Pinkberry Happy Hour

Hello, hello, fitnessandfroyo followers! How are things going on y’all’s end? I’m savoring every last moment of my last week of “freedom,” but earlier today I did something not-so-smart. I decided to tackle my 40-minute recovery run, as prescribed by Houston Fit, at 1:30 in the afternoon. In Houston, Texas. On what felt like a 100+ degree day. Let’s just put it this way. I lasted precisely 29 minutes before giving in and calling it a day. But let me explain my thought process to you guys before you go thinking I’m fully crazy. My thought process was that it’s a recovery run, which means I won’t be running at my fastest pace, so therefore the heat won’t even be noticeable. Ha, yeah. I tried to find as much shade as possible while I was running, but I eventually had to call it quits and walk myself the rest of the way home. Which might have been just as worse, but I figured it was better that I keep moving, instead of stopping to rest and letting the heat just attack me. It was kind of a rough afternoon, but I then hit the pool and swam a few laps in lieu of the recovery run that I didn’t quite finish, and I felt so much better. And I learned that just because I have afternoons off, doesn’t mean I should cross a run off of my to-do list at that time. It’s certainly worth getting up early to squeeze in a run before it gets too unbearably hot, rather than feel like passing out in the heat of the day.

Which is why the next part of my day came at the perfect time. But let me back up a little bit. Elle and Ashley, who work together at ETBFit, reached out to me about the possibility of covering Pinkberry’s Summer Happy Hour on my blog. And while I immediately jumped at the opportunity – free frozen yogurt? Yes, please. – a few weeks of working volleyball camps, coupled with a few out-of-town trips, left me unable to make it over to Pinkberry until today. The last week of Summer Happy Hour. Which is a huge bummer because happy hour is one heck of a deal. You get half off any medium or large Pinkberry between the hours of 5 and 7pm. Which means a medium Pinkberry with toppings is a mere $3.22. Just try and beat that.

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Pinkberry is easily my favorite frozen yogurt establishment, though I know some people dock some points for the pure fact that it’s not self-serve. That doesn’t bother me, in fact, it’s probably for the best that someone else is in control of how much frozen yogurt I consume. Anyway, Pinkberry has the most limited flavor selection of all of Houston’s frozen yogurt establishments, but in my opinion, they’re the best. It’s clearly quality over quantity here at Pinkberry. And, the flavors rotate. They’re seasonal, if you will. Think Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. Of course, they have their staples, such as: original – the perfect combination of sweet and tart, and chocolate hazelnut – one of my personal favorites, but the rest of the flavors rotate. Many of them are tart and fruity, but there will always be a sweet flavor or two.

Apparently they cater weddings. Just saying. (Source)

But this post is about two of their summer flavors: Blueberry and Strawberry Margarita. Which I’m sure taste just fine by themselves, but together, they are nothing short of a dream. And you guys know that I have high frozen yogurt standards. Strawberry Margarita is an alcohol-free fruity, citrus flavor made with real strawberries and lime juice. I personally didn’t do this, but you can choose to add Pinkberry’s triple berry sugar salt topping for a fun margarita-like experience. I didn’t taste the lime, but it also wasn’t straight strawberry. There was a little something extra to it, which certainly made it reminiscent of a strawberry margarita. Blueberry is a fresh and fruity flavor made with real blueberries, and they taste just like summer should. Tart and fruity with the perfect hint of sweet. I could actually see hints of real blueberries, which makes it an instant summer favorite. Strawberry margarita was more tangy and tart, while the blueberry flavor had a hint of sweet to it, which is what pairs the two flavors together so well.

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Top with fruit – strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries were my fruit of choice – or something a little more indulgent – chocolate chips would be my first pick – for the most refreshing summer treat. I know I can speak for all of Texas when I say this, but the idea of eating anything that requires heating is almost unfathomable; therefore, the colder, the better.

So do yourself a favor – get out of the sun, decide to treat yourself, and head on over to a participating Pinkberry this week to take advantage of their unbeatable happy hour. I’ll take half off frozen yogurt over half off alcoholic drinks any day of the week. And while you’re there, take advantage of these limited-time flavors, cooling off with a refreshing cup of blueberry, strawberry margarita, or a combination of the two. That last one is especially recommended.

