Lenten Season

We've (almost) made it over the hump! This week has seemed to go by fast for me, but my to-do list just seems to keep on getting longer. I cross one thing off and then add three more. I fell slightly behind, or I just feel a little behind, with my trip to Austin this past weekend, as I did very little school work while I was there. And I don't regret that, but I have felt like I'm playing a game of catch-up. And tonight we have "Cardinal Kickoff," in which incoming freshman will come and see what Bellaire is all about. I'll be holding down the volleyball booth, and hopefully recruiting some dynamite freshmen to don the Cardinal red.

Because it wouldn't make sense for me to go home and then turn around and come right back, I am staying up at school, with the intention of getting some work done. Organizing my desk, anyone? And because I didn't want to have to shower and re-ready myself, I woke up bright and early this morning to get in a swim before school. I have found that the key to getting a lane to myself is getting to the gym right when it opens at 5am, or meandering on up there around 7:30pm - after all of the youth aquatic fitness and aerobics classes have ended. And for some reason waking up at 4:40am to swim is a whole lot easier than getting up at 4:40am to run. Especially when it's a crisp 40 degrees outside. Which, if I'm being honest, is pretty ideal running weather, but a dark 40 degrees feels much colder than a sunny 40 degrees. So while yesterday's after-school sunshine-y run was a dream come true, this morning's frost? Not so much.

Lent

It's that time of year again - the time when we pick something to give up in honor of the Lenten season. If you celebrate Easter, that is. And, even if you don't, people often use this time to give up something that has become sort of like an addiction to them. Now, I'm not Catholic, but I have always tried (and usually failed) to give up something for Lent. Usually food. My Granny always, always, always gave up chocolate, and I always tried to follow suit. Chocolate, sweets, frozen yogurt - I successfully completed that one, surprisingly enough - and last year I told myself that I would journal every day of Lent. Yeah, right. One year some of my WyldLife teammates and I said we would read through the New Testament in 40 days. Again, I fell off track. Maybe some give up using foul language, as I know I could certainly watch my mouth while sitting in Houston traffic, turning off technology for a couple of hours a day (we all know I could benefit from that one), or some other bad habit that will help turn us back to Jesus. While those last few are a little bit closer to what the Lenten season is all about - preparing our hearts for Easter and experiencing the want, sacrifice, and temptation that Jesus experienced in the wilderness - I don't think it matters what you decide to give up or do for Lent, rather why you decide to give up or do something.

I know I'm guilty of giving up sweets because maybe it will help me shed a couple of pounds. Does it ever? No. Instead, it makes me irritable when my friends are enjoying that delicious cup of frozen yogurt and I'm eating carrots. Besides, what's a day without chocolate, anyway? This year, instead of giving something up, because I have found that doesn't really turn my heart back to Jesus, I'm going to take a little bit of time each day to write down either what was great about that day, what I'm thankful for, or a combination of the two. Every day is not going to be great, that is for sure, but there is something great to be found in each day. And I can't take any credit for that thought! One of my fellow UTeach grads has started a blog, that I absolutely love reading each morning, in which she is writing down one thing that she is thankful for every day for a year. What a difference it can make to look back on a day and reflect on the good that happened! Even if you have to dig a little deeper for it. Especially if you have to dig a little deeper for it.

I also want to commit one new piece of scripture to memory each week, and maybe make it a verse that I'm not already familiar with. There is no love without sacrifice, and though I'm not technically "sacrificing" anything, except maybe a few minutes spent wasted on Facebook, my hope is that I can celebrate and rejoice in the good news that I am made new each day by a gracious and loving God.

Deskercise

Happy President's Day! If you were lucky enough to get the day off from school or work, I'm green with envy. Houston ISD was up and running, but I actually wasn't too upset about it. With only five weeks until the STAAR test, every day truly does matter. Besides, it wasn't like the weather was super ideal today, anyway, right? I'll just pretend that it wasn't the perfect weather for curling up in bed with a cup of hot tea and a good book.

Though I wasn't too bummed about having to go to school today, I also wasn't fully prepared. I got home just after 4pm yesterday, but the last thing I wanted to do was think about school. Clearly, as was stated in last night's blog post. And I'm having a hard time even looking at my desk at school right now, as it is absolutely buried in papers. One student put it nicely when he said, "That's not a desk, that's a paper holder." Sadly, it's very true. And it kills me to be so disorganized, but with the end of the fourth six weeks, I have extra copies of just about everything we've done this cycle, along with upcoming assignments, and of course, the Mock STAAR packets are taking up quite a bit of room. I think I'm going to have to suck it up and either stay really late after school one day, or carve out an hour or two on Saturday or Sunday and devote it to getting organized. I'm drowning in a sea of papers and I have got to get it under control!

