Conquering Fears

Happy Saturday! I don’t know about you, but I am so glad it’s the weekend. And I’ll answer that question myself – I know you guys are glad it’s the weekend, too. With the constantly changing weather, at least here in Texas, I’ve been dragging a little bit more than usual this week. It’s been harder and harder to get up when my alarm goes off (meaning, I hit snooze for about 20 more minutes), and I was literally praying for a delayed start on Thursday. I knew it wasn’t going to happen, but two extra hours of sleep would have been the absolute best. But I guess I can’t squeeze in everything I want to get done during the school day and have a delayed start, can I? Anyway, let’s start off this Saturday post with a workout and breakfast.

Workout

Today’s workout was one that I haven’t done in a while. And I wish all of my volleyball girls would read this before they moan and groan the next time we make them do a very similar workout. Because I know it's hard. But being challenged is what makes you stronger, better, faster. Inspired by this workout created by Peanut Butter Fingers (who, by the way, is PREGNANT!!!), I came up with my own rendition of a 10 to 6 workout. 

And it gets better. After I finished each round, I did five rounds of stairs and one minute of jump rope before moving onto the next round. I was a sweaty and tired mess by the end of this workout, but I left feeling as though I finally got my exercise mojo back. Not that I had really lost it, but I have felt a little bit lost with this recent running hiatus I've been going through. Which maybe means I'm finding a little bit too much of my identity in running. And this is good for me. Still, I did spend the better part of last night with an ice pack on my shin, because I'm determined to start running again - sooner rather than later. And while I do wish I could be running, I am enjoying having a little bit of extra time to dedicate to the strength training I so often neglect. Everything happens for a reason, right?

And before I leave the workout behind, let me explain a couple of these exercises to you. It is entirely possible that some of these exercises have a technical name, and I am just not aware of it. The push-up position knee tucks look something like this. I start in push-up position, with my hands underneath my shoulders. I jumped my knees into my chest - at the same time - before jumping them back out. Basically, I consider them to be like mountain climbers just with both knees coming in at the same time.

And the narrow to wide jumping squats, or sumo squat. I start narrow, or standing straight up with my feet together, toes forward. I then jump my legs out until they are in a wider squat, my toes pointing out. Hop back up, and repeat!

Like this, but I start with my feet together (Source)

And finally, the push-up position row goes like this. I, again, get into push-up position, with my hands position on two dumbbells. I didn't actually complete a push-up, though you certainly could for an added challenge. Instead, I just alternated pulling one dumbbell back toward my body until my elbow was above my back, and then returning the weight to the floor.

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Breakfast

Today’s breakfast was also a little bit out of the ordinary. Or not so much out of the ordinary, but not quite as common as my scrambled egg whites and spinach. Aren’t you glad you don’t see those on the blog quite as often as you used to? Sidenote, I typically eat my breakfast just before the school day begins, and that student I mentioned who usually comes to visit me in the morning? I’m just casually eating my breakfast while he’s in there. At this point, I have absolutely no shame. Even he commented that, “I eat the same breakfast every single day!” So, today is a reprieve from what I normally eat for breakfast. And though it's cold outside, a cool, refreshing smoothie sounded just right. After my workout, I headed just up the road to Island Grill, located very close to Memorial City Mall. I've been to the Island Grill on Bellaire Blvd., and this location just recently opened. As I've mentioned in an earlier post, there's not really a smoothie place near my house anymore, but this isn't too much out of my way. Especially when I-10 isn't too crazy. And while I came to this place for the smoothie, I will certainly be returning for a meal. It was just so cute and everything on the menu sounded delicious. But as for this morning's smoothie, I went with Liquid Sunshine - a combination of pears, carrots, parsley, celery, strawberries, and peaches. Delish!

Conquering Fears

I think I’ve mentioned on the blog before that I am more than willing to jump out of a perfectly good airplane (and I have, in fact, done this before), but the thought of scuba diving absolutely terrifies me. That may surprise you, considering how much I love to swim, but something about diving deep down in the water makes me a little nervous. That being said, I do have a little bit of an adventurous side, and I certainly have a competitive side. Not necessarily competitive, but I don’t want to be held back by fear. One of my friends has this idea, called Fearless ’15, in which she has vowed to live this year outside of her comfort zone, intentionally, and without limitations. I love that, and I am going to channel that as I get my scuba certification. Yes, you heard that correctly. My scuba certification.