30-Minute Circuit Workout

Hello, hello! Have I got a workout to share with you guys today! But we'll get to that in a minute. I can't let this post go by without addressing yesterday's National Running Day. I celebrated accordingly, of course, by going on a nice 5.6-mile run around my neighborhood. Temperatures have been climbing high here in Texas, but you won't hear one word of complaint out of me. Temperatures in the 90s beat endless rain any day of the week. And I did it to myself by choosing to go out there in the heat of the day. New tanlines, right? For a accurate and concise explanation of Why I Run (and why many others run), please read this article.

After my run, I grabbed my Menchie's coupon (thanks, Bellaire, for all of the coupons and gift cards) and headed over to Bellaire. It had been a while since I'd been over there, so I had to make sure I still knew my way. Anyway, what is fitness without fro-yo, right? It had been a while since I had treated myself to some frozen yogurt, and yesterday seemed as good a day as any to hit up the Bellaire Menchie's for a combination of chocolate sorbet and original tart topped with strawberries, blackberries, coconut flakes, and a sprinkling of chocolate sprinkles. The best post-run treat.

And continuing on with the fitness trend, let's talk circuit workouts. I ran on both Tuesday and Wednesday, so I wanted to switch things up a bit today. I contemplated attending one of Felipe's Muscle Blast classes, but I didn't wake up in time to attend the 7am class, and I didn't feel like waiting all day for the 5pm class. So, I made my own. Though Felipe's class will always be harder. Anyway, I created a workout that consisted of six rounds, five exercises apiece. I planned on completing each exercise for one minute before moving onto the next one. As you can see, the rounds on the top row very closely resemble the second row, but there's enough of a change to give it a little bit of variety and to prevent the rounds from being repetitive. The minutes passed quickly, and I was nice and sweaty by the end of the half hour.

I will comment on a couple of things before I sign off - I did not last the full minute on the jumping lunges. Jumping lunges have always been difficult for me, so I completed 26 total jumping lunges (13 on each leg) and did reverse lunges to close out the minute. And on the stairs, the (one) means I took the stairs one at a time, and the (two) means taking them two at a time - I'm always up for some added hip stability work.

And on an unrelated-to-fitness note, I used Canva to create the above image, and I am officially obsessed. Get ready to see a lot more of them on the blog!

Last Day of Spring Break Survey Sunday

And a week of freedom and bliss has nearly come to an end. And it has been a pretty perfect little week. I ended on a great note last night, starting off with a delicious dinner at CRISP with Hayley, Amira, and Taylor, after which we moved on over to Sonoma Wine Bar in the Heights, and I finished off the night at Cottonwood, a bar in the Heights, for my room-roomies 23rd birthday celebration. Cottonwood has been on my to-do list for quite some time, and I was glad I was finally able to make it out there. Cottonwood has a really cool vibe, and though it was a flood zone out there and the outdoor patio was closed off, I still thoroughly enjoyed myself - meeting Sarah and Natalie's medical school friends, catching up with some of my middle school friends, playing foosball with Sarah's brother, and spending time with the birthday girl herself. Monday is her GOLDEN birthday, and she is certainly one golden girl!

On a wall at Cottonwood - reminds me of the iconic 'i love you so much' wall in Austin

1. What does your ideal cup of FROYO look like?
I love this question, obviously. My ideal cup of fro-yo is a combination of sweet and tangy - so maybe something like chocolate and raspberry pomegranate, for example. Or blueberry and cookies and cream. Topped with fruit of all kind - blackberries, raspberries, mango, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi - as well as a sprinkle of coconut, and maybe some mini (dairy-free, of course) chocolate chips or granola for that added crunch. Perfection.

2. What do you miss the most about the time period you grew up in?

This sounds hypocritical, as I am very dependent on my cell phone, but I miss the time when none of us even had cell phones, or when we literally used them to call our parents and tell them where we were going. I loved playing outside, biking from house to house, going inside only when the sun had set. I think a lot of kids today miss out on that, and it's no wonder, given all of the distractions out there. I must also say that I miss the quality television shows - Boy Meets World, Full House, and all of those Disney Channel classics. There's just nothing quite like those shows these days.

