Those 'Teaching Moments'

It was a long and tiring week. I had my first classroom observation by my supervisor and being a new teacher, I felt pressured to prove myself to him, even though I knew I didn't have anything to worry about. After all, he's seen me teach before. Still, now that he's actually my boss, I had to step up and go the extra mile.

I was being evaluated on my ability to encourage students into higher-order thinking, where every child is constantly engaged and thinking outside the box. I had to teach but at the same time facilitate intelligent conversation between the students. I had to provide some pretty in-depth teaching moments.

It was a challenge, but during those 45 minutes, the class pulled it off. I was so proud of my kids. They showcased their creativity and wit. They spent a great amount of time synthesizing their learnings and going beyond what was taught within the curriculum, and taking it to real life situations and history. A few of them even engaged in a healthy debate. In other words, the lesson was entirely student-centered, which was not only a great thing to share with the principal, but also a memorable teaching moment for me!

I live for those 'teaching moments' at work. I find fulfillment, not in being able to teach kids something new, but in seeing kids teach each other, while I'm just there to mediate or facilitate. I treasure those moments when kids learn to ask meaningful questions and aren't afraid to embrace their curiosities. I love seeing kids experiment and find out things for themselves, with just their hands and their brains to rely on. I love witnessing the magic of light bulb moments when they suddenly figure something out. Oh, the joy in their eyes whenever that happens! It makes everything so worth it,

It's amazing when a big decision instantly turns things around, leaving my old place of employment and moving to this brand new one, with a brand new supervisor and in a brand new environment. Last year, I simply wanted to find the joy that I once lost in teaching again. I can honestly say that now, that joy is back.

Appreciating What I Have: 10 Things I'm Grateful For At Work

Today is Monday, and it was actually a pretty decent Monday for a change! I didn't have such a hard time waking up early today, despite feeling ill this weekend. It looks like I'm coming down with an ear and/or sinus infection, but overall, I still feel pretty okay! There are times when I do feel demotivated at work, when I get consumed in thoughts of my 'ideal scenario', and forget to appreciate what I have now. And although it's imperfect, what I have now is pretty awesome. So, in the spirit of counting my blessings and truly appreciating what I have, here are 10 things I am currently grateful for at work:

1. I am grateful for my students. All 19 of them. My third graders are truly what keep me going whenever I feel demotivated at work. I just think of how much they make me smile and laugh with their quirks. I think of how smart and witty they are and just overall brilliant. I think of how lucky I am to have this particular group of students, because even though they can be quite a handful, their 'youness', for lack of a better term, makes it all worth it. You know how that Dr. Seuss passage goes, "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than You?" My students are the epitome of that passage. They just make each day so much more bearable, simply for being who they are.

2. I am grateful for where I work, in particular, a 2-minute drive, 5-minute (10 minutes tops) walk away from home. You have no idea how much of a relief this has been, and how much gas money I'm able to save and use for other things, like small pleasures. Oh, how wonderful it is to work so close to home!

3. I am grateful for my boss. For the first time in a long time, I feel like the big boss trusts me and believes in my ability to handle my class. Absolutely no pressure or negativity; only support and encouragement. No micro-managing; only someone who believes in my own independence and leadership. It feels great to be able to enjoy teaching again, and that is mostly because of the leadership we have in our school.

4. I am grateful for my co-teachers, especially since one of them happens to be my mom! I love being able to eat lunch with her everyday. I love seeing her in action and learning from her. I've said this so many times, and I'll say it again -- my mom was born to be a teacher. And although I can't exactly say that about myself, I feel extremely blessed to work side by side this kind of educator.

5. I am grateful for growth. I've been seeing this most especially in my students. Transitioning from the comforts of 2nd grade to the amount of material and depth of expectation in 3rd grade proved quite challenging during the first month of school. August was a very exhausting month for all of us. But now I can say that the kids are adjusting well and starting to get the hang of things. It's amazing to see them improve each day, which makes my job so much more fulfilling.

6. I am grateful for the extra support I get daily from the special education team. I have quite a soft spot for special education, and I am always so thankful for the amazing SpEd professionals who support us regular classroom teachers everyday. It makes my job so much easier to have that extra support, yes, but I think the fulfillment comes mostly from seeing these kids grow and mature under the wing of such nurturing individuals. So, hats off to you, SpEd team!

7. I am grateful for recess! Yes, I am a firm believer in physical activity in between grueling hours of work inside a stuffy classroom. You'll be surprised how even a short, 10-minute health break outdoors can change the disposition of a student, making learning so much quicker and effective.