Just last week I walked out of school with a text from a friend I’ve had since Pre-K, asking me if I had my scuba certification or if I was interested in getting in. While I initially hesitated, something in me told me to say “YES” to this idea. I asked her about the cost and the time commitment, which are both very reasonable, and when I learned that this scuba certification culminated in a five-day trip to Cozumel, I was all in. I’ve never been to Mexico before, and my family isn't one to take beach-y vacations (unless, of course, it's Hawaii), so this trip is going to be a plethora of new experiences for me.

Here’s what this is going to look like. Through Sugar Land Dive Center, Cheyney and I are going to do two classroom sessions and two confined water (pool) dives in Sugar Land Dive's Center pool and classroom. This is all going to take place June 6th and 7th, the weekend before we leave for Cozumel. But we are asked to go pick up our study materials ahead of time so that we can get a gauge on the material. I won't lie, I'm a little bit too excited to get back into study mode!

Then, on June 11^th, we are going to board a plane to Cozumel, Mexico to finish our scuba certification with our open water dives. These dives will take place in the morning, and then we will have the rest of the day to do whatever we please. Ziplining, swimming with dolphins and sea turtles, and of course, tanning and lounging on the beach are all some of the activities in which we hope to participate.

Yes, I am still a little bit nervous. It's something I've never done before, and something that has always scared me. But I am also so excited. I can't even begin to imagine the sights I am going to see and the experiences I am going to have. And that anticipation and excitement far outweighs the nervousness. And we've officially punched our tickets and got ourselves on the scuba dive schedule.Cozumel, here we come!

Things I'm Loving Friday XXIV

And we made it to Friday. Phew. I feel as though it’s been a longer week than usual because I really laid into my kids about the importance of these next three (now two) school weeks. I made it very clear to my students that if they are going to goof off and distract the rest of the class, they can spend the rest of the class sitting with their assistant principal. There is too much material left to be covered and reiterated for one or two students to be distracting the entire class. And I think some of them took it seriously, considering I wrote up F O U R students in one day. I mean business, and when they won’t listen to me, they will listen to their AP. Or not, but that’s an even bigger issue.

To BRIGHTEN up your Friday

Moving on to more positive things, let’s get this Friday started with another rendition of Things I’m Loving Friday.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

I briefly mentioned that my uncle gifted me this book for my 23^rd birthday, and I just recently started reading it. It is another one of those easy reads, but it is absolutely hilarious. I feel as though it is perfect for someone like me who is in her early 20’s, but bridging the gap between dependent college student and independent young adult. Mindy plays that “Girl Next Door” role well, and she hilariously and honestly takes us with her on a very relatable journey through different stages of her life.

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Full House

I often join my parents as they play one another in Wheel of Fortune, but they often have something else scheduled after that. Grey’s Anatomy, Blue Bloods, or occasionally My 600 Pound Life. Yeah, I take that as my cue to head to the MAC. But one show that I grew up watching, literally, I grew up with MK&A, and one that will never get old, is Full House. Just try and tell me that you didn’t wish you were a part of the Tanner family? Full of valuablelife lessons and unforgettable catchphrases (HOW RUDE!), I love reverting back to my childhood for that little bit of time each evening (or the occasional evening is probably more accurate), and having some “Aww” moments along the way.

 

How 90's is this photo? (Source)

Girl Scout Cookie Desserts

You only thought they were a danger to your waistline. That is, until you learned these cookies could be made into a decadent dessert. When I saw this blog, titled “75 Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Recipes,” I knew it was calling my name. I used to be a Girl Scout myself, you know. I even sold the most cookies out of my entire troop one year. But I digress. Our JV volleyball coach has a daughter who is selling cookies, therefore, she is selling cookies. I had resisted buying them for so long, but after reading this article, it was no longer meant to be. So, I created these Mini Caramel DeLite Cheesecakes, according to this recipe. I wanted to share them with my English I team, as stress levels seem to be running a bit high these days. I’m going to go ahead and toot my own horn and say that they were a hit. And as a total sidenote, I have a little bit of animosity towards those who call Caramel DeLites “Samoas,” Peanut Butter Patties “Tagalongs,” and Peanut Butter Sandwiches “Do-Si-Do’s.” I know it has to do with where you live and which cookie comply supplies your region, but still. Houston forever.

