2017 Summer Reads

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bob and Maria Goff (Source)

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

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

Make the Change

It’s always so hard for me to open up blogger after a hiatus like this. Granted, this is definitely not my longest hiatus, but remember that time I made a goal for myself that I would write one post a week? I applaud myself for sticking to that for four months, but here I am, a month after my last post. But, May got crazy, as May typically does, and blogging was the first thing to go. And you would think that because it’s summer vacation I would be able to do this on a more consistent basis, but I took one look at my bank account and told myself that if I want to continue traveling and running (because whoever said running is cheap therapy has definitely not bought a new pair of running shoes or a new watch or the myriad of accessories that go along with this "cheap" sport lately), okay, and shopping at Anthropologie – so sue me – I better suck it up and teach at least a little bit of summer school.

So, while it was certainly no three-week trek through the beautiful country of Argentina, I managed to keep myself busy by teaching what I like to call STAAR Boot Camp. It was draining, to say the least, but I appreciated being able to stick to a regular routine. I got up to walk Mack, hopped in the shower because we’re at the point in the year where any sort of physical activity requires a change of clothes, and upon arriving home, took the pup on yet another walk before parking it on the couch in preparation to hit either the running trail or the pool. These summer temps have encouraged me to bring back the one-piece tan, but have really messed with my running training plan. But I'll save that for later.

Anyway, just because I was on the work grind doesn’t mean I haven’t allowed myself to have a little fun this summer. I cultured myself by visiting the Ron Mueck exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts (and displayed my maturity level when I absolutely could not handle the sculpture of a woman giving birth),

Natalie puts the size of these sculptures into perspective

as well as the Pixel Forest exhibit, which was much more up my alley.

I have finished reading seven books and am starting in on my eighth,

I wrapped up another season of sand volleyball with Team Practice Safe Sets (we went out of the playoffs in a most disappointing fashion, but we will certainly be back), and a couple of weekends ago one of my college roommates came to town and four out of nine members of the Clubhouse were able to reunite and spend the weekend catching up with one another. I had a lot of fun being a tourist in my own city – we ate a lot of delicious food, did a little bit of shopping, spent some time relaxing by the pool, and we even sat front row at River Oaks Theater (we had a little too much fun at dinner, whoops!) – a Houston landmark.

I have spent some time cleaning up my apartment, I’ve done a good amount of dog- and house-sitting (if you need a laugh, ask me to tell you the story of how I locked myself out of the house and had to climb the fence in the pouring rain),

I have done a little bit of planning (read: brainstorming) for this upcoming school year, and I have even done a little bit of work in the kitchen. I like to think that I’ll get these recipes posted, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here.

Anyway, now for the meat of this post. I know, I’m long-winded. But earlier I mentioned that my runs were suffering as what I think is a direct result of the weather. If you have never visited Houston, just know that summer means two things: hot and humid. And rain, which only adds to the humidity. Man, I couldn’t do anything. My heart rate would skyrocket at even the slowest paces, and I had a hard time running consecutive miles under what I would normally consider to be a moderate pace. And if I did manage to do that, I would stop and walk before starting the next mile because my whole body was just shot. I began dreading each workout – forget about the Brooks tagline to “run happy”. That was not happening. And it definitely showed on my face. I started getting inside my own head and really started doubting my big goal: Boston.

My first ever race

I did not want to take to the treadmill. I don’t know what it was, but the treadmill more than intimidated me. Actually, I do know what it was. I was scared of what the treadmill would tell me about my running ability. As much as I hated running in 80+ degree weather with a dew point almost as high, I liked having the weather as an excuse for why I couldn’t do a workout. That sounds horrible when I put it on paper, but our minds are a funny thing.

The views are nice, though

At some point I realized that I was tired of using the weather as an excuse for why I couldn't do a workout. It’s like this headline flashed across my brain: You've lived in the great state of Texas for all 25 years of your life, and there's zero chance that it's going to get any cooler. Either you're going to stop pouting about it, or you're going to have to change something. 

I was also tired of having to do an entire outfit change in the middle of my long runs that were literally happening at a snail's pace because I was so sweaty. Nobody has time for that much laundry, you feel me? Anyway, once I admitted these things out loud, and I was told that the weather outside should scare me more than the treadmill does, I decided to make the change. I pushed fear to the side and picked a treadmill at the gym. And while I am still wiping up an impressive amount of sweat, this seemingly simple change has made such a difference. Instead of feeling defeated before and after a run, I feel strong. I know that I've got a long way to go when it comes to achieving my ultimate goal of qualifying for Boston, but not only have I actually logged some good miles, my confidence in my running ability has done a 180. I’ve made a change and I’m starting to see results. I even got an "A" after reporting back on how today's workout went. Funny how that works.