8. I am grateful for the little things, some of the little pleasures that make even the most mundane things at work so much easier. The teachers' workroom, which houses all our supplies, the printer, and a copier, which is just two doors down from my classroom. Our teacher's lounge, where I actually don't mind spending my lunch with other staff members (someone once said that a happy teacher's lounge makes a happy school).

9. I am grateful for my kids' parents. I've never had this much parent support and involvement before, and I am loving it! I, for one, love keeping in constant contact with my kids' parents. I think this is so important, because I believe success in school is a three-way partnership between the teacher, the student, and their parents.

10. I am grateful for the financial support I am able to give my family for having this job. It's rare to hear about a teacher being thankful for their living, but in the spirit of gratitude and appreciation, you'll hear it from me today. It's not much, but it's still something.

Sigh. That felt great, and now I'm ready for Tuesday.

Let Go, You Control Freak!

'Honey, I've been feeling quite troubled lately,' I whispered to my husband in the dark at half past twelve last night. I had to tell someone about it, and I knew my husband would give great advice and comfort in this situation.

I told him I wasn't feeling very happy with my career. And with that feeling came the guilt associated with being ungrateful for even having a career, in a country where decent jobs are pretty hard to come by. I knew I was better off than a lot of Americans, and way better off than most immigrants, but I can't seem to make myself feel satisfied and genuinely thankful for what I have. I had very conflicting emotions that night, and this was something I had been feeling for the past couple of months.

I have a lot to be thankful for. I left my previous work place because I knew that working closer to home would be less stressful for me. That, and, I get to work with my mom in the same grade level. My mom has always been the light at the end of a tunnel ever since I started teaching. Daily stress is always easier to deal with if your mom is there to comfort and guide you.

My new boss is great. He is like a doting grandpa and clearly trusts his teachers, which is, to me, of utmost importance as an educator and employee. He has seen me teach a class in the past, and he believes in my capabilities in the classroom, which he made clear during my job interview. It felt wonderful hearing something like that from someone whom parents, teachers, and the community trust very deeply.

'I am not completely happy with what I am doing', I told Chris. And I am trying each day to make myself like and enjoy what I do, but sometimes, you just can't force it anymore. You end up pretending and we all know trying to disguise emotions doesn't last very long; it will eventually catch up with your reality.

Chris thinks I'm working myself up too much, and quite unnecessarily too. I know I'm a control freak and a perfectionist, especially when it comes to my job, or really, any task given to me. The negativity always gets in the way--I worry too much and don't really give myself a lot of credit. I think it's because I spent fifteen years of my life in Catholic schools where expectations are always high and you always have to achieve a particular standard. If not, you're a failure. Stressing myself out is pretty much the only way I know how to cope and actually push myself to succeed.

But we all know we can't succeed all the time, and during those moments when I failed at something, they build up and I would carry them with me during my next task. It's an endless cycle.

But I think Chris was right--I should relax. I should embrace this year with all its triumphs and failures and allow myself to make mistakes without dwelling on them, but rather, learning from them. I think it's time that the teacher in me be open to being a student again.

I will let my new boss teach me what it means to lead. I will let my mom mentor me during my first year as a 3rd grade teacher. I will learn from my colleagues. I will learn from my students. I have to accept the fact that, although being a teacher comes with great responsibility, I still have to learn to let go.

I think my dissatisfaction and seeming unhappiness with my career doesn't really come from hating what I do for a living. I think it comes from being so uptight when it comes to finishing a task or fulfilling a responsibility. I should learn to relax and let go.

Five Things: Summer Non-Negotiables

It's summer! That only means one thing for me, since I don't work summer as a teacher -- I have all the time in the world to get into a healthier lifestyle. During the first few weeks of summer break, I have to admit, I went all-out by sleeping in until 1pm, having dinner at 9pm, and going to bed at 4am! It was fun while it lasted, but being a total couch potato eventually made me feel extremely sluggish. Couple that with the hot summer days in the Southwest, it's like welcoming unnecessary stress with open arms.

I am a huge believer of starting each day right, and no matter how 'boring' a daily routine may sound, keeping a healthy, daily habit actually reaps more benefits for your body, mind, and spirit. So, I've made a commitment to do precisely that this summer, and hopefully even after that, by practicing five daily habits religiously each day for a better, healthier, happier, and more balanced lifestyle.