3. What is your most embarrassing habit?

I hate questions like this because on the spot, I can never think of anything. But hours later, when the moment has long passed, I'll think of the perfect answer. So, just hang on a couple of hours, and I'll come up with a really embarrassing habit to share with you guys.

4. What is the worst food you have ever tried?

I'm not sure what the very worst food I've ever tried is, mainly because if I don't think I'll like it, I won't even try it. So that eliminates a lot of bad food experiences for me. One food that I just can't fathom eating, though, is applesauce. It's something about the texture that just grosses me out a little bit, and I won't even bake with it, I dislike it that much.

5. If you could be a super hero (that YOU make up) what would your name be and what would your super power be?

What a fun question! I wish I were more creative, and I'd have a better answer to this question, but as it stands, I googled "Superhero Name Generator," and this is what I got -

The Gold Gladiator. My skill is "Muscle Mimic," in that I have the ability to instantly learn any skilled physical activity simply by seeing it performed. I'll take it. 

6. What meal could you eat every day?
I pretty much do eat it every day, but a salad, filled to the brim with colorful vegetables, topped with grilled-to-perfection chicken, and doused in either a light balsamic vinaigrette, or a refreshing sun-dried tomato dressing. It's healthy, delicious, and it still hasn't gotten old.

7. Who was your favorite teacher? What grade was it and why do they stand out to you?
Man, I've loved so many of my teachers. I really only have a handful of teachers that I didn't care for for one reason or another, but the teacher who really lit the fire in me to become a teacher was my third-grade teacher, Miss Rosso (who is now Mrs. McGee, but I know her at Miss Rosso). She was the teacher that everyone wanted, including me, and I was so excited when my card came in the mail telling me that I would be in her class, I was ecstatic. She was young, fun, and most of all, she truly and deeply cared about each one of her students. I keep up with her still today, and I am truly grateful for the way she inspired me to do what I do today. So, when the days get tough, I remember how much of an impact Miss Rosso, and so many of my other teachers, had on me.

8. If you were able to do anything (fitness related) what would it be?
I would love to run a full marathon. I know that I can do it. It takes diligent training and recovery days, and a lot of dedication, but that is something I would really love to do. And I would probably be a one and done kind of marathoner, because let's be real, 26.2 miles is a long way to drive, but stay tuned, because 2016 may feature fitnessandfroyo's first full marathon. It's still in the works, but I may just take the plunge. 

9. If you could write a letter to your daughter what three things would you want her to know?
Dear (my nonexistent) Daughters - it's funny, because one of the blogs that I enjoy reading has a feature just like this, except her daughters do actually exist -

• You are deeply and genuinely loved, not only be me and your father, but by the creator and King of this universe.
• You are right where you are supposed to be. So much of our lives are spent looking back on the past, or running toward the future, which are good places to be every once in a while, but know that you are in this season for a reason, even if it's hard and challenging and frustrating. Good will come out of it in time.
• No dream is too big. Don't ever give up on a dream because you're told that it's out of your reach. Keep doing what you love and feel passionate about, and I'll be behind you every step of the way.

10. Who is your favorite blogger and why?

Peanut Butter Fingers. I started reading her blog years and years ago, and though I am not a daily reader these days, just because the day sometimes gets away from me, I absolutely love her blog because one, it's fitness and food based, and I just really love her outlook on life. Of course, a blog that starts off being one thing, often times transforms into a story of the blogger's life, and she and her husband (who are expecting a baby!!!) live such a fun, balanced, and fulfilling life, and I just really look up to that.

And they have a really cute dog (Source)

11. What is your favorite app?
Honestly, I'm going to have to go with Instagram. I tell myself that I'll just quickly scroll through before going to bed, and then before I know it, I'm looking at my friend's sister's boyfriend's cousin's best friend's pictures from Barcelona three summers ago. I mean, how does that even happen? But I enjoy looking at the pictures other people post, as they often give me ideas of restaurants to try, recipes to recreate, quotes to jot down, and places to visit. Can't hate that!

And with that, I'm off to, oh, I don't know, maybe do something to get myself ready for school tomorrow. But more than likely, I'm going to soak up a little bit of this rare sunshine we're experiencing. Have a great one!

