elainedispo

Archive for July, 2015|Monthly archive page

Sunday Fun Day: B is for …

In ♥ & Soul, Beauty Tuesday, Community, Fitness Friday, Foodie Friday, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Manic Monday, Mixer Monday, Motivational Monday, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Sunday Fun Day, Technology, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Workout Wednesday, Yours Truly on 07/26/2015 at 08:00

As applies to yours truly:

BrainsBrawn / Buff Bod / Beast + BeautyBadace♠!

Add this comic relief to the mix:

So, B also is for Beer!

Above, this “expert” brings up valid points!

Workout while getting dolled up!

  • Lunges & squats while blowdrying my hair {1 set = 1 stance}
  • Curls: hold dumbbell and work bicep toward you with one hand, hold curling iron and style hair with the other! {1 set = 1 strand}
  • Extensions: hold dumbbell and work tricep behind your head with one hand, hold mascara wand and extend lashes with the other!
  • Abs: lay on mat/soft surface and lift legs with core and lower back while keeping arms at your side to dry your nails!

No brainer, am I right?

Moving Makeup

Makeup moves WON’T work in a car if you must hold up your phone/mirror/compact with your other hand {as a passenger ~ NOT while you’re behind the wheel}

Seriously, though, you may not want to try this at home unless you’re extremely coordinated and can master multi-tasking!

We workers and scholars all can witness our fitness at our desks ~ which I’ve had my students do during long class breaks:

  • Neck rolls clockwise and counter-clockwise
  • Shoulder rolls forward and backward
  • Arm circles forward and backward
  • Leg extensions (quads) while seated
  • Leg curls (hams) while standing
  • Stretches ~ to ease ergonomic tension
  • Jumping Jacks ~ for ♥cardio♥ to bring the blood flow to the brain

#DISPObustAFlow

SPI

S is for … ☼Sunday☼ Sippy Selfie Somewhat Throwback: South Padre Island for my homecoming en el Valle! ¡Salud!

So, I suggest the second series during study sessions and when you tune into your TV!

#NOexcuses + #NOcouchPotatos = #NOflabTaters

Paleta

S is for … Sippy Selfie ☼Summertime☼ Sappiness Somewhat Throwback Thursday: Mango Paleta at Zoo on Field Trip with my ☼Summer☼ Speech *Superstar* Students!

For me, my peak-of-summer☼ primetime shows (new episodes all air at 8PM Central time) ~ during which I can do these sets of moves ~ include

  • Sunday: Beach Flip (HGTV)
  • Monday: Devious Maids (Lifetime)
  • Wednesday: Property BrothersBrother vs. BrotherBuying + $elling (HGTV)
  • Thursday: Mistresses (ABC)

Study Saturday: PS is for …

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Feline Friday, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Study Saturday, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 07/25/2015 at 06:40

Public Speaking

And how it applies to the college courses that I teach and my own doctoral dissertation

Asia Cube

Flashback *Feline* Friday: My grad cat keeps me company through this cube at my desk! {Fun fotos taken when we lived in Cali then when I taught in the Valley}

Don’t y’all always like my alliteration?

Desk Cube

Flashback *Feline* Friday: Here are the other dimensions of my grad cat at my desk! {More Bay & el Valle}

Type of Presentation Description Dissertation
Informative Speech Sharing facts based on research Concept Proposal as Information Session for my Committee
Persuasive Speech Supporting opinions with research Proposal Defense to convince Committee; IRB request
Interview Asking and answering questions ~ which also involves the powers of persuasion Committee, Faculty and Public Defense ~ all for which I’m preparing to get into defense shape (also involved when I initially applied to my doctoral program, my final and comprehensive exams)
Special Occasion Speech  Celebrating an event Acknowledging my support system after successful full Defense ~ when I shoot to become Doctor
Cat Clip & Keroppi

With cat art as all the rage lately, I’ve been trendsetting since before then at my work zone! + #FrogFetish#Keroppi

PS also is for … Pet Smart ~ where I go for my catsentials!

Jones Soda

Don’t cat photos always make anything better? This from my sweaty swigs, ya dig?

A&A *Highlights* this Week:

  • Big Asia actually being my bed buddy from sleeping to waking up for the 1st time in 9 years (she usually sleeps at my feet or elsewhere)!
  • Vocal Annie playing copy cat with me by imitating (the greatest form of flattery) the pitch of my voice ~ another element that I teach in speech!

Therefore, Lil’ Ann‘s the mockingcat!

Foodie Friday: Fazing over Fazoli’s

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Health, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 07/24/2015 at 16:00

My latest dessert obsession:

*Nutella* