25 Things

Hello, hello! Do you guys remember the "25 Things About Me" craze that hit the Facebook scene many years ago? Well, I found a variation of that craze, and it is perfect for a little Survey Sunday action. So, without further ado, here are 25 things about yours truly.

1. I’m happiest when… I'm running. Truly. I love that necessary "me" time, and I love being outside. And though not every run is a great one, it's better than not running at all. I like to say that I am just one run (or workout) away from a good mood.

2. Especially if it… is sunny with temperatures in the 50's. Not ideal for everyday life, especially for someone who hates layering up, but it's the perfect running weather.  

3. I’ve always wanted to… travel to Australia. And hopefully that happens sooner rather than later. I would love to scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef.

4. My family and I… enjoy watching (and playing one another in) Wheel of Fortune. Strange, but true. It gets heated sometimes.

5. I was a terrible… singer. I mean, I am just horrible. And when it says "was," it really means "is." I can't sing to save my life. I told my students that if they all make a 100 on their vocabulary quizzes one week, I'll sing for them. So while I would love for that to happen, I also pray that it doesn't.

6. My first job was… a church league volleyball coach. Who knew that would pave the way for the future?

7. I could probably eat chocolate everyday. And I do. In some form or fashion, and usually multiple times a day. It's healthy, right?

8. I stole… some candy from the candy aisle at Kroger. My friend and I were on a wild goose chase trying to find Crispy M&M's (before learning that they were no longer sold in the United States), and we eased the frustration with a few sour candies. So sue us.

9. I was born on the same day as… Hank Aaron, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kevin Gates.

10. My all-time favorite film is… Oh my gosh, how could I ever choose? I love The Breakfast Club with all of my heart, but there are so many incredible movies out there. Boyhood, Remember the Titans, and so many that I have yet to see.

11. I do a pretty mean… left-handed serve? I've been told that it's "wicked."

12. I’m still mad… that we lost the volleyball game that would have taken us to state my senior year of high school. I realize this happened SIX years ago, but I'm still not over it. Nor will I probably ever get over it.

13. I met my best friend… the first day at the Dirty SRDy. I've got a lot of best friends, but this is the most recent find. And she's a diamond in the rough.

14. I always knew I wanted… to become a teacher. Since the third grade, in fact. Although I originally wanted to teach high school math, I always knew teaching was the job for me.

15. I’m not afraid to… fail. I believe very strongly in pushing myself to be the best that I can be, in all aspects of my life, and that means falling short. But it also means learning and getting better. Which is why I no longer feel the pressure to be perfect.

I fall short a lot as a teacher, but that's also how I learn

16. I make the best… Slutty Brownies. I know, I know. But I have perfected them. I "wow" people with them all the time. Little do they know, they're the easiest dessert around town. Get it?

17. I have almost no… patience when it comes to slow walkers and drivers. I realize that I work in a high school and it's in their natures to walk at a snail's pace, but there is nothing more frustrating than being on the first floor at one end of the building when the bell rings, and having to get up to the third floor on the other side of the building. Which is a personal problem, because I could have made the trip down the first floor at an earlier time, but those kids just walk so slow! I'm scuttling around them (heyo, vocab word!).

18. I always cry when… I see videos of soldiers returning home. I'm not sure how anyone can keep a dry eye.

19. I’m now… living at home …but I hope to… move out and live with my friends in the near future. Though I certainly can't hate the money that I'm saving. 

20. I spent four years… living, studying, and working in Austin. And it will always be my happiest getaway. Always.

21. I wish my folks… wouldn't worry so much. I know it's in their nature, but I don't think they have gotten a full night's sleep in 23 (almost 24!) years.

22. At age 5, I was deeply in love with… riding my bike? I guess not much has changed on that front.

23. I believe if everyone… took a little bit of time for themselves each day, the world would be a better place. That could be reading, running, baking, listening to music, or any variety of things, but I think everyone needs a little bit of that each day.

One of my happiest places

24. I can’t stand… tardiness. Which is why I always make my students go get a tardy pass. I'm trying to teach life lessons here, people!

25. Whenever…Boy Meets World…is on, I’ll watch. Mr. Feeny is full of valuable life lessons.

And on that note, I've got about one hundred things to do. I enjoyed a most lovely Saturday, full of college football, - HOOK 'EM HORNS! - friends, good food, frozen yogurt, and high school football. I did not touch any school work, and now I've got some catching up to do. But I don't regret it. You need those kinds of days every once in a while. Au revoir!