#1: First Thing in the Morning -- Warm Lemon Water

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This summer, 7:30 is my usual wake-up call. After getting up, kissing my still-sleeping-hubby good morning and letting our dog out for morning potty, the very first thing I do for my body each day is to drink a glass of warm lemon water. It's a great way to kickstart your morning, before eating anything or working out. It perks me up and it's also a great way to help your body detox.

#2: Breakfast -- Porridge

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I know I live in America and everyone here calls it 'oatmeal', but for some reason, 'porridge' sounds better! This is where the routine really kicks in, because I eat porridge for breakfast every single day. I use steel cut oats, which I prepare the night before and heat up in the morning. I love my porridge with non-fat milk (still trying to eliminate dairy from my diet but it's hard!), honey, a fruit of my choice (usually half a banana or strawberry slices), and cinnamon. I don't get tired of porridge. It's yummy and it fills me up that I don't need to snack at all until lunch time.

#3: Workout Routine -- Quick and Foolproof

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I currently can't afford a gym membership or attend yoga classes, so I opted for an easier, more convenient but still effective way to get some movement in. My 10-minute morning workout includes:

50 jumping jacks

15 body weight squats

15 push ups

15 reverse lunges

30-second plank

(repeat 3 times)

Three times a week, I put in an extra 15-20 minutes of strength training by lifting weights.

#4: Green Tea

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I learned this all-day-everyday habit from my grandmother, who is a cancer survivor. I say 'all-day-everyday' because I drink green tea three times a day. I do worry about the caffeine sometimes (I have yet to find a good decaf green tea), but so far, I have no complaints, but rather, only the greatest things to say about a daily green tea regimen. I drink it instead of coffee in the morning, and it keeps me pleasantly awake. I drink it after lunch and dinner, and it's a great top-off to a heavy meal.

#5: Curl Up and Read

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I always, always make sure that I put in at least an hour (sometimes more) to read a book each day. It's my way of shutting off instant gratification (disguised as Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Netflix) and feeding my brain and spirit by going back to the simplicity of reading and spending time with myself, my imagination, and a great story.

What is your daily routine like? I hope everyone has a healthy and happy summer!

What's On My iPhone? (Image Heavy Post)

Hey! It's been a long while. Finally, the 2013-2014 school year is over and I am officially on teacher summer break! I decided not to work summer school this year because I had an extremely stressful year, despite the fact that I had what could possibly be the best group of students I've ever had. I will miss my kiddos but I am also excited for them to move on to third grade--yes, each and every one of them got promoted!

I thought it would be fun to share what's on my phone, what apps I use on a regular basis, and what I think other people might also find useful. Most of my apps are free--I think I've only purchased one app. Of course, I also buy from the iTunes and iBooks stores. But most of these apps are not only free, but pretty awesome.

I own a 1-year old iPhone 5, which, I believe you can no longer purchase from the Apple store because it has been phased out (correct me if I'm wrong). But it's a great phone and I have no real complaints except that the battery sucks. This is what's on my home screen--a picture of my husband and Boomer taken during Fourth of July last year.

As much as I would like to organize all my apps into appropriate folders in order to use up just a single page on my main screen, I failed. Haha. I think I have way too many apps anyway. I have the following folders comprised of themed apps: Everyday, Prayer, Bills, Music, Photography, Games, Health, Shopping, and Utilities. Wow. Nine folders. I didn't realize how absurd that sounds!

Everyday Apps

My Everyday folder is pretty self-explanatory--these are the apps I use every single day. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. I think my favorite everyday app is the YouTube app. This is like my television. I keep updated with my favorite YouTubers and I have a really long subscription list. I probably watch 90% of these YouTubers every single day.

Prayer Apps

This is my current favorite group of apps that I also normally use everyday. I love Rosary Guide because rosaries are kind of like the hair pins in my life--I tend to lose them! I don't use this everyday, but it's pretty useful during times I want to clear my head and meditate. It has a text guide if you're like me and tend to forget the Luminous Mysteries.

Laudate is the best Catholic app out there, and it's free! It's the most comprehensive Catholic app you can find, with daily mass readings, an assortment of prayers (including Latin prayers), Saint of the Day, the complete New American Bible, and so, so much more. I haven't even gone through half of the content yet!

Through the Word is a new discovery for me, and I've been using it every single day since I downloaded it. It's a Bible reading app with reflections, audio readings, and a journal. It's a great daily habit and fun way to read the entire Bible--you go through one chapter everyday.