 

Using this picture because it's much prettier than mine (Source)

Prank With a Twist

Here’s a little something to warm your heart on this chilly Friday. Now, many senior classes pull a prank, as a way of leaving a mark on their school before graduation. Most of them are more funny than dangerous, but this one is a prank with a little bit of a twist. When a student handed the principal at a Kansas high school a bucket and told him to hold it, this principal was rightfully skeptical. However, students surprised him by dropping note after note after note into the bucket. And every single note was a note of encouragement or thanks or praise. They ranged from general to personal, and this principal said these notes are “better than a paycheck.” I would have to agree with him. What a cool way to be rewarded for all of the hard work you have put in over the years. As a reminder more to myself than anyone reading this, it does not go unnoticed.

 

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Honey I'm Good

I may be late to the game on this one, but I love this song. Not only is it extremely catchy, but it has a message that is a breath of fresh air. It is so common for famous people - and normal people, really - to be tempted by their young and good-looking admirers while on the road. They're out there, and there's just no denying it. But to see couples who have been together, anywhere from a few months to 70 years, it reminds you that "there's something really special about staying together." I must warn you - this song will get stuck in your head.

And that’s all I’ve got for you today. Fingers crossed my shin feels good enough to get in a run this weekend. I’ll surely keep you guys posted. Have a great one! 

*Edit - I just realized I've actually been in the real world for SEVEN months. Whoops. See this post. Good thing I added one more for good measure!

Six Months. Six Lessons.

I have successfully survived six months in the real world with a real job. It's only been six months? How can that be right? I say that, but at the same time, I feel as though time is absolutely flying. Spring break is just one week away - PTL - and after that, we don't have too long until S U M M E R vacation! But because I've hit that six-month mark, I thought I would take a moment to share what I have learned. And I'm certainly not the wisest, and  I don't have all the answers. But I would love to share what I do know, because these six months have been such a learning experience for me.

My second home

1. You will never know everything. And because of that, it's okay to ask for help.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Heck, I have no shame in stopping to ask for directions. That's not so much necessary anymore with the high-tech iPhone GPS, but I'll be the first to admit that there is so much that I don't know about teaching and coaching. And at first I saw asking for help as a sign of inferiority, but I quickly figured out that it is one of the best learning tools I've got. When I run out of drills at practice? Our varsity coach has binders full of them. When I don't know how to make a lesson interesting, or I'm struggling to organize a lesson? I can guarantee you that at least one of my team members has something up her sleeve. That's how ExposiTORY came about, and it warms my heart when I see my students drawing this stick figure before they begin writing. What's my point in writing all of this? That saying that goes, "You learn something new every day." Absolutely and 100% true.

I learned just how difficult it is to write a formulaic expository essay in only 26 lines

2. Make friends with your co-workers.
At a school like Bellaire, it's near impossible to know every other teacher in the school. And I wish it was possible, but it's just not. That being said, some of my fellow Bellaire teachers are some of the greatest people I have had the pleasure of knowing. I have loved getting to share the victories and struggles of being a first-year teacher with Ms. Paz. I have loved laughing with my English I team at some of the hilarious things our students say, write, and do. Lately, I have gotten to know one of the English III teachers, who has been at Bellaire for 25 years and is 30 years my elder, because we both have 6th period off and we both hang out in the English department lounge. I look forward to our daily conversations. And I've even gotten to know some of the teachers in other departments. History, especially. And who can forget the teacher who took the time to talk to me when I was crying (yes, crying) in the middle of the hallway after learning my classroom had been taken away? Other teachers, coaches, and members of the staff take time to ask me how my day is going, how I'm doing, how I'm liking Bellaire, and how I'm enjoying teaching. And they want to hear my honest answer. And though I'm one of the youngest teachers in the school, I've met some truly dynamite people who help me to survive each day.