1000 Rep (+ a few) Workout

Hello, hello! Happy Thursday! Whew! This week has gone by quickly. Yet, the days have been long. Good, but long. And though my time was short, I still managed to feel as though I crossed (almost) everything off of my list. Grades were due on Tuesday, so I should have a bit of a break, right? Wrong. I'm still drowning in a pile of grades, but I remember feeling that way last year, too. I want to start off taking everything for a grade, so that my students take everything seriously. As the year goes on, I will lighten my own load, but they're still getting used to my feedback and my expectations. So, I'm not complaining too much. Besides, they're still making me laugh. And they're making me proud.

"People think about Houston when they say America." I like it.

After reading "How the Lottery Can Ruin Your Life"

Anyway, I wanted to pop in and share a quick workout with you guys, as I flip between the Texans game and the Astros game. Crush City, baby! The Astros are back in the postseason for the first time in 10 years. In fact, the last time we were in the postseason (and the World Series!), I was in the 8th grade. And now I'm teaching 9th graders. Crazy! I digress. The other night, a delayed volleyball game and a closed pool left me at a loss for what to do to get my sweat on. I was far too sore from Saturday's volleyball tournament and Sunday's long run (honestly, mostly the volleyball tournament) to go for a run. The pool was closed, so I turned to Pinterest to provide me with a quality strength and cardio combination workout. The 1000 rep workout is tough, but the fact that you do 50 reps and then you're done with that exercise prevents me from getting bored. And motivates me to push through. Because once I hit 50, or the timer hits 50 seconds, I never have to see that exercise again. Until next time, anyway. This workout left me nice and sweaty, and also a lot little bit sore. I finally ran out the soreness this evening, but, without further ado, here is my 1000 rep (+ a few to round out the night) workout.

And that's all I've got. Tomorrow is FRIDAY and I'm pretty pumped about it. I've got a relaxing, yet fun, weekend ahead of me, and you better believe I'll be cheering on my Longhorns!

Student Quotes: Year Two, Round One

It's a Monday. And Mondays can be tougher than other days, sometimes, so I hope this post will brighten your day. I'm going into this week with a positive attitude because I had one fantastic weekend. Perfect weather, a lot of volleyball, a lazy Sunday spent watching football, a not-so-lazy Sunday evening spent running 12 miles, and it was just a weekend where I was left feeling revived. So, even though my alarm clock went off nice and early this morning, I have no complaints. Because I love my job and I'm ready to rock out another week. The first week of the second cycle, so here's to hoping my students start out with a bang.

I'll take lots of number 16, and minimal number 17

Anyway, it's no secret that high schoolers are "endlessly entertaining," to take a line from Mr. Teacher's book, and they make going to work every day so worth it. It's hard to ever be in a bad mood (okay, maybe that's taking it a little bit far) when you're interacting with 15-year-olds every day. They make me laugh every day, and I have yet to give up my habit of writing down some of the funnier lines. So, without further ado, here's the first cycle's top 10.

Technically, she's right ...

10. Channel 13 was at school the other day doing a feature on a student who scored a perfect score on both the SAT and the ACT. No big deal, right? Anyway, one of my students comes back from the bathroom and announces to my quiet class of 34 that the news is right down the hall. Another student immediately stands up and starts walking toward the door. When I point him right back toward his seat he attempted to persuade me by saying, "I'm just try'na get famous. Come on, we can sing and dance out there." Sorry, but I think you'll have more success with your Pearl station work.
9. It's the end of the six weeks, so that means my students are on top of me about updating their grades in the gradebook. And I'm typically on top of my grading, however, I tend to be a bit more lackadaisical when it comes to late work. I told a student that I didn't grade the night before because I went out to dinner with some friends. His response? "That's nice; most teachers don't have lives." He's right, you know. We all just sleep at school. It's one big sleepover every single night.
8. We were discussing adverbs one day, and I asked the students, "Instead of slowly, what's another word for how someone ran?" One student confidently shouts out, "Fastly!" Even he couldn't contain his laughter once he realized what he had said.
7. A student was borrowing a book from me, and I have them initial and date next to the title of the book. One of my students came up to me and said, "I borrowed one of your pens, and it wouldn't work." Well, that's because it's wite-out, my dear.
6. New bonus question: How do you spell your teacher's last name?