Desk Exercises

I know I don't have much to complain about, seeing as some parts of the country are being slammed with snow and cold temperatures. However, the weather down here in Texas changed drastically in a matter of hours. Remember how I talked about how much warmer it was than I expected? Yeah, not the case today. It is officially cold and obviously I was not planning on running today, but I am hoping to get in an evening swim, weather permitting. Though swimming is an awesome full-body workout, it's so low-impact that my body is almost craving it after tackling those hills yesterday. Let's just say that climbing the stairs to the third floor was tougher than it usually is.

And on that note, let's talk deskercise, or desk exercise. Or desk job strategies. I realize that many, many jobs require long periods of sitting, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with those jobs. However, it has been proven time and time again that long periods of sitting can have negative effects on our health, and I know I'm certainly guilty of extended sit time. Though I'm typically reading or watching television or surfing the web, so my sitting time is maybe not quite as justified. So, with all of that being said, and while I'm well aware that there are more of these articles out there than one can count, let's take a look at a couple of my favorite solutions, shall we?

1. This is something that I am most definitely going to look into should I be gifted a classroom (fingers crossed!!) next year - a standing desk. I hardly sit during the day anyway, but often times I find myself sitting in order to get some grading done. It's either that, or bending over to grade on a table, and I know that's not good for me. One of the teachers whose room I float into has a podium, and I love standing up there and doing some grading. And I know standing desks can get expensive, but hey, I'm willing to wager that Pinterest has some great DIY options!

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2. Take the stairs. Sure, the elevator can be enticing, especially when you're carrying a purse and a briefcase and a laptop and a gym bag and so on, but taking the stairs is such an easy way to stretch those legs. You can even take a quick work break and walk up and down the stairs a couple of times. When I was attending the AP Summer Institute this past summer, I found myself sitting for eight hours a day, so I would use the bathroom on the floor above or below me, just so that I could get a little bit of movement throughout those long periods of sitting. Take them two at a time for a greater challenge!

In the Barcelona Metro Station - so not PC, but so funny (Source)

3. Desk (or wall) push-ups and tricep-dips*. Desk push-ups are a little more "work clothes" friendly. For the push-ups, put both hands, shoulder-width or a bit wider apart, on your desk, and walk your feet back about a yard or so. Bend your elbows to bring the body close to the desk or wall, and then push back up, extending your arms fully but not locking them. Repeat 12-15 times. If you want more intensity, try a lower surface. Turn yourself around in order to target the backs of those arms. Place your palms, facing forward, on the edge of your desk (or a chair). Sitting up nice and tall, elbows squeezed in tightly, slowly bend your elbows until they are at a 90-degree angle. Be sure not to go past 90 degrees! Extend your arms straight again, and repeat 12-15 times. Be sure to keep your feet together, whether your legs are extended or bent.

*I suggest avoiding the rolling chair for these exercises.

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4. Say you're waiting for something to print, or maybe you're making hundreds of copies (is that just me?), or you're scanning, or faxing, or just doing something that is taking a little bit of time. Instead of just standing there (or worse, sitting), tone those calves! Position your feet shoulder-width apart, rise up to your tiptoes, hold for one second, and then lower back down. Want an added challenge? Try doing these just one leg at a time. 

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5. The Wooden Leg. While sitting in your chair, extend one leg out in front of you and hold for two seconds. Then raise your leg up as high as you can and again, hold for two seconds. Repeat 15 times before switching legs. 

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And I'm preaching to the choir over here because I myself don't always have the best posture when I am sitting. However, it's very important to make sure you are practicing correct posture. Because Forbes can say it better than I can, "Adjust the height so you're in a 90-90-90 position - feet flat on the floor or on a foot rest and your knees and hips bent at 90-degree angles. Keep your lower spine flat against the back of the chair to maintain proper curvature." Don't be like my students (okay, and me) and slouch over in your chair. Sit up straight and tall - it's good for a lot more than you think, specifically avoiding unnecessary pain. And instead of emailing your co-worker with that important question, get up and go see him or her! Not only are you squeezing in some extra exercise, you will also likely get a response in a more timely fashion, and, most importantly, face-to-face interaction is a good thing.