Birthday Discounts

If you play your cards right, you won't have to pay for anything on your birthday. There are so many birthday freebies offered out there that it’s impossible to take advantage of all of them. And while there is a very public list of birthday freebies circulating the Internet, I’m here to share with you some of the lesser-known birthday deals. Granted, none of these are completely free, but they certainly make a difference.

Anthropologie

This one might be my very favorite. You all know that I am Anthro obsessed, and it’s all too easy to drop a couple hundred dollars in there. That being said, Anthropologie does reward cardholders (and becoming a cardholder is 100% free) with tag sales and 15% off your entire purchase any day in your birthday month. So, if you are going to shop at all during your birthday month, and hopefully you are, buy a couple of extra items to make that discount even larger!

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Ulta

I love Ulta, and I am spoiled to have one right by my house. And again, I am sure that it comes as no surprise that I have an Ulta rewards card. Hey, when they’re free, why not, right? Anyway, Ulta is really good about giving its rewards cardholders discounts and deals, but during the month of your birthday, you get two times the bonus points on everything that you buy during your birthday month. Those points add up quick, and they quickly turn into what feels like free money. So, for someone who buys her shampoo and hair products and powder and nail polish from Ulta on a regular basis, it’s a great incentive to receive.

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Pinkberry

With a blog name like fitnessandFROYO, you can’t be surprised that I have a couple of frozen yogurt frequent buyer cards. It’s like my version of a Starbucks Gold Card, okay? Anyway, those with a Pinkcard are eligible to receive a small frozen yogurt with toppings any day during their birthday month (actually, it’s within 30 days of receiving the birthday email, which makes it fair for all of us February babies).

Kendra Scott

This one is probably my second favorite. I am no exception to the Kendra Scott obsession, and the fact that one recently opened in City Centre is both a blessing and a curse. Kendra Scott is known for being both bright and bold, but without being too flashy, and it is very easy to become addicted. And for those who are registered with an active email account can take 50% off any Kendra Scott item during your birthday month. Perfect.

Half Price Books

One of the really great things about being a teacher is that I don’t have to lose those wonderful student discounts. Not that I can’t still pass as a student, but it’s nice to know that I don’t have to lie to get the discount. And not only do I get a teacher discount, but you also receive a "birthday surprise," which I would imagine to be a discount coupon of some kind. Not too bad for a place that sells books at an already reduced price! While I do have (and love) a Kindle, sometimes a physical book and a warm blanket are all you need on a cold day.

Columbia
I wish I could pretend that I am an always adventurous, always outside kind of girl. While that isn't necessarily true, I have always preferred Columbia to Patagonia. For whatever reason, Columbia fits me much better, and the prices are slightly better, too. And you can find Columbia in sports stores, whereas the same can't always be said for Patagonia. Anyway, I do have a couple of Columbia fleece jackets, and you guys know I'm into the vests these days, so a 20% off coupon throughout the month of your birthday (especially when you have a winter birthday) for all members of the Columbia Greater Rewards Club.

A Columbia jacket pre-70.3

And for those of you who like Starbucks, you will be happy to know that you can take advantage of a free drink on your birthday. That paired with a free Einstein's bagel isn't a bad way to start out your birthday morning! And I have just two more days of feelin' 22. I was only 22 for a moment, and evidently nobody likes you when you're 23. 

A to Z Survey

Another Sunday, another survey, this one focusing on the alphabet. Enjoy!

A. Age?

22, going on 23. There’s a whole blog post to come on my thoughts and feelings about that!

B. Best friend?

I’ve got many best friends, or who I consider to be best friends. From different stages of life, from different places, for different reasons, but here are a few of them.

C. Cake or pie?

I’d have to go with pie. As long as it’s dairy-free, of course!

 

Royer's Pie Haven in Roundtop

D. Day of choice?

Either Friday or Saturday. Friday, because even though I still have to go to school, I can breathe a little easier knowing that it’s the last day of the work week. And Saturday because, well, I’ve got a whole day to myself and the next day is still the weekend!

E. Essential item?

I’m going to have to copy the answer before me – a water bottle. I almost feel lost without my CamelBak.

F. Favorite color?

Pink! But I love most colors – red, orange, yellow, gray. I don’t discriminate!