5. Within the first few weeks of school, there is a lot of student movement. One day, a student is in your class, and the next, they're gone. It's always interesting to hear how students describe a teacher when they don't know his or her name, and I learned that multiple students seem to think I have blonde hair. In that case, I guess I better make a trip to the DPS and change what's listed on my driver's license.
4. We read Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games for our summer reading, and while we don't spend as much class time in English 1 walking through the plot and the characters, I am able to do that in my reading class. We were discussing what it says about Katniss that she volunteered as tribute for her younger sister, and if there was anyone they would volunteer for. One darling student announces, "I would volunteer as tribute for you any day, Ms. T." I'm flattered, really.
3. It was probably the second week of school when a student asked for a pencil. I directed him to the front of the room where I have my stash of student-use pencils. Sidenote: My plan to retain all student-use pencils has not panned out the way I'd hoped. Anyway, he then told me that, "I must be a young teacher because the older teachers don't ever give us pencils or anything like that." Noted.
2. I asked a student why she wasn't in class the day prior. Her response? "Well, it was my birthday, so I didn't come to school." Oh, that's how it works! I guess I won't be at school on February 5th.
1. And because no list would be complete without this conversation taking place - I was sitting on a bench doing some grading in the main hallway after volleyball practice just last week. Because I was too worn out to walk up to my room on the third floor. Anyway, one of my students walked by, informing me that he had finished his This I Believe essay. One of his friends stops, stares at me in disbelief, and says, "You're a teacher? Wow! I thought you were a student!" Never heard that one before.

We haven't talked about conclusions quite yet

The newest ocean

And with that, I'm off to school. Have a fabulous Monday! I hope yours is as laughter-filled as mine is sure to be. I believe it was Friday afternoon when a teacher told me, "Life is too short to not do what you love." And I wholeheartedly agree. I love my job, even if I do have to personally escort former students back to their 7th period class sometimes.

This I Believe

And just like that, September is already over. The first six weeks comes to an end on Friday - meaning, I have been grading like a madwoman - and I'm still trying to figure out how that happened. Have I taught them anything worthwhile? Have I made any sort of impact on them? I can't answer that question, but I do know that my kids have been so much better behaved than last year. One of my fellow teachers told me it's because I'm a better teacher, and while I'm not entirely sure about that, at least I don't have the "first year teacher" label on me anymore. I still have my knuckleheads, of course, but I have far fewer headaches, and even my class of 34 knows when to get to work. Some days it takes longer than others, but hey, they are 14 and 15.

That being said, please be ready for this year's first round of Student Quotes to appear soon. I have collected a whole slew of student quotes, and though they are better behaved, they are still absolutely hilarious. And they make getting out of bed every day worthwhile. 

Anyway, one of the assignments I am currently (frantically) grading is what is called This I Believe. It's actually an international organization that combines writing with, well, beliefs. I love this essay because, while it's not in our 26-line expository format, it allows students to tell me about themselves. And let's be honest, who doesn't love writing about herself? My students got the chance to tell me about a belief they have, that leads to a bigger, more universal message. Some of them are funny, others of them are heartbreaking, but all of them have come straight from the heart. It's crazy to me how open some of them have been with this assignment, but I love it. I love hearing other people's stories, and this is certainly one way to do that.

I told my students that if I was going to ask them to write an essay, that I was going to do it too. It took me a little while at first, and I actually had to work backward. I went through several failed attempts before coming to that conclusion. I picked out my bigger "message," and then I thought of a story that would help me to convey that message. From there, I picked a belief, and I am sure none of you will be surprised by what I share with you guys. I hope to this weekend go through some of my students' essays, and share bits and pieces with you guys, but for now, I'll share with you all what I wrote.

I believe in running in the rain.

Running long distances where you can’t even tell where the rain stops and the sweat begins. So that your socks get that soggy feel to them. So that your neighbors look at you like you’re crazy, because it’s 6:30 on a Saturday morning and you’re on your second loop. And the rain is still coming down in sheets.

Let me explain. I’m a runner, and for a large portion of the population, that statement elicits shudders. But I’m not like a large portion of the population. I enjoy stepping outside with my shins taped up, my pink headphones lodged into my ears, and my neon Lululemon headband keeping any stray hairs in place, to run long distances. I enjoy pushing my body to the limit, and I enjoy the ‘me’ time. No text messages, no emails, and no Instagram to stop me in my tracks. It’s a time for me to think, to process, to clear my mind, to relieve stress. And a time to keep my eyes peeled for any new bumps in the road, both literally and figuratively.