Enjoy the rest of your Monday, and be sure to stay warm!

An Austin Weekend

Things I should be doing: preparing for school tomorrow.
Things I'm not doing: preparing for school tomorrow.

I realize that I did very little school work this weekend, but sometimes that it's very necessary to take a step back and enjoy the moment you're in. And that's just what I did. I headed to Austin immediately after school on Friday. Seriously, I was in the parking lot by 3:20pm. Can you tell that it had been a long week? In order to avoid Friday afternoon traffic, or at least some of it, I took the Westpark Tollway all the way to the Grand Parkway, which then took me to IH-10. Once I got on IH-10, it was smooth sailing all the way to Austin. I even made it with just enough time to pick up my packet before enjoying a three hour dinner at one of my favorite Austin restaurants with one of my closest friends, who just happened to be my prom date our senior year of high school.

Prom 2010, no regrets, ya know?

We went to Mandola's Italian Market, where I enjoyed my usual Mista Salad with chicken, we split a bottle of red (yes, red!) wine, and of course, indulged in some gelato for dessert. How can you go to Mandola's without a scoop or two of gelato? You just can't.

We had fun catching up and reminiscing, and it's nice to know that some things just never change.

I didn't go to sleep until almost midnight on Friday, which for me, is really out of the ordinary. So I let myself sleep in until 9:00am before getting up and heading over to the relatively new Town Lake Trail Boardwalk for a pre-race run. I felt like such a tourist when I had to ask how to get down to the boardwalk, but once I got there, I had a great 2.35 mile run. The weather was just about as perfect as you could ask for, and my run was quick and easy.

After my run, and before heading back to the hotel to shower, I made a quick stop over at JuiceLand for a green smoothie for breakfast. I forgot how much I love that place, and smoothies in general, as I no longer have a smoothie place really anywhere close to my house.

After a shower and gathering up some of my school work (see, I did some!!), I drove over to campus with the intent of sitting on the BOGA (Big Ol' Grassy Area) in front of the Tower in order to get some grading done. I didn't get much done, as I was joined by Dylan not shortly after setting up shop. Yes, this was planned, and no, the irony of it being Valentine's Day was not lost on us. It was really, really good to see him and catch up with him and just talk to him. I hate how in our society when a couple breaks up it often means cutting off any and all communication with one another. That really stinks because often that other person is your best friend. I know Dylan was mine, and he was the first person I turned to for so many things. It's hard to lose that person in your life, and while some people might have warned me against seeing him so soon, nobody but us knew the relationship that we had, forgetting that we were friends way before we ever even thought about dating. And it was comforting to confirm that we are right where we need to be - as friends - but that we were able to pick up right where we left off, if that makes any sense at all. Maybe it doesn't, and that's perfectly okay, because it works well for us. Like I said, it was nice to see him, and I also managed to get a little bit of color into my pale skin. A win-win. And an extra win for being reunited with this beauty for a couple of hours.

We even grabbed a quick lunch together at Vert's (we each paid for our own meal, so it wasn't even a Valentine's date), before parting ways. I headed to my favorite spot in all of Austin - Mount Bonnell, where I was, of course, joined by many other people on such a beautiful day. I spent some time writing and thinking and enjoying a most beautiful view.

It was getting close to 5:30pm by this time, so I decided to head back to my hotel to just relax and do a little bit of work (yeah, that last part didn't happen), and get everything together for the race the next morning. I turned off the lights just before 9:00pm, and I was out within seconds. The sunshine really does take it out of you!

The Race

Oh, the race. I knew something was up when I didn't pop right out of bed when my alarm went off, opting to sleep for just a few minutes more. Because I had gotten about eight hours of sleep, so it's not as though I was lacking in that department. But I was so comfortable in bed, and it took me a couple of minutes to get going. However, once I got up, I was good to go. I got ready quickly, I ate my usual breakfast of peanut butter and sliced banana on whole wheat bread, and I headed downtown to secure a parking spot near the starting line. I thought I would hit traffic, but it took me about 10 minutes to get to my parking garage. I had plenty of time before the start of the race - I used the bathroom, walked out the pre-race jitters (I don't really have those, but I do like to keep moving), and I staked out a pretty good spot at the starting line.