G. Gummy bears or worms?

Worms, particularly sour gummy worms.

H. Home town?

Houston, Texas. Born and raised. And back here again.

I. Favorite indulgence?

Frozen yogurt, naturally. Pinkberry is at the top of my list, and I am glad to see that another location has since popped up in Houston (next to Whole Foods – a match made in heaven).

J. January or July?

July. I love the prospect of a new year, but the cold, dreary January weather automatically gives July the edge. Plus, July means summer vacation, and you know I won’t be complaining about that!

K. Kids?

Someday, yes, I would like kids. As someone wisely said, “Teaching high school is the most effective form of birth control,” and after teaching for just four months, I would have to agree.

L. Life isn’t complete without?

There are many, many things that are so important to me, but the one on my mind right now is travel. I would gladly live out of my suitcase if it meant that I could see the world and gather up new experiences. Especially being the age that I am – why not travel while I have the least amount of responsibilities that I will ever have?

M. Most valued possession?

Another really tough question. Of course I value my material possessions – my phone, my computer, my clothes – because, let’s be honest, I like having all of those things. They make me feel comfortable, and they sure make life a lot easier. But (and I know this is also a material possession), I value pictures so, so much. I love taking pictures wherever I am because I love being able to look back on them weeks and months and years later and smile at the sweet memories that were made.

N. Number of brothers/sisters?

One little brother who attends that school north of the Red River.

O. Oranges or Apples?

Apples, for sure. I don’t love oranges, but I do love cuties. To me, they taste completely different, and besides, cuties are much easier to peel. They make for an ideal road trip snack. So I guess what I'm saying is, both are wonderful!

P. Phobias?

Escalators. I’ve talked about this on the blog before, and I know this is an irrational fear, but I always have a little bit of fear when stepping onto one, and this is because one of my friend’s dads told me that 70 deaths a year occur due to people falling through loose steps. Not the ideal way to go out.

Q. Quotes?

I love words and quotes and I plan on doing a whole blog post on them one day soon, but for now I’ll share a couple of my recent favorites. And I say recent because I probably find a new quote that I love every single day. I used to be so good about typing them up and printing them out and gluing them into a journal, but for now, I keep them all together on my Pinterest boards.
                1: “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen

                2: “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” – e.e. cummings

R. Reasons to smile?

Wow, this is one tough question. I have a LOT of reasons to smile, even when I think that I don’t. Too many times I will find myself complaining, and the truth is, I have a lot to be thankful for. I’m in good health, as are my friends and family, I have an incredible job that I look forward to doing (most days), I have a whole lot of love around me, and I know that I have opportunities that some can only dream of having. But, some of the little things that make me smile are –

• Puppies (especially beagle puppies)
• Walks at Hermann Park and/or bike rides around my neighborhood
• 90s music
• Handwritten letters
• The perfect Honeycrisp apple                        
• KSBJ Monday Morning Devotional

S. Season of choice?

There are things I love about every season, but I just really love the carefree feeling that comes with the summer season. Bathing suits and shorts and Chacos and swimming pools and beach hair and spontaneous adventures and watermelon and so much more. It just doesn’t get much better than that.

T. Tag 5 People.

I’m going to go ahead and make the assumption that no one I tag is going to complete this, mainly because I don’t have five blogging friends, but I’ll just list some of my favorite blogs to read.

• Peanut Butter Fingers
• Carrots ‘n’ Cake
• Bakers Royale
• The Pioneer Woman
• BuzzFeed (okay, not technically a blog, but I do get a lot of good recipes from there)

U. Unknown fact about me?

My brother and I were born in the exact same hospital room. And that happened completely by chance.

V. Vegetable?

I really love most vegetables, and that is not something I realized until I went to college and had a vegetable option at every single meal. I am probably most shocked that I love Brussels sprouts as much as I do, after turning my nose up at them for so long.

W. Worst habit?

I hate to admit this, but I have a bad habit of checking my phone while I am driving. I have gotten a lot better about it, but even still I will use the time when traffic is “slowing down” to see who posted what on Instagram. I’m also extremely directionally challenged, so I do look at my phone frequently so I can know where I am going. Having the new iPhone software helps a lot with that, as it talks to you so you don’t have to look down at a phone.