Ideal running conditions are temperatures in the 40s or 50s, low humidity, clear skies, and maybe even a tailwind. If you’re lucky. Getting up before the sun on a day typically reserved for catching up on lost sleep isn’t easy even when the weather gods are on your side. Add in rain clouds and a headwind, and your pillow and blanket are suddenly holding you hostage. But those are the days when it’s most important to get out of bed and run through the streets of Wilchester West. Past the sleepy houses. Under the dusty streetlamps that only work half the time. Speeding up a little bit when you pass the neighborhood peacock on the back street.

How am I ever going to get better at running if the only time I do it is when the conditions outside are to my liking? I’ve been on countless runs where my legs were telling me to turn around and go back home. That I could try again the next day, or the day after that. And before you know it, it’s been raining for a week straight and you’re falling behind in your training plan.

It’s easy to make excuses. It’s easy to give up and take the road more traveled. It’s easy to stay in bed and promise myself that I’ll run later. What’s not easy is pushing through on my toughest days. Getting out of bed when it’s cold and windy. Getting out of my comfort zone so that I can get better, faster, and stronger. Doing the thing that other people might consider ‘crazy’.

I believe in running in the rain. Continuing to run when things aren’t going my way. Working to overcome obstacles, understanding that discomfort is when change happens. Pushing myself to be the best that I can be. Getting outside my comfort zone. Because that’s where the magic happens.

At first I was nervous about sharing my writing with my students. Which is silly, because they know I'm not perfect. I tell them that every day. Besides, they're 14 and 15, and they love hearing about me as much as I love hearing about them. And don't I share my writing with you guys all the time? Yeah. So, here I am. Putting my first, completely unedited draft out here for you guys to read. Because I fully believe in getting outside my comfort zone. Accepting a job at Bellaire was absolutely getting outside my comfort zone. And it was hard at first. Really hard, as you guys fully know. But it was also the best decision I ever could have made. And on that note, I'm signing off. I've got some essays to grade. I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful Hump Day!

Sunday Eleven

Happy Sunday! Whew, I am posting this after over 10 hours of sleep last night. We hosted our annual Middle School Tournament yesterday at the F.A.S.T. Complex, and I was there for nearly 11 hours, along with the rest of the coaching staff, most of our players, and nearly all of our program's parents. It was a total team effort, and though I was absolutely exhausted by the end of the day, I know it was more than worth it. Our booster club president put it into perspective when he said that more than one girl probably fell in love with the game of volleyball yesterday. And that's all that really matters. And on a sidenote, it was refreshing to see that some of the schools still hold onto the solid color shirt and shorts combo that I donned when I played middle school volleyball. No one was rocking the bright orange yesterday, but I think that's probably a step in the right direction.

1. What is the best time of day for you? 

Morning, for sure. I am my most productive, and most alert. I am motivated to get it all done, as opposed to later in the day when the exhaustion sets in and all I want to do is sit on my couch, watching football and taking BuzzFeed quizzes.

2. Of everything on this planet what drives you bonkers? 

A couple of things. Tardiness, obviously, drives me insane. It’s a courtesy thing. But I’ve also realized that it bothers me when people don’t accept responsibility for their actions. Or for themselves. I realize that I work with teenagers, so that is not something that comes easy to them, but it is my hope that I can model that for them.

3. What is your favorite pastime?

Running. When I’m in my groove, I could run forever.

4. What is your favorite color?

I love most colors, but my absolute favorite is pink. Notice the pink headband above.

5. Are you city, country or a suburb type of person?

I’m a city girl through and through. I always got a little too much satisfaction out of telling people that I’m from Houston-Houston, not Katy or Cypress or any of the other Houston suburbs.

6. Indoors or Outdoors?

Outdoors, all day long.

7. If you were an animal what would you be and why? 

I never know quite how to answer this question. So, I turned to a quiz and the results gave me … a wolf. I’m brave, strong, and lovable when I want to be. My family is important to me, and I’m very protective. Sure, we’ll go with that.

8. Tell me one thing that you love about yourself?

I love my ability to (mostly) be positive. Sure, I get dragged down and complain just like any other person, but it made my day when the copy ladies at school told me that I’m another one of those bubbly people who always seems to have a good attitude.

9. What do you do to relax and wind down?

I know it doesn’t make sense that to wind down, I work out, but to me, a day doesn’t feel complete without some sort of activity. If I’m feeling stressed out, a calming swim or a leisurely bike ride is often just what I need. But I also won’t turn down a good movie and a glass of wine. Nor will I turn down a good book. Or the time to read a good book.