Now, I was feeling a little bit thirsty before the race even began. I knew that wasn't a good sign, but it wasn't dire enough that I felt as though I needed water. I also messed up. It was much warmer than I thought it would be, but I still wore a long-sleeve Nike Dri-Fit top with my Lululemon shorts, as opposed to a short-sleeve shirt. So I was feeling very warm very early on. Combine that with hills that I most definitely wasn't prepared for - it's been just seven months since I moved back to Houston, and now hills are a foreign concept - the fact that I did not drink enough water nor eat enough calories yesterday, and I had a rough race. Well, not the entire race, as the first eight miles were great. I started feeling dehydrated around mile seven, so I was stopping to get water and Gatorade any chance I got. My pace was a little bit slower than usual from the get-go, but only by about five to 10 seconds per mile. Around mile 10, I started slowing down to running 10 minute miles. Every part of my body wanted me to stop - my legs were aching in a way that they had never felt before. I knew it wasn't just that I was tired, it was that I simply didn't have enough water in my system. I thought about stopping to walk, and I would have had I really started feeling bad, but I told myself to just keep putting one foot in front of the other, no matter how slow I was moving. That's what I love so much about running, that it is such a mental sport. I saw this sign at the perfect time, "When your legs can't run anymore, run with your heart." And that's exactly what I did, because my legs were not happy with me. And I think I could have crawled up the hills faster than I "ran" them.

All of that being said, I fought the fought and I finished the race. And I absolutely loved running through one of the absolute greatest cities in the world. I got chills when, at the start of the race, the announcer said, "Let's get ready to run Austin, Texas." I didn't have my best race, though to be fair, it certainly wasn't awful, but I proved to myself that I can push through physical exhaustion and rely on what I've got inside me. And half marathon number seven is officially in the books. I still love running, I still love Austin, Texas, and I'm still half crazy. And because I saw quite a few great signs whilst running, I have to share them with you. I wasn't smiling quite as much throughout this race, but every now and then a clever sign brought the smile back to my face.

• Chuck Norris never ran a marathon
• I pushed for 4 hours, so you can do it too
• I'm proud of you, random stranger!
• Run like someone stole your tacos (In Austin, this would truly be a tragedy)
• Chafing the dream
• It could be worse, you could be doing burpees (A M E N)
• Remember, you paid $$ to do this!
• Short cut -->
• It's all downhill from here! (Lies)
• You run better than the government
• Even Kanye thinks you're a winner
• Your butt looks better than Kim K's
• I run, left shark dances
• My last marathon was on NETFLIX
• You feel like crap, but you look good like crap
• Half marathon game on fleek tho (my students would have appreciated this one)

Texas Forever

Austin, you did me good this weekend. It felt so good to be back in my other "home" city, and I'm ready to tackle the school week ahead of me. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Running Survey

Because today I completed half marathon number seven, and it goes in the record books as the most difficult race I have run thus far. So, here’s a running survey to hold you over until I find the time to post a race recap for you guys. Enjoy!

Age: 23
Country/State/General Vicinity: Houston, Texas

Year you ran your first mile without walking: Hmm, this is a good question. I’m sure with all of the sports I played in elementary, middle, and high school, I ran a mile without stopping at some point in time. But I certainly couldn’t tell you the exact year I first ran a mile without stopping!

Ain't that the truth

Year you became a “runner”?: This answer, I do know. I became a runner the year I went off to college – 2010. A couple of my friends decided they wanted to sign up for the Austin Half Marathon, so I decided to sign up with them. Well, it turned out that I was the only one who actually followed through with that decision. I started running the winter of 2010, and I have never looked back.

Why you run now: I absolutely love running (most days). It provides some much-needed “me” time, and I use the time I spend running to think about everything under the sun. I have a job that requires me to be “on” most hours of the day, and this gives me a chance to turn “off” and just go. See this post for a more detailed description of why I run.

What’s the most you’ve ever spent on a sports bra?: Probably $30, on my favorite Under Armour Seamless Essential Sports Bra. Actually, I may have purchased a sports bra from Lululemon, but I more than likely got it on sale.

First race: My first real race was the 2011 Austin Half Marathon. Yeah, I know. I had signed up for the Houston Turkey Trot that Thanksgiving, but was plagued with a bad cold that forced me to forgo it. So, I was a little bit unsure of how this race was going to go, but lo and behold, I ran the entire race without stopping. I might not recommend that method to others, but it worked out just fine for me!

Last race: The 2015 Austin Half Marathon. Race recap to come (eventually)! Just know that those hills absolutely did me dirty.

