11:11, Make a Wish

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

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

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

My Longhorn pup

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

Avenue B Grocery

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

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

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

Rodeo 2015

Rodeo 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. I love a good pun.

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

And for the 11 questions -

1. Coffee or tea?

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

2. What is your favorite meal of the day?

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

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

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

Recoleta Cemetery

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

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

5. When did you start blogging and why?

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

6. What is the last book you read?

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

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

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

8. Are you a morning or night person?

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

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

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

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

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

The greatest thing about teaching

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

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

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

Things I'm Loving Friday XLVI: Article Edition

Happy FriYAY! Today is a most wonderful Friday because one, I finished my last week of STAAR-related work yesterday afternoon, and two, I'm going to Austin today! But before I jet off to the land of Longhorns, let's get on with our regularly scheduled Friday post, shall we? This time, in article form.

Train Teachers Like Doctors

This article is a really great one. And one that sits near to my heart. And without mentioning it by name, I feel as though it is speaking to the Teach for America program, and programs of the like – one with good intentions, but one that is not necessarily executed to the best of its ability, in my opinion, anyway. Let’s think about it. Doctors get years and years and years of hands-on training before they are given their own stethoscopes and scalpels, and while I’m not insinuating teachers need quite so many years of training, I am saying that the quality of teacher training matters. A lot of time and money goes into training doctors, and I would agree that it’s time and money well-spent. I would hope that my neurosurgeon – should I ever need one – has had THE very best training. And why should teacher training be any different? After all, we are the ones teaching the future doctors.

20 Signs You’re Doing Better Than You Think You Are

It’s very possible that I have shared this article with you guys before. But for any newbies to this adulting thing, I want to share it again. And it is a reality check for me, who will often complain about things that I really have no business complaining about. I complain about how I can’t afford to do SoulCycle on a regular basis, but I can also afford to spend money on a cow suit for Chick-Fil-A Cow Appreciation Day. Though I feel as though this will get quite a bit of use. Anyway, I have a job that I love, and though I’m working far more than the standard 40 hours, I also have time to do the things that give me life. Both my refrigerator and closet are full, I have an incredible crew of friends, I have goals, and I’ve got the cutest beagle pup in the neighborhood. I’m not sure where the complaints fit into that equation.

A Stanford Dean on Skills Every 18-Year-Old Should Have

I think I’ve shared this article before, too, but I think it’s such a good one, especially now that I have been a teacher and coach for a couple of years, and I have seen firsthand the repercussions that come from parents who do everything for their children. Heck, I saw them when I went to college – not only in the people around me at SRD (Spoiled Rotten Daughters, right?), but in myself a little bit as well. Whether the next step is college, or the next step is a real-world job, failure – at some level – is inevitable, a planner (whether paper or electronic) is an invaluable tool, and understanding that things aren’t always going to go the way you hoped or planned, are truths that should be etched in every 18-year-old’s mind. And though I’m 24 (so far past 18, you know), these are skills I’m still working on. Especially the managing money one.

 

Rollerblading is a good skill to have, too

Hey, New Teachers, It’s Okay to Cry in Your Car

THIS. ARTICLE. I’m technically not a “new teacher” anymore (okay, yes I am), but if this article doesn’t epitomize my first year teaching, I don’t know what does. For the first couple of months, I would literally pray for traffic on the Westpark Tollway so that I would be late to school. And I’m not late for anything. I had lost my joy and I was stressed out all the time. My parents were legitimately concerned over the fact that I was so visibly unhappy. And while I had been told that the first year would be hard, I naively thought I would be immune to it. “I’ve worked hard, I’ve earned this, and I’ve got this,” I told myself, as I threw on red heels and walked out the door for my first day at Bellaire High School. Fast forward two months and I was researching what else I could possibly do with an English degree, fighting back constant tears as I juggled teaching two preps with volleyball season. But you know what? It got better. It just took time. And I hope every new teacher understands that it’s going to be hard, but that the tough days are what make the great days so much sweeter. And yes, it’s really okay to cry in your car. But maybe save it for the drive home – you don’t want to mess up your make-up!