3. Bad days will happen.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Bad days will absolutely happen. In fact, I went off on my students just today telling them they're all going to fail the STAAR because they can't get their ish together. Okay, I didn't use those exact words, but sometimes their constant chatter, sassiness, and immaturity just gets to me. Not that all of them are this way. And I understand that they're freshmen. But just because one small part of a day isn't the best, or it sometimes seems as though you're giving so much and not getting anything in return, it doesn't mean that you're not exactly where you're supposed to be. 

Yeah, this really happened

4. It's okay to set aside the work for a night. It will still be there in the morning.
Lately I've found myself feeling guilty for every minute I spend not working. If I'm sitting there talking to my mom or watching an episode of Full House without my laptop in front of me, I feel as though I'm wasting time. And that's not a healthy way to feel. Sometimes I panic when making plans with my friends, because it's precious time wasted. And I said this here, but an evening spent talking and laughing with friends, or a morning spent catching up over brunch, or an afternoon spent walking at the park, is just as important as grading those expository essays. Or making a PowerPoint. I am someone who loves living life ahead - I've always been that way - but I've found that it's best to set aside the work, live in the moment, and take time for the things that bring you life and bring you joy. For me, that's baking and exercise and blogging and reading and spending time with my friends and family. Because I guarantee that stack of short answer responses will still be there in the morning.

5. Technology is a curse, not a blessing.
Bold statement, I know. And I don't say this just because my students are attached to their phones, computers, and tablets. Seriously. I've had several moments where I've laid into my kids about how they are addicted to their cell phones. And I'm one to talk, because I hardly leave the house without it. That being said, though, I had a go-phone my senior year of high school, and the only thing I was checking was Parent Portal. Yeah, I was a huge nerd. But these kids are losing the ability to interact with their fellow students. One of the best days was when my students played hangman in the last few minutes of class, and they put away the phones and got so into the game. I also say this because, call me crazy, but I prefer a white board and Expo marker to all of this fancy technology. SmartBoards? No, thanks. It's great when it works, but when it goes out on you, it's often more trouble than it's worth. And it can leave you scrambling. But document cameras are pretty cool. 

6. Sleep is important.
Yeah, this one deserves to be number one. I had been warned, but teaching makes you drop-dead tired. I know I'm tired when I can sleep until 9:30am on the weekends. Because that just doesn't happen. And though I'm partial to teaching, I know that just about any job will make you drop-dead tired. Adjusting to a reasonable real-world schedule is hard. Because though I wasn't one to stay up super late, and I certainly never pulled an all-nighter, that's just not an option when you have work the next day. There have been a couple of occasions when I've had to say no to hanging out with my friends because staying up past 11:00pm would set me back for days. And going back to the work thing. There have been nights when I told myself I would stay up late and get it all done, only to be playing catch-up for the next couple of nights. And once I start neglecting sleep in favor of crossing things off, my health starts to suffer, and there's really just no time to be sick.

And one more for good measure. Find a job that makes you smile more than it makes you frown. It's gotten real in Ms. Tomlinson's English and Reading classes these past couple of weeks, because you guys maybe know better than my kids do that the STAAR test is just 11 school days away. Holy yikes. And I've made it clear that I won't tolerate any messing around. That being said, we have been reading a piece of drama these past couple of class days. Not only because we anticipate a piece of drama showing up on the STAAR, but also because it relates to the novel we have slowly been reading - Ernest Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying. The death sentence. Uplifting, right? But my kids have been so into it. They have really gotten into the parts, and some of my most reluctant students have asked if they could have a role in the play. They exaggerate their lines and pick up accents and make sound effects and today they asked me if we were going to finish reading the play. And I have found myself laughing and laughing at them, anticipating the start of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, I have hard days. Yes, my students exasperate me to no end sometimes (because why would you come to school without a pencil?). Yes, sometimes I ask myself what in the world I was thinking becoming a teacher. But my students bring a smile to my face each and every day and I'm so grateful for the job that I have. From teaching Reading to coaching volleyball, I'm convinced that I've got the best gig around.