Also, shout out to my girl Taylor for finally releasing all of her songs on Spotify. That was huge.

I talk a lot about running on my blog because it's a huge part of my life. It's not my entire life, but it has taught me a lot of lessons that can be applied to other areas of my life. Such as teaching and coaching, which makes up another large chunk of the Kelli Tomlinson puzzle. I have a couple of “big goals” for this upcoming school year, but one of them is that when something isn't working, make a change. If my students aren't engaged, or if they aren't understanding something one way or if I find myself doing something “just to do it”, it’s on me to do something about that. With running, the “easy” thing for me to do was run my familiar tree-lined route, knowing in the back of my mind that I had a ready-made excuse for why it didn’t go well. The hard thing for me to do was turn on the treadmill and crank out a tempo run at a pace that I hadn’t seen in awhile.

It's so easy, especially during volleyball season, for me to do what has always been done with the curriculum. It’s all right there for me, and it doesn’t require a ton of effort on my part. But I want to challenge myself to make whatever learning happens in room 327 relevant and powerful. I want them to get something out of it and not just feel as though they are doing busywork. I want them to learn how to think critically and know that it’s okay to struggle and work outside their comfort zones. I feel as though some of my high school years were wasted – I spent so much time worrying about the grade I received on an assignment that I couldn’t tell you half of what I learned in some of the most interesting courses. There’s a whole world out there just waiting to be discovered – and so many of my students are ready to take on the challenge! – but in order for that to happen, changes have to be made. That's not to say that it will always be easy. Or that progress will always be immediate. I've run enough miles to know that not all of them are going to leave me feeling like I can conquer the world. But if we want to see results, we've got to at least give it a try.

Wine + Popcorn + Teachers

If you have somehow been immune to the steadily climbing temperatures outside, it is officially summertime. And while I'm lucky enough to (mostly) have summers off, I know that many of you don't. However, I hope you are still enjoying some classic summertime fun post-work. And maybe you are one of those people living it up every single evening, doing something cool and glamorous, making all of the rest of us jealous as we scroll through Instagram. But maybe you're more like me, and you mix your envy-worthy nights with nights spent on the couch watching shows that are just too hard to turn off, no matter how well you know you need to go do something productive. So, if you've committed to spending your evening on the couch, why not do it up right?

Mack and I have spent a few evenings on the couch

That's where the wine and popcorn come in. Popcorn is the ultimate movie-night snack. It's light, it's airy, and it's also terribly addictive. But that's where SkinnyPop popcorn saves the day. If you aren't familiar with the brand, please, make yourself familiar ASAP. This information comes straight from the website, but their popcorn has no artificial ingredients, no artificial flavors, no trans fat, it's preservative free, dairy free (!!!), gluten free, peanut free, non-gmo, and a good source of fiber. If these facts haven't convinced you, this should. It's also delicious. And comes in six irresistible flavors. A guilt-free snack that won't leave you feeling like you need to spend hours at the gym the following day because you indulged in a few too many handfuls.

Mack may have snuck a few pieces

And what is a guilty-pleasure television and/or movie night without woman's best friend - wine? I'm not a Bachelor or Bachelorette watcher myself, but I've found myself in the background of a couple of viewing parties. Lots of squeals, lots of snacks, and lots of wine. And lucky for you guys, SkinnyPop put together this wine and popcorn pairing graphic for all of your popcorn and wine pleasure.

And while I can't speak for all of these pairings - I'm dying to try the new Jalapeno and Dusted Dark Chocolate flavors - I can tell you about my personal favorites. First of all, I'm more of a white-wine fan, especially during the summer. Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, especially. And Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfectly with my second favorite flavor of SkinnyPop: Sea Salt & Pepper. Did you guys ever eat Emerald Sea Salt & Pepper Cashews - only ever found at Kroger? This popcorn tastes just like them, only far less dangerous to the waistline.

Sea Salt & Pepper + Sauvignon Blanc

My personal favorite flavor is Naturally Sweet, and there were many a nights this past semester when I was curled up on the couch with a glass of Malbec - the only red wine I really enjoy - eating Naturally Sweet SkinnyPop and laughing along with the wildly inappropriate, but wickedly hilarious, television show 'Teachers'. My version of the Bachelor. Malbec also pairs nicely with the Original flavor, and for those of you who are partial to white, the chart says it pairs well with Chardonnay, and I say it pairs well with Sauvignon Blanc, too.

A girl and her Malbec

I won't claim to be a wine expert, but you don't have to be an expert to know what tastes good together. And the ingredients in SkinnyPop are simple, few, and 100% recognizable. It's a snack that everyone can enjoy. With only 39(ish) calories per cup, your television show might be a guilty pleasure, but this popcorn is something you can indulge in guilt-free.