Bills

This is my least favorite folder. Hehe, I'm kidding; it's actually a lifesaver. I pay my credit cards through the Discover and Bank of America apps, and our phone bill through My Verizon. I know there are other finance management apps out there that I am unaware of, so if you have any suggestions, let me know, especially if you're also a home renter, you do your taxes on your own, etc.

Music Apps

My playlist obviously needs a lot of organizing; if you notice, the album art covers do not match the artists. Embarrassing. Anyway, these are songs and albums I've purchased from the iTunes store, but I honestly don't fuss over this generic iPhone playlist at all. I listen more to my radio apps--Pandora and iHeartRadio.

I'm currently listening to the 50s and 60s Blues station on Pandora, but let me take a moment to talk more about iHeartRadio, which I think is also a pretty cool radio app. I get to listen to my favorite Bay Area station through iHeartRadio, and frankly, their current hits and pop stations are more accurate than Pandora's. I listen to a lot of Bruno Mars and Lorde, and iHeartRadio does a better job at finding songs that are similar, songs I would actually appreciate as a Bruno Mars and Lorde fan. Pandora has great oldies stations, though, so I can't let go of it precisely for that.

Photography Apps

PhotoWonder (shown on third screen capture): I'm a little bit embarrassed to admit that I use the PhotoWonder app to make my selfies look better. Haha. It's a Chinese app with features like 'Beautify' and 'Thinify.' Yeah. I know. I'm sucked in.

LINE Camera: A Japanese app that also caters to selfie junkies like me. It has really cute stickers and offers collage options, too.

Moldiv: This is the app I use to create photo collages. It's the same app I used to create the first photo for this blog post. It's pretty straightforward, and I think they have the best background designs available.

Rhonna Designs (shown on the first screen capture): This is my favorite photo editing app for filters and text. It offers very elegant design options. This app is $1.99.

VSCO Cam: My most used photo editing app whenever I post on Instagram. I love the filters on this one.

SloPro: This is a video app that helps you capture movement in slow motion. It's actually pretty fun to use, although I've only ever used it a couple of times. The free version has the basic things you need, which I think are enough, except that it would publish your videos with a really annoying watermark. I don't plan on wasting money on added features. Again, I don't really use it often.

Games

Bejeweled Blitz, Zombie Tsunami, Temple Run 2, and Flappy Bird (no longer available in the app store). That's pretty much it. I play Bejeweled Blitz the most (I'm currently losing to my mom), and Zombie Tsunami. Other than that, this folder needs a little dusting, that's for sure. Any other game recommendations?

Health Apps

I love this folder, but I don't use it as often as I should! The Couch to 5k app is really good. It has very doable daily running exercises that are supposed to prepare you for a 5k run. I don't think this is the official Couch to 5k app, which is actually $1.99 (still not bad), and I'm not sure how different they are. I don't have complaints about the free version, so I see no reason to purchase the 'official' version.

If you don't have Blogilates on your phone yet, you're missing out. Cassey Ho is my favorite YouTube fitness guru and her app has a lot of stuff to offer. Workout videos, recipes, and a forum where you can interact with other POPsters. I'm a sucker for this app.

MyNetDiary is my favorite calorie counting app. It's pretty comprehensive and does a great job tracking your progress. I highly recommend this app to those who want to track their daily calorie intake. As you can see, this screen cap shows that it's already 10:38am and I haven't consumed a single calorie yet, which means I have 1,667 more calories to go. Yay! Haha! Your daily quota is based on your specific fitness goals, which the app will determine for you after you take a quick survey. In my case, I am going for weight loss.

Shopping Apps

 

I have to admit, I don't really use the Amazon app that often on my phone; I normally use my computer when I do online shopping. I don't know why, it just seems more secure that way. But I enjoy browsing the Amazon store on my phone. I also browse the Etsy store a lot. I like going through CheapOair and Groupon for travel and lifestyle deals and coupons. This is where I also keep my store membership and rewards cards. Key Ring helps me organize all my store cards, making it easier for me to use them at the counter; no more fumbling through your keys or wallet!

I haven't actually purchased anything on Printic yet, but it's a cool app for printing Instagram photos. I have yet to try it, and I'll make sure to do a review once I have.

That's pretty much it. For fellow iPhone users, y'all know there's not much to say about the Utilities folder. This is basically where we store apps that we never use, unless you're into stocks. I do keep the Emoji thumbnail here, though.

Hope you enjoyed this image heavy post! Let me know if you have other app recommendations on the comments section. Have a beautiful weekend!