Teachers Respond: Veteran Teachers Cry in Their Cars Too

I may not be a brand new teacher anymore, but I’m not sure that I would call myself a veteran, either. However, this article was published as hundreds of readers responded to the above article, encouraging new teachers to stick with it, even admitting that after years and years and years of teaching, sometimes even they cry in their cars. And these emotions are there because they care. And that a glass of wine goes a long way. Teaching is an incredibly difficult profession, but it’s such a rewarding and fulfilling profession. And I know that the help and encouragement that comes from the people I work with every single day has helped me more than I can put into words. We have such an important job, and it’s worth all of our energy. So if a good cry is what allows you to start the next day fresh and with a new attitude, so be it. And for the record, DEVOLSON is totally a real thing. A very, very real thing.

The One Piece of Advice That Changed My Life

I loved this article. Absolutely, positively loved it. Six readers each shared a piece of advice that changed their lives, and that they still carry with them to this day. And while I loved and resonated with each one of these pieces of advice, the one that stuck to me the most was “Run Your Own Race.” We are deep in the age of Social Media. And it’s not going away anytime soon. And that’s okay! I love social media, and I don’t want it to go away. I think there’s a lot of good that can come from it, but there is also a lot of comparison that can come from it. Much like the actual running of races (maybe this is why I like this statement so much), we are all on our own paths, and we are all on our own timetables. It’s so easy for me to look at social media and see yet another engagement and feel as though I’m “falling behind” (I don’t actually think that, but it’s one that’s fairly relatable). Whether it’s jobs or friends or traveling or marriages or kids or whatever, you’re running your best race. And that’s all you can do.

And I think I gave you plenty to think about on this Friday morning. And with that, I'm off to BodyPump, and then for a quick weekend in Austin with my favorite shotgun rider. Hopefully we'll catch a glimpse of Charlie Strong while on campus. Hook 'em!

Currently: July Edition

Happy Sunday! I hope you have enjoyed a most wonderful weekend. I certainly did. Well, for the most part, but we'll get to that! I was fairly productive in terms of crossing things off my to-do list - got my bike fixed (I have this grand plan of biking to school when the weather cooperates), watched the gymnastic Olympic trials, whipped up a batch of delicious banana oatmeal zucchini muffins - recipe to come, celebrated National Sugar Cookie Day with funfetti cookies, 

Girls just wanna have fun(fetti)

grabbed one of my favorite lunches (and pre-race day fuel) in town at Black Walnut Cafe with Sarah, 

spent time reading and hanging with my precious pup, 

and today, I ran 13.04 miles in Navasota, Texas. And that's where the "for the most part" comes in. Where to begin? First of all, this was my very first time running a trail race, and for my trail race debut, I decided 13.04 miles in the middle of a Texas July was a great option. Turns out, it wasn't. And I'm going to be honest. This was about the most miserable race I think I have ever run. And I can credit that one to myself entirely. Trail running is a heck of a lot different than pavement running, and while I naively thought my Rice Jogging Trail and Hermann Park runs would aid me in my training, boy was I ever wrong. I had to run through mud and dirt and sand (yeah, my calves are already feeling it), over rocks and tree roots (in true Kelli fashion, I took a spill), uphill and downhill and uphill and downhill, and I was thoroughly under-prepared. Though to be fair, I am not entirely sure what I would do differently, except do some hill training, and practice running through sand.

My shoes got heavier and heavier by the lap

So, with all of that, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I really didn't have any fun running this three-loop race. But then again, perhaps my first trail race should have been a distance shorter than 13 miles. After a successful 10 miles last weekend, I thought this would be no sweat. Oh, it was sweat. Lots and lots of sweat. And while I just spent a good length of this post complaining, I'm grateful. Grateful for two legs that allow me to run, grateful for cloud cover, as opposed to adding the fierce rays of sunshine into the mix, grateful for the encouraging community of runners who sent nothing but kind words my way when I so badly wanted to stop, grateful for volunteers at the aid stations, grateful for a truly beautiful course, and I'm grateful for my competitive spirit, because everything in me wanted to quit after two loops, telling myself I'd be satisfied with 8.5ish miles. But I know myself, and I know that I set out to run 13 of them, and while I have yet to move from the couch, and the only thing I can stomach right now are Saltines and Gatorade, and this feeling of accomplishment is more than worth it. Though I may not be signing up for another trail race anytime soon!

Very ashamed of this mirror pic, but here I am post-race

Anyway, it is Sunday, which means it's time for a survey. I love filling out these "Currently" surveys. And the best part is, even if I have done it before, it's called "Currently," so it changes on the reg. Well, some of it, anyway.