10. Do you collect anything?

I don’t really collect anything. I’m going through a phase where I like to just get rid of things as opposed to holding onto things. In fact, I think I know what I’m going to do after this gets posted.

11. Describe yourself in 3 words. 

Thoughtful, athletic, and motivated.

And that's all I've got for you guys. But, before I sign off, two things. One, I want to wish a very happy 24th (!!!) birthday to one of my very best friends, Amira. My pepper partner for life, my rollerblading buddy, my fellow Taylor Swift fan and frozen yogurt aficionado, and an all-around incredible person. It's hard to believe that you're turning 24, because I think we'll always be 14 at heart. 

Second, tonight is going to feature a supermoon lunar eclipse. As someone who used to have an obsession with all things space related, this is an exciting event. It hasn't happened in 30 years, and it won't happen again until 2033. Let's hope the clouds don't ruin the view!

Tailgate Snacks

Hello, hello! How are you guys doing? I hope you're finishing off a wonderful week. It's hard for my week to be anything but wonderful when you get a day off in the middle of it. I think I'm going to start a petition for that to be an actual thing. I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed my fall holiday. Casually waking up, a slow morning, new recipes, lots of time spent in the sunshine, hours of baking, and a whole lot of downtime. If that didn't revive me for a full school day, I don't know what would. Plus, I got to be the fall treats fairy for the English department on Thursday, and you guys know how much I love baking for other people. I was told that I'm going to make a good wife one day. The operative phrase being one day.

It's fall, so that means lots and lots of pumpkin. Or does that make me a basic white girl?

But we're going to switch gears a little bit. I mentioned in yesterday's post that I welcome the start of fall because it means football season. I can spend hours just sitting on the couch watching football. If it's not Texas breaking my heart, it's the Texans. Or the Eagles. Or the Colts. So while it would be easy to drown my football sorrows in comfort food, I'll feel better if I make smart snacking choices. Because let's be honest - snacking is part of football season. My dad has been known to order Philadelphia Cheesesteaks FROM PHILADELPHIA to eat while watching an Eagles game. That may not be the healthiest choice, but hey, we're allowed an indulgence or two every now and again. But just because we find ourselves glued to the television screen on game day, doesn't mean we have to succumb to wearing our stretchy pants. The Texans may fumble the ball more than I would care to admit, but over at Nuts.com, they believe that game day food choices don't have to be a fumble.

And Texas football is a fumble no more! Hopefully, anyway.

But while everyone else is enjoying nachos, seven-layer dips, and other delicious appetizers, you don't want to be the one who is over there munching on the raw broccoli. And lucky for you, healthy eating doesn't have to be boring. There are ample crowd-pleasing game-time snacks that won't pack on the pounds. And you'll find some of my favorites below.

Fajitas
Mexican food and football go together like the words Hook'em and Horns. Especially down here in Texas. But Mexican food is not always the healthiest choice. Chips and cheese and sour cream all taste good, but I think we can all agree that they leave you feeling less than your best. I am not sure that I would have come up with the idea of fajitas on my own, but I came home one day to my parents cooking up a bunch of fajita meat before an Eagles game one Sunday. All you need is some lean chicken and/or beef, bell peppers, onions, guacamole, maybe a little bit of cheese, and corn tortillas. As well as any spices that you may desire. Throw the meat and veggies into a pan, stick it it into the oven, scoop them into the tortillas, and garnish them as you wish. Healthy and delicious.

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Quinoa Pizza Bites
Pizza is another game-day go-to. Sure, it may be easier to call up Domino's or Pizza Hut and have the pizza delivered right to your door, but I guarantee you won't regret making these quinoa pizza bites. Quinoa is all the rage these days anyway, so this is perfect if you happen to find yourself with some leftover quinoa. These pizza bites are easy, customizable, kid-friendly, and there's just no way you can feel guilty after popping one (or two or three or four) into your mouth.

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Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Hot wings are another classic game-day snack. They're spicy, they're messy, they're tasty, and let's just be honest. We've all found ourselves licking our fingers with 10 clean bones on the plate below us. It can be hard to stop sometimes! But with these buffalo cauliflower bites, you don't have to feel guilty. And I'll be the first one to say that I am not a huge fan of cauliflower. I'll eat it, but it's not my first choice. But these cauliflower bites are delicious. If you're not dairy-intolerant, you can certainly use regular butter in place of vegan margarine, but I will recommend that you don't cut these pieces too small. You want a nice big "wing" to bite into. And hey, let yourself indulge a little bit and dip these into your favorite ranch dressing.