Wisdom from Leftover Easter Ham

Remember when I wrote about the persistent egging in my side of the neighborhood? How frustrated I was and how I felt like the unluckiest person in the world for being such a frequent victim?

Well, I kind of want those eggs back, especially after what happened today.

I had a long, exhausting, but pretty okay day at work. I couldn't wait to get home, continue reading The Scorch Trials at an unnecessarily and dangerously quick rate, and relax. So this afternoon, as I finally parked my car after a long day's work, Ellie Goulding CD on full blast, I see my brother-in-law heading towards my car. I turn off the ignition switch and open the door, and brother-in-law greets me with, "Did Christopher's car get broken into?"

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(not Christopher's car, but looks damn close)

Shit.

I see shattered glass all over the driver's side of my husband's car, his window completely gone except for a few crumbly bits hanging onto the frame like snaggletooth. I call him and as I see him walking out the gate, I immediately call the cops.

The officer arrived an hour later, a bit unimpressed as if broken car windows were a common occurrence in her job description. But she did look a bit sympathetic when she opened the car door and saw more shattered glass all over the rug and driver's seat. She takes down notes and mutters, "Dumbass kids."

Of course I knew she didn't mean us; she mentioned that, just recently, she did an entire roundup of similar car vandalisms apparently happening all over town--slashed tires, torn up convertible hoods, more egging and even more broken car windows.

"I don't see why they find pleasure in destroying other people's property", she grumbles. "The last time I was here at your street, old man next door had his mailbox blown to bits with fire crackers."

I asked her if there was anything we could to help prevent these things from happening. Motion detectors? Cameras?

"Just keep your car away from the street."

I don't blame her. I understand that cops can't be driving around town 24/7 looking out for petty crime. Sometimes I wish there was a group of them specializing in 'egg checkpoints', writing up tickets for suspicious possession of eggs. But in this town, there just isn't enough manpower.

We don't have our own garage, but our brother-in-law and his wife, who own the house we are renting, basically moved mountains (i.e., garage storage) to give both Chris and I space to park our cars somewhere safe. This made me realize that, despite our consistent streak of bad luck these days, Chris and I are blessed and well taken cared of.

It sucks, for sure. Having that kind of damage fixed will cost us at least a couple hundred big ones. Accidents and surprises like that do happen to everyone, and it will definitely mess up our usual monthly budget carefully set for bills and food.

But tonight, we had a feast of a meal -- I re-fried some amazing ham from Easter, with a side of dad-in-law-approved (a.k.a., Mexican style) potatoes and onions, fried eggs, and tortillas.

In other words, we may consider ourselves quite unlucky, but the unlucky streak just keeps getting balanced out with blessings and great fortune we often take for granted.

Times like these, when things seem to go just one way (i.e., downhill), try counting your blessings. Know that, no matter what, there will always be at least one person looking out for you. In our case, there's two--thanks, Mike and Amy!

And of course, when all else fails, stop and smell the re-fried ham and potatoes from Easter. They are made of yum.

Thursday Inspiration: The 12 Rules for Being a Classroom Hero

Rule 1: Rules are made to be broken.

Rule 2: All for one and one for all.

Rule 3: Bring your passions into the classroom.

Rule 4: Never teach to the test.

Rule 5: Keep it real.

Rule 6: There is no such thing as an un-teachable child.

Rule 7: Necessity is the mother of all invention.

Rule 8: Produce good people, not just good students.

Rule 9: The future is now.

Rule 10: Be the person you want your students to become.

Rule 11: You can't do it alone.

Rule 12: Be a student of your students.

Couch to 5k Day 1: Chia Seeds Gives Me Happy Running Energy!

C25K or 'Couch to 5k' is a program you can download as a phone app to help you train for a 5-kilometer run -- about 3 miles -- within 8 weeks. It provides a very reasonable pace even for those who are complete amateur runners, like myself.

I first started the program in September but stopped after Day 1 because I got distracted with other workout programs at the time (HIIT, barre, and traditional strength training with weights), and today I finally decided that it would be nice to go back to good old fashioned running as a more straightforward daily exercise habit.

Here are the results of Day 1...

Total distance: 1.74 miles

Total time: 30 minutes and 52 seconds

Calories burned: 232

Fat from calories: 50

Running speed: 10 minutes per mile (Level 6; I have short legs!)

*Remember that C25K Day 1 allows interval running and walking, which is why I ran for only a little over a mile!

I went a little over the 30-minute mark because I needed a longer cool down. I'm proud to say that I didn't have to hit the pause button! Although I got extremely tired and gasping loudly for breath after each 90-second interval run, I was still able to follow the Day 1 routine to a tee.