• Currently Cooking…

Quinoa. They tell you not to eat anything you can’t pronounce, but I feel as though quinoa is a good exception to that rule.

h 

Quinoa salad with salmon from Hungry's

• Currently Anticipating… 

The release of J.K. Rowling’s newest book – The Cursed Child. I CAN’T WAIT!

You better believe I'll be dressing up for the midnight release

• Currently Listening To…

I wish I could say that I was listening to some cool podcast series - perhaps I should get into Serial? - but I'm not. The only podcasts I listen to are past church services that I may have missed. That being said, if you have any podcast suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I need something to keep me occupied on my daily walks with Mack.

• Currently Craving…

There are a couple of things in life that I will never turn down – Chocolate and sweet potato fries. And while I typically eat chocolate every day, sweet potato fries are an every-once-in-a-while indulgence for me. But I always eat all of them (and then some) every single time.

• Currently Drinking…

Water, water, and a little bit of Gatorade. With these crazy temperatures and my crazy running schedule, I have to make triple sure that I stay hydrated. I am rarely seen without my 40oz. Hydro Flask, and I refill it four or five times a school day. Perks of teaching summer school means I have access to the lounge water dispensers. It’s the little things, people.

• Currently Day Dreaming About…

My next vacation! I’ve got both Machu Picchu and Italy on the brain. And you know I’m not afraid to just board a plane and go.

(Source)

• Currently Indulging In…

Dark chocolate. Always. Every single day.

Taza is my favorite brand of chocolate -- so far, I can only find it at Central Market

• Currently Avoiding…

Checking my bank account. With summer comes more free time, which means I’m more likely to eat out or go shopping without giving much thought to the possible repercussions. Whoops. Perks of staying busy during the school year, I guess.

• Currently Needing…

To get my eyebrows waxed. To do the district online trainings. To do my usual Sunday food prep. To get my car washed (okay, and taken care of from when I backed into a pole). Yikes! I better get busy!

• Currently Coveting…

Hmm, I don't know! I guess I'm not "coveting" anything, but I am on the hunt for a new teacher bag. Okay, I haven't really looked that hard, but I will be on the lookout for one. It's something I treat myself to every year. 

• Currently Loving…

S U M M E R ! Okay, I have been teaching summer school, and volleyball never really ends, but the fact that I was able to spend three weeks in Argentina, doing absolutely anything my heart desired, and the fact that I’m able to cross things off of my “Houston Bucket List” without any feelings of guilt is one of my favorite things about summer vacation. And you certainly can’t beat lazy afternoons on the couch with the pup.

• Currently Reading…

The Shining by Stephen King. This is actually my first time reading a Stephen King novel, and while it’s not what I typically read, I’m pretty pumped about it. And then I can finally watch the movie.

• Currently Watching…

I never have a show that I’m currently watching, mainly because I never have a show that I can consistently watch from week to week. Especially now that volleyball season is just a couple of weeks away, and I don’t have DVR. I know, I’m probably the only person in the history of ever without it. But I can't tear myself away from the Olympic Trials, and this is only going to get worse when the actual Olympics begin!

And on that note, I'm off to park it on the couch for the rest of the day. And maybe cross some things off of that "need to do" list. Or maybe not. There's always tomorrow!

Things I'm Loving Friday XLVI

Happy FRIDAY! We don't have summer school on Friday, and we had Monday off for the Fourth of July, so I'm sitting pretty at only three days of work this week. I was waking up at the crack of dawn so that I could walk Mack before leaving him alone in the apartment for almost eight hours, in the hopes that he would be worn out and just lounge on the couch with his favorite toys. He did great, despite my initial concerns, and he only chewed up a couple of paper towels and empty toilet paper rolls. Not bad for a puppy! Anyway, it was nice to wake up without an alarm this morning, though my internal body clock (and my energetic puppy) didn't let me sleep in much past 6:30am. Which is fine with me. I don't want to get into too much of a habit of sleeping in, and I've got lots to check off the to-do list. The earlier I start getting after it, the better!