Slower than usual, yes, but I finished without walking (and believe me, I considered it)

3 races you most wish you could run: Wow. This is a tough question. I would love to run a race in every state, and I would also love to run The Boston Marathon one day, but that would require running a (very fast) marathon in order to just qualify for Boston. So, we’ll see how that one goes. Right now the top three on my “To Run” List are –

• Big Sur Half Marathon

(Source) I'm sorry, but does this not look like the world's prettiest race destination?

• SeaWheeze Half Marathon

Hello, Vancouver (Source)

• Mayor's Midnight Sun Half Marathon 

An Alaskan Summer Solstice tradition (Source)

Favorite race: I have loved every race that I have run. Austin, Houston, San Francisco, Disney World, and Washington D.C – I’ve been lucky enough to get to travel to some of the best places in this country to participate in one of my favorite hobbies. And while each race has had its own special qualities, running through the city in which I was born and raised was probably the most special to me.

Best running advice you’ve ever received: Smile! People will think you're crazy.

First running shoe: Definitely a pair of Mizuno’s. I am partial to the Mizuno brand because that is what I wore throughout my entire volleyball career (not running shoes, of course). However, I think my next pair will be a pair of Asics purely because I find the Asics out on the market right now to be a little bit cuter than the Mizunos. Sue me!

Do you run with a watch?: I do. I either run with my Garmin Forerunner, or I run with my white IronMan watch. Often times it’s not because I want to know my minute/mile time, but just because it helps me gauge how far I have run. Obviously, if I am wearing my Garmin, it gives me the exact distance. But if I am at least wearing a watch, I can deduce about how far I’ve run based on how long I’ve run. The idea of running countless around a track bores me to tears, so I often run through a neighborhood, in a park, or around a lake, and it’s not always easy to know how far I’ve gone.

Running goals for 2015: My main running goal for 2015 is to run 1007.5 miles, combined with Amira who is also going to run 1007.5 miles, for a total of 2,015 miles. And I am well on my way to hitting that goal, but we’ll see how the tables turn when the summer weather approaches.

PRs:

• 5K – 25:21 (I think the ABB 5K is the first official 5K I have ever run!)
• ABB 5K – Houston 2015
• 10K – 49:37
• Turkey Trot 10K – Houston 2011
• 12K – 1:03:31
• 12K of Christmas – Houston 2014
• 15K – 1:21:41
• Hot Chocolate 15K – Dallas 2013
• 10 miles – 1:21:45
• Run for the Water – Austin 2011
• Half Marathon – 1:54:18
• Austin Half Marathon – Austin 2013

I have had an absolutely wonderful weekend here in Austin, and I plan on soaking up every last minute before I head back home. Or I might possibly take a trip to the San Marcos Outlets, depending on the weather. See you guys from Houston!

Things I'm Loving Friday XXI

Okay, I know I forgot to post last Friday. I absolutely intended to. But here's what happened. The night before I had gathered a couple of the items that I knew I was going to need to take photos of for this post, and I even managed to bring them downstairs with me on Friday morning. I was going to take them to school with me so that I could take pictures of them before the school day started, but on my drive to school, I quickly realized that I had left my make-up bag at home. You win some, you lose some, I guess! Anyway, I will post today what I intended to post last week, and I hope to never miss another Friday, though we all know not to take that promise too seriously!

Today's post strangely enough focuses on make-up and beauty products, which is so out of the ordinary for me. Of course I wear make-up, but I don't wear a lot of it, and secretly I love weekends when I do nothing but lounge around my house because I don't feel the need to wear any of it. That doesn't happen often, but even when I do put on make-up, none of it is life-changing. I have found a few great products, though, that I can't help but share with you guys. Sorry, boys, but you might want to check out of this post!

Clinique Chubby Stick
I think the lipstick trend skipped my generation. Actually, I take that back, because there are certainly people my age who wear lipstick, but I am not one of them. My mom is religious about applying lipstick, but whenever I put it on, I'm constantly biting my lips, which is why I tend to stick to chapstick. So, when I found the Clinique Chubby Stick, which is moisturizing lip balm with a little punch of color, I knew I had found what I was looking for. So not only does it act as chapstick, it also adds a hint of color without being a distraction to my lips, if that makes any sense at all. I have a stick in Pleasant Punch as well as Chunky Cherry, and I love them both.

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DermaBlend Intense Powder Camo
I have never been, and probably never will be, a fan of foundation. I hate feeling as though I have goop caked on my face, and I never seem to apply it correctly. That being said, I definitely don't have a perfect face, and a little make-up is a good thing. What I love about this DermaBlend Intense Powder Camo product, because it is a little bit pricey, is that it truly lasts all day. It doesn't feel cakey, and it makes my skin appear smooth and even-toned. It blends well, it's lightweight, and it comes in 16 different shades, so it's almost guaranteed that you can find a shade to match your skin tone.

