Compilation Survey

After an absolutely (and unexpected) beautiful Saturday, I've got a random compilation of questions for you guys this Sunday.

1. How do you like your steak? 

Medium rare. Anything else just isn’t Texan.

2. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? 

I’ve admitted before that I’m pretty bad about going to see movies at the movie theater. So with that being said, I honestly can't remember the last movie I saw in theaters. I have been meaning to see the movie Unfriended, as, one, it was a movie all of my students were talking about prior to its release, and two, it's one that I think would really hit home for some of them. Maybe today I'll venture out and see it.

3. What is your favorite TV show? 

Boy Meets World or Friday Night Lights. Two absolute classics. But you certainly can’t forget about Full House, either.

4. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? 

I’m a Texas girl through and through, but if I had to live somewhere else for say, a couple of years, I would probably choose California, Hawaii, or London. Three of my favorite places.

5. What did you have for breakfast?

Some of my banana-oatmeal-almond butter muffin dough. Can't get enough!

6. What is your favorite cuisine? 

Mexican, or American. But I also love Italian and Greek food. I don’t really discriminate. Though I used to reject anything that wasn't chicken fingers and French fries.

But quite honestly, a sandwich will always hit the spot

7. What foods do you dislike? 

Sushi. Even though I did try raw fish while in San Francisco. And I liked it! But it was probably a one and done type of experience.

8. Favorite Place to Eat? 

Hungry’s. It’s the Stratford America go-to, and one of my forever favorite restaurants. 

9. Favorite dressing? 

Balsamic Vinaigrette. I eat it every day on my salad!

10. What are your favorite clothes? 
Is it bad to say that my favorite clothes are workout clothes? But if we’re going real clothes, maxi dresses are both cute and comfortable, and you can’t get much better than that. 

I loved that most of what we wore in SF was workout clothes

11. Where would you visit if you had the chance? 

Australia, Switzerland, Ireland, and Greece are at the top of my list these days. 

12. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 

A majority of the time, it’s half full. But we all get bogged down sometimes.

13. Where would you want to retire? 
Sausalito. This is very, very real. 

14. Favorite time of day? 

I’m most productive in the morning and early afternoon. I shut down right around 3:00pm, which makes me realize that teaching is the only job for me!

15. Where were you born? 
Houston, Texas.

16. How many siblings? 

One little brother.

17. Favorite pastime/hobby? 
Running, reading, and baking.

18. Do you have any pets? 

I don’t, but I’ve already vowed to rescue a beagle when I move out of my parent’s house and into my own house or apartment.

19. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? 
On Friday I had my End of Year Conference with my appraiser, and unless something drastic happens, it looks like I'll be returning to Bellaire for a second year! Not that there were really any worries, but you just never know. And I'll raise my glass to that!

20. What did you want to be when you were little? 

I’ve actually wanted to become a teacher since the third grade, but before that I desperately wanted to become an astronaut. I had such a fascination with space.

21. What is your best childhood memory? 

I think playing outside. And biking and razor scootering over to my friends’ houses. There was no distraction of social media or cell phones, and my only cares were how fast I was going to finish that Mad Minute.  

22. Are you a cat or dog person? 

Dog. I took after my Granny in the cat department. 

23. Always wear your seat belt? 

Always. 

24. Been in a car accident? 

I’ve been in a couple. Thankfully, none of them were serious, just enough to shake you up a little bit. 

25. Any pet peeves? 

Tardiness. But I’m sure that’s one you could have answered on your own. And just to switch it up a little bit, I also can't help but roll my eyes at people who mess up your and you're - it's just really not that difficult.

And it happens quite often with my students, unfortunately. Where am I going wrong?

26. Favorite Pizza Toppings? 

Vegetables – zucchini, squash, broccoli, mushrooms – anything, really. Sans cheese, of course!

27. Favorite Flower? 

Tulips or sunflowers, for sure. 

28. How many times did you fail your driver's test? 

I actually didn’t take a driver’s test. I was in that sweet spot where all I had to do was take a written test for my learner’s permit. And though I am actually a very good driver, I’m not sure that I ever would have passed the parallel parking portion. 

29. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? 

Anthropologie, hands down.