As much as I want to wake up every morning to run before going to work, I am too much of a night owl to commit to that (teacher blues). I go straight to the pantry or fridge after work to grab a pre-workout snack, and today I had a cup of Greek yogurt with pear and clementine slices, and a tablespoon of chia seeds. The latter gives me wonderful energy.

Are you also doing the C25k program? Let's motivate each other!

40-Day Sweet Tooth Detox

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I never really took Lent sacrifices seriously. Growing up Catholic, I was used to the no-meat-every-Friday routine and one-meal-a-day fasting for holy days of obligation. Honestly, the tradition meant nothing to me. I was never a big meat eater anyway, and could last a day with just small snacks--no full meal necessary.

This year though, has become a year of detox. I really enjoy and find true results in juicing and cutting down on the bad stuff. This year's Lent, I decided to use the occasion to take matters on a more spiritual perspective, to really dig deep and think of things on which I have become extremely dependent.

The funny thing is, although I enjoy green juices and loading up on clean, whole foods, I would constantly shrug off the fact that my body is still pretty saturated with the bad stuff, that is, in the form of sweets.

Calling me a sweet tooth is an understatement. I actually think I have an addiction to processed sugars. Candy bars, store-bought chocolate, gummy bears, ice cream, and, my biggest weakness -- chocolate robin eggs -- are only a few of the things you can find in my secret stash. Yes, I do have a stash of sweets at home that I regularly dig through for a much needed daily sugar fix. It's that bad.

And so this Lent, after 29 long years, I have finally decided to sacrifice the one thing I was never willing to give up -- until now.

My husband, who is a health practitioner, noticed that although I drink so much more water than the average person (I normally drink about 3 liters of water a day), I still feel thirsty throughout the day. He's thinking that my body is probably taking in too much sugar than my system could process, making my blood thicker. He even blurted out the worst possible diagnosis, the one diagnosis I fear...

Pre-diabetic.

Of course, it was just a hunch. But it was a hunch strong enough to ruffle my sugarcoated feathers.

I also want to tackle the deeper side of a detox, as detoxing should not stop on the physical. I wanted to explore how giving up sweets for 40 days could enhance my emotional and spiritual journey.

Sugar is -- as silly as this might sound -- a huge part of my life. It's a part of me, kind of like an extra leg. Experts would call dependencies a crutch, and I think that's exactly what sweets are to me. I dig through my stash because a bar of chocolate makes me feel relaxed after a long, tiring day at work. Cola flavored gummy candy gives me a wonderful high. I depend on sweets to feel better, and that's definitely a crutch.

It would be a real struggle giving up sweets for 40 days, and how I could fill that emotional void with something else. In the words of Make It Blissful's Martine: "...it's going to be a struggle. And that's good, because then I'll have the space I need to grow."

(Check out Martine's own journey to a Lent detox here)

I am currently on Day 3, and so far, I haven't had any real cravings yet, which I am very grateful for. I think I'm about to binge on pears tonight, though. For some reason, I am starting to crave fruit.

Are you doing a detox or Lent sacrifice this year? Let's support each other!

Haul: Visiting Our Local Co-op

My husband and I decided to drop by our local natural foods market to grab a few things for the next couple of weeks. Here is a quick rundown/haul of the things we got:

Oregon Chai The Original Chai Tea Latte Concentrate

My husband used to work at an Indian restaurant where he pretty much got addicted to chai tea. Chai is a staple in our pantry. Ingredients used in this concentrate are all organically grown and processed.

Earth Balance Organic Whipped Natural Buttery Spread

My mom uses the Earth Balance Olive Oil spread, so I wanted to try something different. This butter is plant-based, 100% vegan, gluten free, and non-GMO -- all wonderful things for everyday butter-on-toast with fruit preserves.

Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread

I've been eating a lot of bread lately and wanted to look for a healthier alternative. What makes this bread so different and so much better for you is that it is packed with protein, essential amino acids, tons of fiber, and -- prepare yo'self for this -- zero, yes, zero grams of sugar. Malted barley was used as a sweetener instead. I am definitely excited to give this one a quick toast tomorrow morning.

Organic Eggs

In all honesty, our household isn't very picky when it comes to all-natural, organic whole foods, but when it comes to our eggs, we prefer organic and cage-free. Why? It tastes a lot better than store-bought eggs. The yolk (or double yolk) is always a deep, almost orange kind of yellow, and it's richer and creamier than regular eggs. Trust me on that. When it comes to eggs, either manage your own chicken coop, or just buy organic.

Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats

I love oatmeal in general, but my absolute favorite are steel cut oats. I love the chewiness and creaminess of it. Steel cut oats are high in protein and a great prepare-the-night-before breakfast (it takes about 20 minutes to cook on stove top; totally worth it). I just bought an extra bag because it was cheaper in the co-op than our regular grocery store.

Chia Seeds

This goes without saying that if chia seeds aren't in your daily regimen yet, start today! I like them more than flax seeds because chia seeds are easier to consume, what with its wonderful gel-like texture when added in anything that has liquid. My oatmeal isn't complete without chia seeds.

Mandarin Oranges

I found these beaming at me in the produce section that I just had to get some. I snacked on one this afternoon, and it was perfect! Are oranges already in season?

We are really trying to be more mindful of our eating habits these days. We feel much more at ease when we know exactly what we're putting in our body. I will give a review on the items I will be trying for the first time, so stay tuned. Until then, have a good one!

Things I learned in Catholic school I never thought I'd appreciate... until now

Don’t sneak out with a boy; introduce him to your parents!

I had my first boyfriend when I was fourteen, and I was terrified. It was highly prohibited in my school — an exclusive school for girls — to entertain boys who wanted to initiate courtship within campus vicinity. I couldn’t take him home either, because I knew my parents would FREAK-OUT. I had to weigh my options, and decided that sneaking around with him after school (i.e., walking hand-in-hand just outside of school, still technically within school vicinity but not inside the school) would be the smartest, safest thing to do. 

Nope. I still got caught.

And by my father, no less.

I wasn’t exactly grounded, although I did get a long lecture about trust and honesty, especially when it came to boys. My parents didn’t believe in grounding us, but they were pretty good at making us feel like crap with the ‘I’m so disappointed in you’ lecture. Dad said it would’ve been easier had I just introduced him to them. 

This was us, post-secrecy.

So, I did. And everything else went smoothly after that... until we broke up a few weeks later. Hi, Rey! We're still friends. :-)

Male teachers are not all that. 

I had a major crush on my Geometry teacher. I thought he was so intelligent, humble, kind, and looked so much like the Paddington Bear. 

My Geometry teacher.

I bombed math my entire elementary and high school (and college) life, but I did okay in Geometry, because I wanted to impress him. 

I would say 98% of our all-girl school population had at least one crush on a male teacher. But later on I learned how silly that really was, just because having men anywhere within a block from our campus was such a rarity. I would look back and cringe — not at my Geometry teacher because he still remains pretty awesome in my book — but at some of the more popular male teachers who weren’t really all that great.

When you spend more than a decade of your life and all your formative years in an all-girl school, boys become such a novelty that they are regarded with so much unnecessary prestige. It’s pretty tragic.

Take Home Economics class seriously before it’s too late. 

I failed sewing. I botched crochet class. I gave diarrhea (to myself) when I attempted to make chocolate ice cream from scratch. My nanny made most of my art projects. Now that I’m a wife, I realize the true value of Home Economics whenever my husband’s jeans get caught in the dryer or when I need to adjust the hem of my dress. My husband is even better at sewing than I am!

A quick infographic on things I suck at.

Less is more. 

In school, simplicity wasn’t just a suggestion — it was an actual school rule. We had very specific expectations about how to wear your hair and what color clips and hair ties are appropriate (i.e., white, blue, and black. Sometimes, you can get away with brown). No jewelry except for small stud earrings. No nail polish. No heels. No frilly socks. And absolutely no make up.

Puberty was especially hard for me because, like most women (and men), that was when I felt like I was at my ugliest. That was when I really felt the need for a cute, pink bow on my hair, drop earrings that moved when I turned left or right, a decent manicure, a little bit of a heel, and for the love of God — concealer! But I couldn’t, because vanity would basically get me in trouble with the school director. Yikes.

And she was a nun.

Double yikes.

I hated vegetables.

Now, I celebrate the same kind of simplicity I once hated when I was that Catholic school girl. I love no-make-up days, I despise high-heeled shoes, and my favorite thing to wear is black. I now see elegance in simplicity, not frustration or boredom. Simplicity is actually pretty darn beautiful after all.

Hard work pays off. 

I was a lazy kid in school, but mostly because I was constantly unmotivated. I had very low self-esteem and thought that being surrounded by brilliant classmates made me even less of an achiever than I already was.

Me in high school.