X. X-Ray or ultrasound?

I’ve never had an ultrasound, and though x-rays aren’t exactly fun, I guess I’ll go with x-ray.

Y. Your favorite food?

This is another really difficult question. My all-time favorite food? I’m just not sure that I can give you an answer! My current favorite food is the quinoa salad with salmon from Hungry’s. I’ve had it twice already this year, and I don’t see myself slowing down anytime soon.

Z. Zodiac sign?

Aquarius. Though with this new system they tried to introduce, I think it might have changed. I still consider myself an Aquarius, on the rare occasion that I do some sort of horoscope quiz.

It's a bit of bummer that we don't have any football to veg out and watch today, but I guess we have the big game to look forward to next week. Though I can't say I'm that excited about it, after all of the speculation surrounding the Patriots. I'm not sure what I believe, but it has kind of taken the magic out of it all.

Zocalo Cafe

Happy Tuesday! I don't have much to report on the fun things front, as I spent much of yesterday working and packing up my room. How I have so much stuff, I will never know. And where it is all going to go in my Houston house, I really don't know. I think I'm nearly finished, though, and I'm hoping to get almost everything else packed up this evening so that tomorrow I can enjoy my last evening in Austin, but we won't go there quite yet!

And because these are my last few days in Austin, I will make these last few posts very Austin-y for you guys, and I have a new restaurant to share with y'all today. I grew very nostalgic, and I haven't even left yet, when my mom asked me to make a list of restaurants to take to her boss at work, who is going to be in Austin the first few days of August, because there are just so many incredible restaurants here. Not that we have any shortage of good restaurants in Houston, and I am so excited to go out and find them. But before I get to the new restaurant, let's talk our usual exercise and breakfast.

Workout

This morning started out bright and early with another 6am Pure Barre workout. I took this same class last week and I loved the instructor, so I knew it was going to be worth the early morning wake-up call. I was right, and I have to brag on myself for getting through almost the entire thigh portion without breaking form. Almost. My legs were shaking like crazy, but I managed to fight through it!

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Breakfast

Breakfast is the same as it always is - scrambled egg whites and spinach topped with salsa. I'm trying to finish off what all is in my refrigerator (not going to happen) before I leave, so I don't see much variety happening here. And that's fine with me, because it sure is a tasty breakfast option.

Zocalo Cafe

I might have mentioned last week that my mom came up on Thursday to help load some boxes into her car to take back to Houston with her, to lighten my load when I make the trip home this Thursday. Before we started the packing process, however, we needed a little bit of fuel. On a recommendation from Katie, we headed over to Zocalo Cafe, a Mexican restaurant that is in the same family as one of my very favorite restaurants - Galaxy Cafe.

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I immediately noticed the similarities between the two, so I had a pretty good feeling that I would really enjoy Zocalo. I wasn't wrong, and after much deliberation, because so many items on the menu sounded great, I went with the classic chicken fajita tacos, subbing a side salad for the rice and beans.

Dylan had the Chicken Burrito,

and my mom decided on the Nachos Extravagante, adding on some ground turkey.

We agreed that not only did everything taste wonderful, but it made a wonderful presentation. All of the food was very picture-worthy, which you know is important to me. Two thumbs up, for sure. We enjoyed a wonderful meal talking basketball (of course), before heading back to my house and loading up my mom's car pretty darn effectively. My mom left shortly after we finished loading her car, and Dylan, his brother, and I left a few hours later.

And though we didn't eat this on Thursday, it's been a while since I've mentioned any frozen yogurt on the blog, so I'll talk about Wednesday night's dessert - frozen yogurt from The Yogurt Spot.

We were dropping some friends off at a concert at Stubb's, so we were not only in the area, but I also had a Yogurt Spot gift card that was begging to be used. Unsurprisingly, we went over the $10 limit, but a couple extra dollars for some delicious frozen yogurt is never a bad deal.

His and her fro-yo

I went with a combination of sweet and tart - combining chocolate, cookies 'n' cream, Granny Smith apple, and raspberry - and topped it with some sliced fruit. If it has fruit, it's healthy, right?

And that's all I have for you right now, though I might be back with another post later today if I'm feeling ambitious! Have a great Tuesday!