That's where this outfit came from

30. Do anything spontaneous lately?

Honestly, the most spontaneous, out-of-the-ordinary thing I've done recently is purchase the orange hat I wore in Napa. I'm a pretty predictable gal, it seems.

31. Like your job? 

I absolutely love it. And for that, I am very, very grateful. 

32. Broccoli? 

Only if it’s cooked! 

33. What was your favorite vacation? 

This is such a tough question. I’m going to go with my most recent trip to San Francisco. It’s fresh in my mind, it was honestly probably the most perfect weekend, and I got to do it all with four of my best friends. Life is G O O D.

And I’ll check back in with y’all sometime this week! Have a great one! 

Random Survey

I’ve been a bad blogger. I didn’t post a Things I’m Loving Friday Post, and though I had all the time in the world yesterday, I didn’t post yesterday, either. I can’t say that I did much yesterday, and I also can’t say that was a bad thing. This entire week I’ve felt extra tired, so it was nice to just lounge around for the majority of the day. But I didn’t lounge around all day. I did go for a 7.1 mile run around my neighborhood, and I also picked up my car from the shop, that thankfully didn’t have any major issues.

It was a real welcome into the year of 23 when my check engine oil light lit up on my way to school Friday morning, but that false alarm ended up being a blessing in disguise, as my front brakes were absolutely shot. Nothing major, thankfully, because I’m not quite ready to start making car payments!

Anyway, I know I missed Things I’m Loving Friday, but I will stick with our regularly scheduled Survey Sunday. So, let’s get it going! This one is kind of random, but fun nonetheless. Enjoy!

Household chore I actually enjoy doing: This might be really weird, but I actually love cleaning the bathroom. Sarah and I used to almost fight over who would get to clean the bathroom. Though I don’t love cleaning the bathtub, whoops! I also don't mind hand washing dishes, but I would rather do a bunch at one time, so the dishes might pile up a bit before I manage to get going.

Biggest house disaster: I feel bad answering this, because it's not technically my house. It belongs to my parents. I just have a room here. But I also can't answer it because our house isn't one bit a disaster, it's just lived in. And that's not my way of saying it's messy, because it really isn't. But I will say that I have sort of taken over dining room table with all of my books and papers and pencils and pens and jewelry and race bibs and to-do lists and lots of other things that probably shouldn't be there. But if we only eat in there on Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's okay if I claim it as mine the rest of the year, right?

Before company arrives, I hide: I'll answer this one in regards to my actual room. I'm thinking of one specific day when my friends Sam, Alex, and Corey came over, and it was a bit of a surprise to me. Before they walked into my room I made sure to stash any neglected clothes under my bed, because sometimes I maybe don't always hang my clothes back up after I've tried them on and neglected them? Whoops!

Most recent music download: I'm loving this old school download - Crazy For This Girl. Was anyone else a Dawson's Creek fan? I didn't watch it regularly, but if I saw it was on while flipping through channels, I would keep it there.

(Source)

The last thing I bought online: I may or may not have taken advantage of the Kendra Scott additional 15% off all sale items. But the color was so unique that I just couldn't live without them! I'm just kidding, of course I could live without them. But the earrings I purchased were a good deal. And I wish I could find a picture of them for you, but I guess you'll just have to wait in anticipation until I get them in the mail.

I hate to shop for: Hardware. I'm not sure if that's a thing, but honestly my least favorite places in the entire world might be places like ACE Hardware and Home Depot. I used to dread going those places with my dad when I was younger, and though I actually grew to kind of like Home Depot a little bit, I always just felt so overwhelmed in there. I'm sure it was very obvious that I didn't know what I was doing, and DIY projects are absolutely not my strong suit. 

Favorite family ritual: Honestly, I'm going to have to go with the nightly game of Wheel of Fortune that my parents carve out time for each evening. If I'm home when it's on, you better believe I'm playing along with them. I have yet to win, but I am usually doing other things at the same time, if that counts for anything.

I sleep in: a big t-shirt and either pajama pants or shorts. Or maybe leggings. It just depends on the night.

I have style crush on: I'm not so sure I can answer this question. I have a very classic style that I don't really model after anyone. I will say that I follow Anthropologie on Instagram (surprised?), and I do find myself gasping and saying, "Oh, that's a really cute outfit" on the daily, but my sense of style is very limited. 