What are your favorite SkinnyPop flavors?

Do you have any favorite wine + popcorn pairings?

Summer To-Do List

Happy Tuesday! To my fellow Houstonians: how much are y'all L O V I N G this sunshine? That's two days in a row, and the forecast continues to look great. Perfect timing, because I wasn't sure I could handle much more of the rain and gloom. I am soaking up every bit of the sunshine and I could not be happier about it. Here's to a sunshine-filled summer!

And speaking of summer, I made myself a little Summer To Do List. I am a big-time list maker. There's not a lot that I love more than the feeling of accomplishment that comes with crossing something off of a list. Sometimes I even add things to my list after I've already completed them, just so I can cross them off. I know; I need help. But it's not all bad. My daily to-do lists keep me sane, and they keep me organized. I can count on one hand the number of times I have forgotten to do something that I really needed to do. I'm a planner more than I am spontaneous, and my to-do lists certainly cater to that aspect of my personality.

And then sometimes to-do lists can be fun. There isn't one "ugh" thing on this list. That is colorful because what else was I supposed to do those last couple weeks of school?

I am really excited about this summer. My first post-grad summer. I elected to not teach summer school, in favor of rest, relaxation, and doing things that I really want to do. I am coaching some volleyball, I am taking a few vacations (more on New York to come!!! And Jamie Lynn - add a visit to Corpus to this list!), and I plan on exploring the city I've called home for almost my entire life. Believe it or not, there's a lot to be found outside the 7ish mile radius I stayed within during high school. It goes without saying that the restaurant scene is hopping in Houston, and it's really true - the Astros are on a hot streak. It's sad that English teachers have very little time to read during the school year, but I plan on playing catch-up with the time that I have off. I have finished two books already this summer, and I have no doubt that I will read far more than what I have listed above.

This summer is three days old, and it's already shaping up to be a great one. I plan on making the most of every day, even if "the most" includes lounging around reading and watching movies. Because we all need (and deserve!) a couple of days like that. And in addition to all that I plan on doing, there are a couple of things I am not doing. It's no secret that I have a very serious love affair with Anthropologie. And clothes in general, really. I prided myself a little bit on teachers and students telling me that I "dress so well." And while I don't think I have a shopping addiction, by any means, I do watch quite a bit of my paycheck help Anthropologie's cause. And other stores. But mostly Anthropologie. So I'm setting a lofty summer goal for myself. With the exception of two swimsuits, because I haven't purchased a new swimsuit in years and they have been on my list for a while, I am not going to make one clothes-related purchase for two months. Two. As in, August 1st is going to be the first day I allow myself to buy anything new. Not only is this in an effort to save money, it's also in an effort to recognize how much I already have. Because if I were to stop and think about it, do I really need another pair of shorts? Another dress? No. I probably don't. And maybe, just maybe, I should stop and think about budgeting. Because thus far in my "real world" career, I've been pretty frivolous with my money. Maybe frivolous isn't the right word, but I haven't always kept the closest eye on it. I'm hoping to learn a thing or two from this, and then come August 1st, a "back-to-school" shopping spree will be much deserved!

Challenge of the morning:

• What is the thing (or things, because I'm adding in Kendra Scott to that list) that would be difficult for you to "give up" for a couple of months?

Stationery

I have decided that my senior year will be, among other things, the year of writing letters. One of my very favorite things, ever since I was a kid, is receiving letters in the mail. I loved sorting through the mail when I heard it drop through our mail slot to see if anything had my name on the front, and I still love finding a letter addressed to me in the Clubhouse mailbox. I figure that other people have to love receiving notes and letters just as much as I do, so I am going to make a very conscious effort to get good about writing letters to friends and family this last year of college. As I usually do when I am home, I made a trip up to City Centre, and though I usually spend the most time in Anthropologie, today I spent the most time browsing the stationery at Paper Source. They have so many fun options that it was hard for me to pick just one. So, I bought a couple of different varieties that will hopefully last me for quite a while.

If you want to be on the receiving end of one of these letters, be sure to leave me your address!

But let's back up a little bit. This morning started bright and early, as I went for a nice humid walk around my neighborhood as a warm-up to my 9:15am spin class. This is both one of my favorite spin classes, and one that requires quite a bit of effort in order to get me there, because it is a tough class. I really like the instructor, but it is a very grueling 70 minutes. I really liked the class today, and one of my favorite aspects was the portion where we did a series of five quick jumps, sat back on the saddle and sprinted for 15 seconds, and then recovered for 30 seconds. We repeated that sequence five times through, and it was the constant change that made it so enjoyable for me.