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OPI Neutrals
As much as I love getting my toes done, my nails are a different story. I love having my nails painted, but I hate it when they start to chip, and for me, that's about two seconds after I leave the nail salon. That being said, this Christmas break, Hayley, Lindsay, Taylor, Amira, and myself decided that we were going to take part in a nail polish exchange. Totally girly, but totally fun. And normally I am drawn to the bright pinks and reds, but this time I opened a more neutral pinkish color that I immediately fell in love with. It's called "Tickle My France-y," and I loved it so much that I was inspired to purchase another neutral color, this time in a shade of gray. I have found that wearing neutral colors not only match any outfit that you are wearing (because we all have time to repaint our nails to match each outfit, right? and we are also all concerned about that, right?), but it's also easier for me to maintain. Not only is a chip here and there less noticeable, but a quick touch-up is easy because if it's a less than perfect paint job, that's also less noticeable. A win-win.

(Left, Right)

Curly Hair Products
It is no secret that I have a whole head of curly hair. And I gave up fighting it with a hair straightener years ago. Occasionally I will run a straightener through it, but not often, as it's often easier for me to just throw some hair product in it and be on my merry way. Sometimes this is a good thing, and more times than not, it is a bad thing. My curly hair has a mind of its own, and it can be hard for me to find a product that makes it look decent on a regular basis. The irony of this is that I am wearing my hair straight for the first time this entire school year. Any guesses on how many comments I'll get? Anyway, when a friend told me about something that she has tried - and has worked! - I couldn't help but give it a try myself. It's the combination of KMS California Curl Up Bounce Back Spray, Morocconoil Curl Defining Cream, and Mizani True Textures Curl Soft. I apply all three of them to damp, towel-dried hair, and then I am on my way out the door. They are a little bit pricier than the usual drugstore products, but I purchased all three of these bottles months ago, use them daily, and I still have plenty of product left. Very little time, very little energy, very little trouble. How can you say no to that?

The Bathery Bath Brush
This last one is just a random, fun, impulse purchase that came from Target. Isn't that how most Target purchases go? Anyway, I love loofahs, but much like the average person, I have trouble reaching my back in the shower in order to give it a good clean. And with all the running I do, I need a good clean. The solution to this problem? This loofah with its easy-grip handle gives you that much-needed extended reach, and what's better is that it comes in a plethora of fun colors and it's also travel friendly. Happy showering!

(Source)

And on that note, I'm off to The Kopy Kingdom to make yet another round of copies. I would love to know how many reams of paper those copy ladies go through each day. Anyway, see you guys from AUSTIN! And in reference to my post from yesterday, as I was baking some Valentine's Day treats for my little angel students, I got to thinking about how to squeeze in some exercise while sitting at a desk. I know there are hundreds of articles out there on that topic alone, but why not add another one to the mix? Look for that post coming soon! Enjoy your pre-Valentine's Day Friday!

Desk Job

Part of me feels as though this week is flying. The other part of me feels as though this week is dragging. My throat tightens a little bit each time I think about the fact that there are F I V E school weeks until the STAAR test, but yesterday also made me feel a bit more reassured about the whole thing, giving me some direction for these next five weeks. I mentioned that on Monday I administered a mock STAAR exam for my students. Because the end of the grading cycle is Friday, grades are due Tuesday at 4:00pm, and most of us have between 60 and 150 essays and short answer responses to grade between now and then, depending on how many English I classes we teach, we were gifted a professional development and grading day yesterday.

While preparing for a substitute is often more trouble than it is worth, I was very grateful for this day. Because I am going out of town this weekend, and the weather in Austin is supposed to be beautiful, my plan was to have all of my grading done before Friday. I want to go to Austin without feeling like I have to spend time sitting in my hotel room grading, especially when there are quite a few people that I would love to see, restaurants at which I would love to eat, and places that I would like to go. So, I actually graded all of my essays and short answer responses over the course of both Monday and Tuesday afternoon. I had to take my car back to the shop on Tuesday, but sitting there for an hour and a half gave me zero grading excuses. I certainly made myself at home while I was there, that's for sure.