 

One of my go-to sweaters (and my students can attest to that)

Warning: This picture is from almost three years ago

I’m currently reading: I've just barely started reading Malcolm Gladwell's Tipping Point. I also just purchased a copy of American Sniper from Target, and I cannot wait to start reading it. Because let's be real, the chances of me actually going to see the movie are slim to none. And I have a whole list of books I hope to read ... maybe over the summer when I have some more free time?

What’s up with the ________ trend? Starter Pack. I'm not sure if that's even a thing anymore, but for a while I saw captions on a group of four photos that would be something like, "The Procrastination Starter Pack," or "The Monday Morning Starter Pack," or "The White Girls Starter Pack" (#basic), and I guess I just never understood where it even came from! A lot of trends I can get behind, but that one seemed to come out of the blue.

How did I ever live without… A foam roller. No really. This little runner has been experiencing different aches and pains throughout this year of more running than ever before. Nothing serious, but I'm certainly feeling the extra use. Which I'm taking as a good thing, because it's alerting me to the importance of stretching and rolling - two things I never used to take the time to do.

And I hope your Sunday is a great one. I'm hoping to post this and then be productive, productive, productive, as I didn't get quite as much done yesterday as I had hoped, and I want to have all of my loose ends tied before spending what I hope will be a beautiful weekend in Austin this upcoming weekend. Talk to you guys soon!

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!

(Source)

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.

(Source)

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. 

Things I'm Loving Friday XIX

Whew, another Friday is here! I love four-day work weeks, and I not-so-secretly wish we had them every week. Four days of work, three days of play. That sounds about fair, doesn’t it? Anyway, this Things I’m Loving Friday post is a little bit all over the place, but that’s sort of how this week feels, so let’s just go with it, shall we?

Athleta Balance Capri 

I mentioned in last week’s Things I’m Loving Friday post that I have sort of strayed away from the popular Lululemon apparel in favor of clothes, especially leggings and yoga pants, from Athleta. Athleta opened a store near me a couple of summers ago, but I hadn’t checked it out until recently. I tried on a pair of leggings just to see how they fit, with no intention of making a purchase, but I absolutely loved the way they fit my body. They were tight in all the right places, but they were loose enough around the middle that I didn’t feel as though I were being squeezed into them. I’ve worn them recreationally while lounging around the house or running errands, and also while exercising, and I can attest that they are a very versatile pair of leggings. So much so that when they were having a 20% off sale last week, I had to take advantage of it and purchase another pair. Wouldn't you do the same?

(Source)

Kendra Scott Jana Bracelet

When Kendra Scott has a sale, it’s almost like it’s a crime to NOT take advantage of it, right? Just kidding, but just days after my mom and I were talking about how beautiful the Jana bracelet is, she got an email saying that everything in the store was 15% off from 4pm until midnight. So how could we not jump on that sale? I used to not be a watch or bracelet person at all, but now my wrists feel naked without them. This is a very delicate piece, and it comes in just about every color you can imagine. My mom and I opted for the Bright Red, but we also love Slate, Emerald, Chalcedony, and Orange (Hook ‘em!).

Longchamp Le Pliage

I have a longtime love for the Longchamp brand. It started in high school, with my very first purse in the medium sized taupe color, and it has not yet stopped, as I currently have about five bags in this brand. I know, I know. But they’re such handsome, reliable bags. And it probably doesn’t help that when I went to Paris a few years ago, I had the chance to visit the actual Longchamp Le Pliage store on Champs-Elysees, and the prices over there were far cheaper than they are here in America. I have a medium size bag, a large size bag, and a backpack, and I carry them with me all the time. They’re great for traveling because they fold up into almost nothing, and when they’re expanded out into purse form, it’s as if they have an expanding charm on them. Their one downfall is that it sometimes takes me a while to find what it is that I am looking for, but I can fit almost my entire life inside of one. I carry them with me to school, when shopping, and at just about any other time you can imagine.