Body Pump
I talked a lot about Body Pump when I was living in Austin because the gym closest to my house had an excellent Body Pump instructor. I fell in love with the class because I'm not often motivated to do any strength training on my own, but with this class, I work my entire body in one hour. I moved recently, thus, ending the long-standing Kelli-MAC relationship, and I now live minutes away from a gym that has multiple Body Pump classes a day, thus contributing to my recent decision to pick the Body Pump habit back up. Though I make the effort to go at least twice weekly, the squat and lunge tracks never stop being killers.

(Source)

My last day at the MAC - also known as my second home

Museum of Fine Arts
If you are a Houston resident, or if you happen to be visiting, you have to experience the Kusama Universe Exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. I'll be the first to admit that I am not the biggest museum goer, nor am I the biggest art enthusiast. In fact, my favorite part of the annual elementary school MFAH field trip was rolling down the hill at Miller Outdoor Theater after eating lunch. But I had heard nothing but good things about this exhibit, so I had to check it out. It's colorful, it's ethereal, it's abstract, and just overall visually pleasing. It's a very peaceful, almost trippy experience, and I found it to be more than worth the wait. It's here until mid-September, so be sure and check it out! And an insider's tip for you guys: Reserve your tickets online prior to going. It's very possible that it will be sold out if you just show up hoping to catch a glimpse.

Love is Calling

Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity

7 Reasons You Should Travel Solo
I resonated with this article on such a deep level. As most of you know - and I really am going to do some kind of recap - I recently spent three weeks traveling solo through Argentina. And I was telling someone at school just the other day that I'm not sure I'll ever take a big trip like that with another person again. That might be taking it to extremes, as I love traveling with my family and friends, but as I am such a people-pleaser, it was so nice to be able to do what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. I got to do everything that I wanted to do while I was in Argentina, and that was because I only had to answer to myself. I am also a very quick and timely person, and when I'm ready to go, I'm really ready to go. Give me a time, and I can 99% guarantee I won't be late. I didn't have to wait on anyone, I didn't have to worry about running late anywhere, which, if you know me, is a huge pet peeve of mine. I got to walk everywhere, I met so many new people along the way, and I got to spend time with my own thoughts, and learn how to handle situations on my own. I believe everyone should travel alone at some point in his or her life. And it doesn't have to be out of the country! A quick solo trip to a city down the road should do the trick.

The Olympic Trials
I am obsessed with the Olympics. Every four years, my life shuts down and everything I do revolves around what Olympic event is taking place that morning, afternoon, or evening. And while I love the actual Olympics because it brings a few weeks of unity to such a typically broken world, the trials are so much fun to watch because you get to watch these athletes' dreams come true. Most of them have been working for this moment from a very young age, and I know it was not without sacrifices along the way. And then you have athletes like Michael Phelps, who is just an absolute phenom.

Kassidy Cook and Abby Johnston - both from Texas! ( Source)

Simone Biles - guaranteed to stick! (Source)

Michael Phelps - the greatest Olympian of all time (Source)

Fruit
I love eating fruit year-round, but I absolutely devour it in the summer. It's juicy, it's refreshing, it's healthy, and it's delicious. I cannot get enough. Cuties, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, canteloupe, plumcots - you name it, I'll eat it. And while obtaining fruit is not quite as easy as it was in Argentina, where you could walk to the next corner and be faced with a beautiful display of all the fruit you could ever want, I find myself making multiple trips to the grocery store each week so that I can replenish my supply.

And I can't end this post without mentioning my heavy heart for the events that have taken place in this country this past week. It seems as though every morning we wake up and there's a new #hashtag taking over the social media world, and I'm just so sick of it. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around such senseless violence, and my heart breaks for those whose family members were taken from them too soon. And I've read so many beautiful words regarding these acts, but I want to end with some great words shared by Houston author Brené Brown:

I woke up this morning looking for someone to blame. Someone to hate. Someone who I could make the single target of my fear about the officers killed in Dallas and what happened to Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. It was such a desperate feeling to want to discharge the uncertainty and scarcity. Then it dawned on me that this is the exact drive that fueled what's happening right now.

Instead of feeling hurt we act out our hurt. Rather than acknowledging our pain, we inflict it on others. Neither hate nor blame will lead to the justice and peace that we all want - it will only move us further apart. But we can't forget that hate and blame are seductive. Anger is easier than grief. Blame is easier than real accountability. When we choose instant relief in the form of rage, we're in many ways choosing permanent grief for the world.

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?