After a quick trip to Randall's to restock my favorite produce, I headed home to shower and get ready to go visit Mr. Avis up at Stratford and then run some errands. That's where my journey to City Centre comes in. I started getting pretty hungry toward the end of my errand running, so I called in an order to La Madeleine. I know La Madeleine is not a Houston original, but it is a restaurant that just reminds me of being home. I opted for my usual - the wildfield salad with grilled chicken, and I even purchased an extra bottle of their Balsamic Vinaigrette to take back to Austin with me. A very worthwhile purchase.

I also had some hummus and carrots, a few slices of cantaloupe, and too much freshly cut watermelon. I've said it before, but the fruit is one of my favorite parts of summer.

And now I'm off to get ready to go watch some more high school volleyball. One of my volleyball coaches at Stratford just recently accepted a head coaching job at a school out in Sugar Land, and I am very excited to go watch her do her thing. I am heading out there a little bit early so that I can explore the area, because Sugar Land is not an area with which I am very familiar.

I hope you all are having a superb Friday. For those of you who are students and teachers getting ready to go back to school, make this last weekend of freedom a fun one!

Summer Days

Happy Friday! Before I start in on today, I'll take you through my last couple of days, because they were the perfect example of what summer should be. First of all, I didn't have to work yesterday, and though I love working at SRD, a day off work (and a day where I don't have to wear real-world clothes) is always appreciated. Two of Dylan's good high school friends came in town Wednesday evening, and another one of his friends was staying with him before attending UT orientation, so we all enjoyed a beautiful view while enjoying a delicious dinner at Hula Hut on Lake Austin. Hula Hut has been one of my favorite restaurants ever since middle school when we would come to Austin for volleyball tournaments, so I always say yes to a trip to Hula Hut.

By the looks of our empty plates at the end of the meal, we all enjoyed what we ordered. I went for the Slow-Roasted Pork Tacos, and they were excellent. I have had them on my mind for quite some time, as I went to Hula Hut with a friend ages ago and she ordered them, making me instantly regret not ordering them. If there is one thing I have learned from living in Austin, it is that I love a good taco.

Yesterday morning started bright and early for me, as I woke up around 7:15am, and was out the door by 7:30am so that I could squeeze in a quick workout before a day full of fun adventures. I drove my usual route down to Town Lake, but before run/walking my usual three-mile loop, I stopped by the Austin High School track to complete eight laps of sprinting the straights, walking the curves. As tough as sprinting is for me, I really enjoyed this workout, and I consider it a good addition to the half marathon training that will start before I know it.

After a quick shower, I threw on a bathing suit and tank top, and drove over to Dylan's house so that we could get an early start to New Branfels. We had plans to float the Comal River, and we got to Texas Tubes rental just about 11:00am. We rented tubes, applied sunscreen (and I still smell like sunscreen), and were on the river by 11:15am. We floated for almost two hours, and I am really sad I didn't have my phone or camera with me, because it was so pretty, and there were some really cute cottages along the river. If you ever need a weekend getaway, I would definitely recommend coming down to New Braunfels, because once you are done floating the river, you can head ten minutes down the road to Gruene.

Kevin, Megan, me, and Dylan

I have lived in Texas my entire life, but I have never been to the historic Gruene, Texas. It is probably the cutest town I have ever seen, and though it is now a thriving community, it was once little more than a ghost town. Gruene Dance Hall is probably the charm of this town, which remained open during the Great Depression when all other family businesses went under. We ate at the cotton gin-turned-restaurant - The Gristmill - right next door, and it was excellent. Everything on the menu looked wonderful, but I opted for the grilled chicken spinach salad, and we all shared a big bucket of baked fries, which reminded me of Hungry's french fries.

Our plates were clean by the end of the meal, and we were all more than ready for a nap, but we managed to find enough energy to use at the San Marcos Outlet Mall. We were there for maybe 45 minutes, but I was somehow able to do quite a bit of damage in that short amount of time. Granted, the purse I purchased was over half off, and the reason I bought it is because I can use it for student teaching. It is very "cutefessional," as one friend coined it, and it will likely last me forever. The woman knew she had talked me into it when I told her to "let me just call my mom really fast." All four of us were pretty successful at the outlets, and we arrived back in Austin around 5:30pm. A long day, but a wonderful day.

When I got back to my house, I ate a light dinner, sat around on Pinterest for a while, before finally lacing up my tennis shoes and heading over to Town Lake. I planned to just end the day with a walk, but as soon as I got to the trail, I felt like running. I ended up running the entire thing, finishing up just as the sun was setting. It made for a wonderful sight, and it was the perfect end to a great day.

I was pretty drained by the time I got back home, so after a shower and a little bit of reading, I was more than ready for bed. I work until 2:00pm today, and then I will hopefully cross off some of the errands I have been meaning to run all week. Have a great Friday!