And though I've learned a lot in just six short months, I know I've got miles to go. And I'll always have miles to go. Keeping up with my students is the equivalent of sprinting a marathon. So, whether you've been out in the real world for years, you're like me and you're just getting your toes wet, or you're about to graduate from college, just remember that there's always something to be learned. And that's the beauty of it.

Bootcamp

We have made it over the hump! Hallelujah! Just seven more school days to spring break, though I can't get too excited about that one, yet. It is officially crunch time, and my to-do list seems to be getting longer and longer each day. We have just 12 (!!!) school days until STAAR, and I tried to instill some fear in my kiddos by writing this on the board - today was 13 - but I think I only instilled fear in myself.

Going over the calendar made it all very, very real. That ready or not (and trust me, some of my students are certainly not ready), the STAAR test is coming. I'm going to offer a STAAR Bootcamp these next two weeks during lunch tutorials, in the hopes that some of my students will soak up some extra test-taking strategies. If nothing else, my hope is that they will become more comfortable with the format of the test, because it is no easy feat. While STAAR is looking more and more like TAKS every day, I more than remember being exhausted after sitting in a room for five hours just reading and writing and reading and writing. And then when you finish you get to read some more! I say this like I didn't love TAKS week, but now that I'm on the other side of it, I'm realizing just how silly it all really is.

But I won't even get into that right now. Let's talk exercise! Because I'm still not running (ugh, it's killing me), I decided to stay after school and attend a 4:30pm bootcamp class at the 24 Hour Fitness right by school. I have attended this bootcamp before, but it has certainly been a while, as evidenced by one attendee who said, "I don't recognize you. You must be new." Hey, I think I held my own! That being said, today's workout was tough. I was absolutely drenched in sweat by the time the clock hit 5:30pm, and again, I don't want to compromise the instructor and his class by sharing what the entire class looked like, but I'll share a couple of my favorite exercises with you guys.

We started out the class with some jump rope - 1 minute, 2 minutes, and 2 minutes. That got my heartrate up quick! We then did four rounds of a circuit that included six different exercises. We only did 10 reps of each exercise, but that was enough. Trust me. I thought when I graduated from high school (and volleyball), I had graduated from burpees. Nope. They follow me everywhere I go. But these burpees looked a little bit different. They go by the name of Lateral Burpees, in which a bar was placed on the ground, jumped over twice laterally, and then completed a burpee. I think this move is very crossfit-esque, but whew, it got me good. And you could easily make it harder by building a higher step, but honestly, it's hard enough as is.

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And I was surprised by how difficult this exercise was for me. I consider myself to have a fairly strong core, but I will admit that I have neglected targeted core work in favor of running, running, running. So these also got me good. The only piece of equipment needed? Two pieces of felt. I got in push-up position, with one piece of felt under each shoe. I completed two mountain climbers before getting down in plank position (on my elbows) and brought my knees to my chest (at the same time), twice. I then reverted back to push-up position and completed that sequence ten times. Okay, I took a couple of breaks. But don't knock it 'til you try it because it's much harder than it sounds.

It looked like this, though we were on our elbows (Source)

After bootcamp I headed back over to school, because sitting in 5:30pm Houston traffic is one thing that is not on my to-do list. I blasted some music, spread out my papers, and made myself comfortable as I cranked out grades and comments for the expository essays my kids wrote on Tuesday. It was my goal to get them finished as soon as possible, so that I can get them back to my kids and actually talk about them and see what last-minute improvements they can make to help make that jump from the 1/2 range to the 3/4 range. My cart is overflowing, my folders are stuffed to the brim, and I am counting down the days until I can chunk all things expository- and short answer-related.

And normally I don't use an actual red pen

But until that day comes, I will probably be seeing some later hours of the night, my kids will probably be seeing more of the Kelli bun, and some of them will likely be seeing more of their principal's office. Though today a student asked me, "Do you really think the threat of going to my principal is going to make me behave?" Excuse me? If a teacher ever even uttered the words "principal's office" to me (spoiler alert: this never happened), I would have started crying in the middle of class. I would have apologized profusely, and I probably would have brought him or her Starbucks every day for the rest of my life. My oh my, how times have changed!

