a few pranks in my day – Sarah Diamond being my best fellow prankster. We have quite the story about leaving fruit outside one of our dormmates’ doors while in Barcelona, though no one else seems to think it’s quite as funny as we do. I’m going to start early when it comes to April Fools’ Day this year – something that will get my coworkers, but that won’t get me fired.

10. What was your latest blog post about and where do you get inspiration?

My latest blog post was another episode of Things I’m Loving Friday, and this one focused on advice articles, if you will. Actually, many of them focused on the teaching profession, which is obviously something I hold very near and dear to my heart. My inspiration comes from my own life – the things I do, the articles I read, the places I see – and has transformed from something focused solely on fitness and healthy eating into a blog that follows my daily (or weekly … or monthly) life.

The greatest thing about teaching

11. What is the number one thing on your bucket list?

Okay, this changes quite often, as I have quite the bucket list. Much of it is centered on traveling, and experiencing things in these places that I maybe can’t experience in Texas. For example, canyoning in Switzerland. However, after a recent conversation with a running expert has left me thinking about really getting serious about qualifying to run the Boston Marathon within these next couple of years. The Boston Marathon is probably the equivalent of my Olympics – definitely in reach, but something that I’ll have to work extremely hard to achieve. 

And with that, I'm off to shower and call it a night!