The thing is, my school was so strict and traditional that they still didn’t give me a break, no matter how depressed I got for feeling stupid. Through the years, I hated that. I hated the fact that I wasn’t given positive reinforcement and encouragement in school. I hated the fact that I always felt like I was punished with a really sucky grade no matter how hard I tried.

So, I just stopped trying.

Looking back though, I am thankful for this brutal honesty and the non-negotiable to work your ass off if you want to earn a certain grade. And although I still don’t agree with the culture of negativity I experienced -- where encouragement and positivity were kept at a minimum, and consequence and punishment were pretty much routine -- I now value setting a higher standard for myself, and for my students, now that I am a teacher myself. It’s just that I see myself as more child-friendly and ‘progressive’, if you will; not rigid and overly strict. Change the bad, keep the good.

I realized that, even though I keep promising myself that I would give my future kids a much more positive, liberating school environment one day, I still undoubtedly carry with me some valuable things from Catholic school. I guess, in the end, I will always be a Catholic school girl at heart. I spent eleven years there after all.

Wait a minute... I earned my bachelors degree from a Catholic university, too! Make that fifteen years. Wow.

Green Addiction

The green smoothie and juicing trend is one health fad that I personally love. That's a lot to say from someone who hates eating vegetables as much as I do.

Fun Fact: Did you know that I was once a vegetarian? Not anymore, obviously.

Green smoothies don't just give me my dose of fruits and veggies for the day; this practice also helps me feel less sluggish, which is what I always feel when I don't get enough fruits and veggies in my diet... which used to be almost everyday. I also noticed that it gave me healthier digestion.

There's a whole bunch of green smoothie and juice recipes out there, but I normally stick with these two.

Warning: They can be addicting.

Also, if you are making smoothies, blend all these ingredients with filtered water or coconut water. The amount will be based on your preference for consistency.

This green summer smoothie has a bunch of my favorite summer fruits and veggies. It's refreshing and quite filling. Cucumbers are my favorite veggie to add to any green smoothie to make it taste a lot more palatable. Spinach is my go-to green smoothie base, and also my favorite green leafy veggie of all time. My least favorite portion of this smoothie are the celery stalks. I'm not the biggest fan of celery, but it helps reduce the acidity in my body (I have very bad occasional acid reflux).

Blend all chopped fruits and veggies until smooth. The banana and strawberries add a wonderful sweetness to it.

This next recipe is derived from Hungry For Change, specifically from their 3-Day Detox Plan which I love to use after a week of unclean eating. You can definitely make this into a smoothie instead of a juice, but my blender cannot properly incorporate the fiber from the apples, making it harder to consume. If you have a top-of-the-line blender, this recipe will work great as a smoothie.

I love this green juice because it's simple yet so energizing. Did you know that apples are a great substitute for coffee? This gives me more energy in the morning than a regular cup of joe, believe it or not. My favorite part of this juice is the parsley. I never would have thought of including parsley in a green drink -- reminds me too much of unnecessary garnish -- but it adds the most amazing, refreshing flavor to it, so do not skip the parsley. You can also add lemon juice to this recipe.

Random Green Smoothie and Juicing Tips I've Learned Through The Years:

• Prepare your smoothie the night before. You can store them in your fridge overnight, grab them in the morning, and go. If you want to prepare it fresh, chop up your fruits and veggies the night before, and blend in the morning.
• Use frozen fruits for an instantly cool and refreshing drink. I especially love frozen bananas and blueberries.
• Rotate your greens. I learned this from Raw Family. It has something to do with the alkaloids found in green leafy vegetables. If you consume just kale or just spinach for weeks, these alkaloid levels may accumulate unnaturally in your body. It won't be pretty.
• Don't use starchy vegetables in your smoothies like broccoli, carrots, beets, zucchini, etc. It will not respond well when combined with the fruit. Although, I think it's different when you juice these starchy veggies, because I do enjoy a juiced beet or carrot.
• One smoothie equals one meal. Don't take it as a beverage with another meal. Although I think you should not substitute juices for meals, either. There's that fine line between smoothies and juices: Smoothie = meal; Juice = Supplement to a Heathy Meal.
• Too many ingredients in one smoothie is overkill. Plus, it's going to taste weird. The simpler and fewer ingredients, the better. According to Raw Family, too many ingredients will slow down the absorption of the smoothie in your digestive tract, and may cause irritation and gas. Who wants that, and a horrible tasting smoothie?!

A glass or two of blended/juiced fruits and veggies a day, keeps the doctor and constipation away. Good luck!