However, because the real STAAR exam will have two readers per essay, we wanted to mimic that as much as possible. So many times a student will be between scores, and most of the time, it benefits the student. If you have no idea what I am talking about, just bear with me. I'll get to my point, I promise. We also went through the results of the multiple choice portion of the exam, highlighting areas of strength, and of course, areas of weakness. This is where my pride comes in. While there are still miles to go before we sleep in both reading and writing, my students really impressed me with their performance on the multiple choice part of the exam. There are certainly glaring areas of weakness, but some of the things we have hit pretty hard these past couple of weeks showed. And I finally felt that maybe, just maybe, I am getting through to some of them. Slowly but surely.

Not only am I a volleyball coach, but I'm a STAAR coach too

That being said, this professional development day simply reiterated the fact that I am not made for a desk job. What professional development means is basically that you sit in a room, operative word being sit, and hopefully learn something. Okay, that's putting it very simply, and most of the time it is very beneficial - yesterday certainly was! - but I am horrible at sitting still. I feel for my students, because it's hard to sit all day and listen. I got very antsy, as I hardly ever sit down during the school day. I am constantly on my feet, walking around, squatting down to chat with students, and so on and so forth. And that suits me. Time passes quickly, I feel productive, and it amazes me how slow the time goes when I am just sitting in a chair around a table, or at my desk watching students work. And while most of the day was extremely productive, there were of course moments when we got off-topic, or had to take a stretch break, or just had to share the hilarious things our students wrote in their essays. There were certainly some funny ones.

Another reason I can't sit at my desk, whoops!

So, the point I am trying to get at here is that desk jobs are perfect for some people. In college, some people are really good at holing themselves up in a cubicle and getting lots of work done. Some people can sit down for hours at a time and be as productive as I can be in maybe an entire day. And I admire you guys, because I kind of feel like my students in the fact that I have to get up every so often, walk around, get a snack, change the environment I'm working in, and so on. Even yesterday, after grading for maybe an hour straight and a half straight, I honestly felt as though I had run out of steam and couldn't do it anymore. Low endurance, I know. Anyway, as I was leaving school yesterday I couldn't help but be thankful for the job that I have. Because it's perfect for me. I may get home at the end of the day (okay, 4:00pm ...) and be absolutely exhausted, but for some reason sitting all day in professional development is often more exhausting for me. Maybe I do have to be "on" all day, but I like having to interact with other people all day. For someone who loves to spend time by herself, every day is a new challenge in terms of thinking quick and remaining patient and being flexible. Plus, high schoolers just fascinate me. I know I'm not that far removed from the high school world, but I love just listening to them talk and watching how they interact. It's better entertainment than the movies!

Sometimes the most random things make for a great blog post. Or at least, I think it's a great blog post. You guys might think differently, but then again, no one is forcing you to read it!

Workout

Back to our regularly scheduled fitnessandfroyo events. The Austin Half Marathon is this weekend! And before a half marathon, my week of workouts always looks the same. Yesterday a run was on the agenda, and today, swimming. I was greatly looking forward to this morning's swim, as last night's run was a bit on the painful side. I have somehow developed a callus on the underside of my pinky toe, making walking and running very painful. I'm trying to toughen it up so that I can sort of scrape it off before the race, because otherwise it is going to be a very painful 13.1 miles, even if it is through a very beautiful city, on what is supposed to be a gorgeous race day.

But just to be on the safe side, I made a Walgreens run and purchased a whole arsenal of supplies. If one remedy doesn't work, surely another will, right? Fingers crossed! And I know I'm all about the pictures on this blog, but I think I'll spare you this time around. 

And now I'm off to pack for Austin, make some Valentine-themed cookies, and get a much-needed haircut. See you guys tomorrow!

*Disclaimer: This post was typed before the haircut. It was posted after the haircut. Just keeping things gucci around here. 

Why I Run

Happy Monday! I don't know about you guys, but I am absolutely exhausted. I woke up at 4:40am so that I could get in a swim before school, because finding a lane at the MAC on a weekday afternoon is almost impossible. So obviously my morning started out on the earlier side. I got to school around 6:45am and I didn't stop moving until 11:45am. I, along with two other English I teachers, administered a Mock STAAR to our students, and though we had already spent a significant amount of time setting up tables for our 200ish students, this morning was a nonstop whirlwind of setting up dividers, gathering dictionaries and thesauri, and getting kids signed in and situated. Once they had actually begun the test, we had to walk around and keep the students on task, pass dictionaries and thesauri from one student to the other, and basically cater to their every need. They aren't allowed to leave their seats without permission, so even if they needed a tissue, we had to go to them. I got my exercise, that is for sure! And shout out to my mom for coming up to help administer the exam. You know she loved being back at her alma mater! 