I hope your Wednesday has been just wonderful. Stay warm, because this arctic freeze is coming!

Birthday Monday

This post may be small in length, but big in content. Or maybe I should say it's important in content. Either way, I've got T H R E E very important birthdays to share with you guys today.

First and foremost, today is my best friend's birthday! Fate had a plan for us when we were seated at the same table on that fateful first day of sixth grade. Okay, that one might be attributed to the fact that our last names are so close to one another, but that didn't mean we had to become best friends. Gayle is the kind of friend who only comes around once in a lifetime. She is loyal and loving and faithful and selfless and genuine and encouraging and all things good. We are very similar, yet very different all at the same time. We went off to rival colleges, yet our friendship has stood the test of time. She has been there for me every single step of the way, and we are happiest when we are sitting together talking. She gets me, she speaks so much truth, she makes me a better person, and I'm just not sure what I would do without her. It's hard to believe that we are 23 years old, she's on her way to becoming a CPA (!!!), and that this spring break, we'll take our 12th consecutive trip to the rodeo together.

Second, today is Texas Independence Day! I have said it before, but I am a Texas girl through and through. I love this state, I love that everyone can locate this state on a map, and I can't imagine ever living anywhere else. Yes, we are chock-full of Texas pride, but if you lived in a state that took ELEVEN HOURS to leave, you would probably be proud, too. We can fly our flag at the same level as the American flag, we have our own pledge, and while Texas may not be what comes to mind when you think beautiful, I think it's plenty pretty. And more importantly, it's home.

25 Reasons You Should Never Visit Texas

And lastly, today is Dr. Seuss' birthday. Give me one child who didn't grow up reading Dr. Seuss books, and I'll go ahead and remedy that right away. But seriously, talk about a man with an imagination, and a thirst for chaos and fun. His books often pack a message, but in a way that is still very kid-friendly. And though children are his main audience, his work can be enjoyed by people of all ages. In fact, he even said that "[he] doesn't write for children, [he] writes for people."  He's colorful and poetic and he was a staple in my childhood. And his words are still applicable. Always remember that "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose."

I hope your Monday is a great one!

Swimming Circuit Workout

Surprise! I'm back, but only briefly. I talk a lot about swimming on the blog, but I rarely share what it is that I do in the pool. I am sure it comes as no surprise that I am more of an endurance swimmer than I am a sprint swimmer. Seeing as I prefer to run longer distances of seven and eight miles than run sprints for 20 minutes. I think it's the years of volleyball that did that one to me. But I digress. Everytime I get in the pool, I am swimming at least a mile, usually a mile-and-a-half.

I swam this afternoon, waiting about 45 minutes so that I could have my own lane, and my workout today looked like a circuit, in that I completed three rounds of the following workout -

To expand a little bit on this, my first 12 laps consisted of one lap of breaststroke, followed by one lap of freestyle, followed by one lap of backstroke, and then repeating that cycle four times. Four consecutive laps of breastroke followed that, as did four consecutive laps of freestyle, and then I picked up a kickboard for my kickboard series. I swam one lap strictly using my legs, then ditched the kickboard for one lap each of freestyle and breaststroke. I picked the kickboard back up for 50 yards, and then repeated my freestyle and breaststroke regimen before finishing that mini-round of eight laps with the kickboard. To finish out the circuit I did four laps of freestyle only using my arms, and then I started the circuit all over again, twice, for a total of 96 laps. A solid Sunday swim if I do say so myself.

After my swim it was definitely time for some food. I seem to have established a weekend tradition of heading to Salata for a late lunch, and today was no exception. I enjoyed a spring mix and spinach salad topped with herb marinated grilled chicken, while reading another chapter of Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? My uncle sent me this book for my birthday, and I am loving it so far. Mindy Kaling is hilarious, and her book follows suit. Her voice really comes through in her writing style, and I think the fact that I just spent a significant amount of classroom time explaining voice to my students makes me appreciate it all the more.