Rockin' our Longhchamps in Madrid - Summer 2012

24 Must-SeeDiagrams That Will Make Eating Healthy Super Easy

I saw this just before I went to sleep the other night, and I made sure to screenshot it so that I could read it at a later time. That later time came the next morning, and I especially loved numbers 2, 4, 5, 11, 13, 19, 20, and 21. I am a very visual learner, meaning I am a student who needs to see to be able to understand. Most of the time. So, these aesthetically-pleasing diagrams are simply brilliant for someone like me.

(Source)

Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens

Yes, there pens are a little bit on the expensive side, but they are my absolute favorite pens, tied with my beloved Sharpie pens. They are the perfect “teacher pen,” and they also make me feel a tiny bit artistic, and trust me, I am the least artistic person in the history of the world. They write smoothly, they don’t bleed through the page, and they come in a whole package of pretty colors. Last weekend I was feeling inspired, and I took them up to my elementary school playground and wrote out the things that make me feel the most alive, as per our first small group activity my freshman year of college. And you know felt tip pens made the list.

Dash Cam Cop

I sincerely hope that all of you have seen this by now, but if you haven’t, let this video brighten your day. I was watching the news last weekend with my parents, and they showed this cop from Delaware jamming out to Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off.’ That song is catchy, and evidently this cop felt the exact same way. This video was the first in a series of “DashCam Confessionals,” and you can’t help but smile when watching this video. They filmed it mainly as a thank-you to their local followers on social media, because the more people they have following them on social media, the faster they can get the word out regarding serious or important events in the area, but this video has gone absolutely viral. It’s worth a watch, and it’s something to bookmark on a not-so-good day.

 

(Source)

The Republic of Tea Strawberry Chocolate Red Tea

I am not typically a tea person. It takes a very particular flavor of tea in order for me to drink it. And that flavor is of the fruit variety. I found an absolutely delicious fruit-flavored at the Nutcracker Market, a la Cheers to You, but I have not yet ordered any more of it. So, a couple of weeks ago when I was shopping at Paper Source, I spotted a very cute container with Strawberry Chocolate flavored tea, courtesy of The Republic of Tea. We started off the week with very pleasant, almost perfect, weather, but another cold front hit us yesterday, making it the perfect warm tea weather. The combination of fruit and chocolate (which you guys know I love), is delicious and delectable, and it makes for the perfect healthy dessert flavor. Among many other benefits, red tea contains powerful antioxidants, can relieve skin conditions, and can encourage restful sleep. Three thumbs up in my book!

And that concludes another rendition of Things I'm Loving Friday. Enjoy your day, and have a fabulous (hopefully sunny!) weekend! And before I go, I have to thank you for all of the sweet support and words of encouragement you provided me with after reading my last post. I am someone who would much rather listen than share, so that was a major leap of faith for me. It's funny that Dylan was one of the people who taught me how to be more vulnerable. Life sure has a way of coming full circle, doesn't it? Anyway, you guys are the best, and I've said it before, but you make writing this blog fun!

The Book of Questions

Happy 2015! Can you believe it's 2015? I turn 23 this year, and apparently nobody likes you when you're 23 so...

Anyway, I hope you all had a fun and safe new years celebration. Mine was pretty low-key, which is just what I needed this year. I had all the intentions in the world to wake up and run the Commitment Day 5K sponsored by LifeTime Athletic in City Centre, but when my alarm went off (and went off and went off and went off), I just could not seem to drag myself out of bed. My dad came in and asked me if I planned on getting up, and I mumbled a convincing "No," and rolled over. I stayed in bed until 11:00am. I'm just soaking it up while I can! But I truly can't remember the last time I stayed in bed that late. It's been a long week!

I got up and immediately exchanged my pair of Happy Socks for some athletic socks and my tennis shoes, and headed out the door for my first run of 2015. It was very cold and started misting a bit, but I've already got 5 miles of mine and Amira's goal of running 2,015 miles down. Not a bad start to the year!

I didn't quite give myself enough time to shower before meeting up with one of my sweet YoungLife girls who happened to be visiting Houston for a couple of days. It's hard to believe that I met those girls when they were in 6th and 7th grade, and now they're sophomores in high school. Time sure does fly, and it was wonderful to share lunch with her at my favorite restaurant (I'll let you guys take a guess at that one), and catch up on how life is going for her back in Austin. We braved the cold and rain and walked around Rice Village a little bit before retreating back to my car where we turned the heater onto full blast.