Cardinals

I have not yet graded any of their exams, but in just walking around I was so proud of the way they behaved during the exam. They appeared to be taking it seriously, utilizing strategies we had discussed in class, and I have high hopes for their scores. I hope it gave them a little bit of confidence in the way they will perform on the actual STAAR exam, but all I know is that simply administering the exam wore me out, so I can only imagine how they must have felt after taking it. Which is why my afternoon classes had movie day. Teacher of the Year, am I right? Hey, it was a well-deserved movie.

Why I Run

Ever since my freshman year of college, when I was no longer playing volleyball and needed something to keep me in shape, I have been running. That is no secret, and though there have been months of ... less mileage ... I have stayed pretty consistent with it. I ran at least one half marathon each year of college, and I am constantly looking for new marathons to cross off my list (typically a destination race, if I'm being honest).

Nike Women's Marathon 2013

While perusing Pinterest (this has become an all-too-common phrase on the blog these days), I have come across different mantras describing why people run. I have read a couple of articles that highlight different reasons people run, and I wanted to join in on the fun. With another half marathon coming up, today seemed like the perfect time to do just that!

1. Running started out as something to do so that I wouldn't gain that freshman 15. And believe me, I was terrified of that phenomenon. And while it is certainly a great way to stay slim, quite frankly, distance training can often make you gain weight. But I run because it makes me feel good. No matter the distance, there's no better feeling than the one that follows a run. But I won't lie, I do love how it makes my legs look.

2. I love running for the fact that it can be done absolutely anywhere. For someone who loves both traveling and exercise, running is the best of both worlds. It doesn't matter if the place I'm staying has a gym, because running is always an option. And what's better is that running in a new city can help you to discover some of the city's most hidden gems. Sometimes, getting lost can be a good thing.

Running our way through Barcelona

3. Running has given me a no-excuses mental toughness. It's 36 degrees with a drizzle in the air? (Yes, I realize to some of you Northerners, that's nothing.) Those miles aren't going to log themselves. You've already run 12 hilly miles through the streets of Austin? Here's one more for good measure. If I can do that, I can do anything.

Miracle Mile, anyone?

4. I am not a yoga person. Nor will I probably ever be a yoga person. And it's not because I don't love a good stretch, rather, my mind is often moving much faster than my body. I'm not much of a meditative person, but I am a thinker, and running gives me that much-needed time to think. As someone who has to be "on" all day, those 45 minutes I spend running help me to escape everything else I've had to deal with that day and just go.

5. Building off of that, running is cheaper than therapy. It releases frustration, stress, fear, anger, insecurity, and makes me feel confident, secure, strong, and fearless. And though running may be cheaper than therapy, it's still up in the air as to whether race fees are.

But it all evens out when you get a Tiffany necklace at the end, right?

6. I love the running community. I love meeting and chatting with new people at the starting line of races, making an instant connection because we realize that we're all a little bit (or a lot) crazy.

7. Running gives me energy. Call me crazy, but I love waking up at 4:45 in the morning to get in a run before school. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, I go to school with more energy than I would have if I had slept in that extra hour. I feel focused and productive and ready to conquer the world (or at least my to-do list).

8. Ever since I can remember I've been a competitive person. I won't lie, I'm still a little bit bitter over the loss to Cinco Ranch my senior year that would have sent us to state. Even when I play pick-up volleyball with my friends, I still find myself playing competitively. Running is no exception. Not every run is going to be a PR, but I love pushing myself to the limit and realizing that some days are going to be tougher than others. Which is very true of life, as well.

9. I run because I can. I take my health for granted each and every day of my life. But every day I should be thanking God that I have two healthy legs that allow me to conquer these crazy miles. Heck, I should be thankful they allow me to run even one mile! There are so many people who can't run, for whatever reason, and not taking advantage of this incredible gift He has given me would almost be a crime.

One of my favorite running views

10. Most of all, running brings me joy. In a way that I can't seem to put into words. I think Holden Caulfield, the main character in one of my all-time favorite books, Catcher in the Rye, said it best when he said, "I don't even know what I was running for - I guess I just felt like it." Because sometimes I don't know why I'm running, but I'm in in for the long run.

Insert "running"

Were you inspired to lace up your running shoes? Or do you just think I'm a little more crazy than you thought I was before? Regardless, enjoy the rest of your Monday!