And how about those Rockets? Wow, talk about a game. Lebron James vs. James Harden has got to be the NBA's best match-up. The game did not disappoint, and I so wish I had been there. I almost felt sorry for Lebron when he missed those two free throws, but I love that Clutch City got the W.

Birthday Surprise

Happy Sunday, and happy first day of March! Who can believe it? I hope you all have stayed warm this weekend, as it's been pretty chilly in Houston, and I know many cities have it much worse than we do. And though my body may have been cold yesterday, my heart was warm because three of my very best friends, with whom I will be boarding a plane at 6am to San Francisco in just over a month, treated me to a birthday surprise yesterday evening. They didn't tell me much, just that they would be picking me up around 3:45pm, and to dress casual cute. That's all I got out of them.

We headed toward Galveston, where we enjoyed seafood by the water at Topwater Grill. After much deliberation, I went for tilapia topped with mango salsa, and that came with a side of black beans and sauteed mushrooms. My plate was clean at the end of the meal, and we made our way over to Kemah for a Comedy Cruise. It was something new for each one of us, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Some of the jokes bordered on inappropriate, and we were by far the youngest people on board, we were laughing all evening long. And even better than this new experience, I loved getting to spend eight hours with some of my greatest friends. It's almost inexcusable how infrequently we see one another, considering how close we all live to one another, but whenever all of us do manage to get together, it's so easy to pick back up right where we left off. And we made a list of all the things we want to do within the next couple of months, so here's to not letting work consume our lives!

And without further ado, here's a little fitness survey for you to enjoy on this rainy Sunday afternoon.

What fit activities do you like to do together as a family?

Can I answer this one in the past tense? Because we don't all live in the same city, and our schedules often overlap, this isn't something that happens so much anymore. When I was younger, however, I remember going to the park on a very regular basis. And if my memory serves me correctly, I had the ability to wear out anyone who was with me. Bike and wagon rides around the neighborhood were also a family favorite. It's too bad that I can't convince anyone to join me on my 13.1 mile runs through various cities!

Why is fitness so important to you?

I love being active. I love how good it makes me feel. And I love pushing myself to new limits. Remember Felipe's class on Thursday evening? Yeah, I'm just now recovering from that one. But seriously, I love living an active lifestyle because exercise gives me energy, and it makes me feel as though there's nothing I can't do. And the promise of a long, healthy life doesn't hurt, either!

How do you motivate yourself to work out when you just don’t feel like it?

Oh, this is a tough one. There are certainly days when I get home from school and it would be so easy to just curl up on the couch with my computer and not move another muscle for the rest of the day. But I then evaluate the situation - is my body tired, or am I just being lazy? If it's the first, then I'll typically let my body rest, or I'll go for a light and easy walk. If I'm just being lazy, I remind myself that something is better than nothing, and that I have never regretted a workout. In fact, I usually find that I have more energy, and once I get going, I really get into my groove.

What is the top diet tip you’ve learned from the show the blog world?

As I have mentioned before, I don't really do diets. But what I've learned is that living a healthy lifestyle doesn't mean depriving yourself of the things you love. Everything in moderation. For so long I felt the need to negate what I ate, but now I know that if the majority of my day is filled with healthy choices, there's nothing wrong with letting myself enjoy dessert guilt-free. I find that restricting myself of something only makes me want it more, so why not just let myself enjoy a little bit of it?

What do you eat when you need a quick energy boost?

I love popping in one or two of my no-bake energy bites. That, or a Luna mini. Are we seeing a pattern here? Anything with a little bit of chocolate and staying power!

What the one treat you have to have, no matter what?

Dark chocolate. That, and frozen yogurt. Combine the two, and you can find me in heaven.

What’s your best stay-slim trick?

I wouldn't call it a trick exactly, but I think this one goes back to the question on diet tips. Everything in moderation. And I don't worry so much about calories, rather, I worry about what is going to taste good and what is going to make me feel good. That, and I drink a lot of water throughout the day. And I recommend that for so many reasons. 

When a salad didn't sound good, a smoothie hit the spot

Have a great rest of your weekend! Make sure to do something for yourself, because you deserve it. See you guys this week!