Selfie game still going strong in 2015

I then popped back home for a quick minute, before heading out once again to run some errands with my friend Gayle. When we get together we can easily talk for hours, and we sat in her car in her driveway fogging up the windows (I know what you're thinking, not like that!) just talking for over an hour and a half. Though it was cold and damp outside, we managed to make the best of the dreary first day of the year.

And now, because you know I love a good survey, I figured there is no better way than to start off the year with one. And because I don't have a lot of other material for you guys today, whoops! I'll try to be more creative tomorrow. But until then, enjoy learning maybe even one new thing about me!

1. Do you have a middle name?
One of the most common middle names in the world - Elizabeth. Out of nine of us who lived in The Clubhouse, four of us had the middle name Elizabeth. 

2. What was your favorite subject in school?
I'm probably shaming myself as an English teacher, but I always had a thing for math.
 

(Source)

3. What's your favorite drink?
I'm a water girl through and through. I also love a good glass of champagne, and I'm finally learning how to like wine. I have never in my entire life liked soda, which made birthday parties as a kid pretty strange.

4. What's your favorite song at the moment?

Night Changes by One Direction. I know. Embarrassing. I promise I'm an adult!

5. What would you name your children?
I've got a list going, and I'm holding onto the hope that I have four children - two boys and two girls. Ryan, Ross, Reagan, and Rylie. I'm all about that alliteration.

6. Do you participate in any sports?
I actually just signed myself up for a sand volleyball league. Here goes nothing!

7. What's your favorite book? 
I've got a few, so to be fair to my bookshelf, I'll name my very favorites.

• Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers
• Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
• Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
• Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

8. What's your favorite color?
I love pink, but I also love orange, yellow, and red. I really love all colors, to be honest.

9. What's your favorite animal?
It's been a monkey for as long as I can remember. I even wrote a poem about them once -

"Monkeys like swinging from tree to tree.

I like monkeys, and monkeys like me."

Profound, right?

10. What's your favorite perfume?

Daisy by Marc Jacobs.

11. What's your favorite holiday?
I'll be honest, I love my birthday. But if we're being real, I love Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July a lot.

12. Have you graduated from High School?
Class of 2010.

Once a Spartan, always a Spartan

13. Have you been out of the country?
I have, and I want nothing more than to explore other countries. I've been bitten by the travel bug!

The Louvre with my cousin

14. Do you speak any other languages?
Once upon a time I was okay at Spanish. I'm not sure that I can make that claim anymore.
 
15. Do you have any siblings?
1 little brother, who attends that school north of the Red River.

16. What's your favorite store?
Anthropologie. I have a serious problem. Either that, or Target. When's the last time you walked out of there with only what you intended to buy? Yeah, that's what I thought.

17. What's your favorite restaurant?
Hungry's. It's my go-to.
 
18. Do you like school? 
I do, and though I am still technically in school (on the other side of things), I miss being a student. A master's program may be in my future, so stay tuned.

AP Physics

Creative destruction (this is ironic because I'm not creative in the least)

19. Who are some of your favorite YouTubers?
I don't follow any YouTubers regularly, and to be honest, it takes a lot for me to watch a YouTube video, for whatever reason.


20. What's your favorite movie? 
Remember the Titans, Mean Girls, She's the Man, The Sandlot, among others.

21. What are some of your favorite TV shows?
Friday Night Lights, Boy Meets World, Full House - classics.

22. PC or Mac?
I use both a PC and a Mac, and though I am certainly partial to my MacBook, I don't hate using a PC quite as much as I thought I would. 
 
23. What phone do you have?
I'm up on the iPhone game and I have an iPhone 6. I know, you all are shocked, because I had an iPhone 4 until right before I traded that one in and got the 6.

Hello 21st Century

24. How tall are you?
5'5"

25. Any pets? 
No, but I came way too close to applying to adopt a puppy, before realizing that I really don't have the time that a puppy deserves.

Nothing too crazy, I figured that would hold you over until I find the time to go through one of my latest purchases - The Book of Questions. That's when things will really start getting interesting! Happy football watching!