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Healthified Mozzarella Sticks
Who doesn't love a good mozzarella stick? I have never cared much for Sonic, but I used to salivate over their mozzarella sticks. And it doesn't take a genius to know that fried cheese is not the best choice. But the good news is that there are ways to make them healthier. This recipe bakes instead of fries, uses no butter, and calls for store-bought cheese sticks. Doesn't get much better than that!

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Black Bean Corn and Avocado Dip
Chips and dip is a serious part of game-day. It's something you eat so mindlessly that you don't even realize that your pants are suddenly fitting a little bit tighter. And you'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't enjoy a good seven-layer dip. Well, this dip might not be seven layers, but it is one that will have you fighting your neighbor for the last few scoops. This black bean corn and avocado dip is all the taste, without the guilt. And if you choose pita chips over Tostitos, you're really rocking and rolling.

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Chocolate Covered Strawberries
What is football without dessert? My favorite part of going to sports games as a kid was definitely the soft serve ice cream. And who doesn't love curling up with a bowl of Blue Bell while cheering your team onto victory? While that's all good and nostalgic, these chocolate covered strawberries will not only please the waistline and palette, but that will be sure to impress your guests. Dipped in chocolate and decorated with white icing, the only fumble you'll make is not giving one of these a try.

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I hope this post gets you guys ready for this weekend's games. I'm hoping I can cheer the Texans onto their first win, but I'm not holding onto too much hope. Before you call me a pessimist, you have to understand that I grew up in Houston. And I know that our teams are more than capable of imploding at the last minute. Cough, Astros, cough. Not pessimistic; just realistic. Anyway, I want to give a special shout out to Nuts.com for giving me the opportunity to talk about my favorite healthy game-day snacks. And if you're looking for even more healthy snacks, please check out their Healthy Snacks page. Because they're absolutely right - healthy snacking is one of the keys to diet success. And healthy eating doesn't have to be bland or boring. You just have to get creative. And I hope this helped get your creative juices flowing. Because with these recipes, you can have your cake and eat it, too.

Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Waffle Recipe

Happy Wednesday, and happy first day of fall! Or Autumn - whichever you prefer. Fall is my absolute favorite time of year, because it means football, yoga pants, sweaters, boots, perfect running weather, and all things pumpkin. Which is what brings me here today. I've got a most delicious - and healthy! - pumpkin waffle recipe to share with you guys. I can't take any of the credit, as I found this recipe while hardcore perusing Pinterest, but I knew that today would be the perfect day for it. Why? Because today the students and employees of the Houston Independent School District were gifted a fall holiday. Sure, it's on a Wednesday, and I have to go back to work tomorrow instead of enjoying a three-day weekend like I did last year, but this holiday could not have come at a more perfect time. It seemed as though every teacher was walking with a little extra pep in his or her step yesterday, brimming with talk of how the fall holiday was going to be spent. I would be lying if I said I didn't join in, and what I came up with was sleeping in until 8:00am, enjoying the cooler weather with a crisp morning bike ride, and indulging in a delicious fall-themed breakfast while catching up with Kelly and Michael.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 egg
• ½ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• ⅓ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• ½ cup dairy-free chocolate chips + extra

*This recipe makes about 2-3 large waffles.

Directions:
1. Combine flour, baking soda, chia seeds, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a medium bowl and set aside.
2. In a separate large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, honey, egg, yogurt, and almond milk.
3. Add flour mixture to the wet mixture, taking care not to over-stir.
4. Gently add in the chocolate chips, again, taking care not to over-mix.
5. Heat up your waffle iron, and spray down with cooking spray.
6. Spoon about 1 cup of mix onto the waffle iron, spreading it evenly throughout the iron. Add a little more if needed.
7. Cook according to your iron's directions - my waffle iron took about 5-7 minutes per waffle, but it depends on the waffle iron being used.
8. Gently remove from the waffle iron, let cool, and enjoy! I added blueberries to mine, but I think strawberries would also taste fantastic. The chocolate was enough added sweetener for my taste, but if you're a fan of syrup, I have no doubt that would be another delicious addition. If you're looking for a real indulgence, a sprinkle of powdered sugar would really take the cake.

The perfect breakfast to start off a slow fall morning. It's delicious, yet chock full of good-for-you ingredients. Not something I would eat every morning, but a fun way to mix it up every once in a while. And with that, I'm off to do a little bit more baking. I have to get it in while I have the time!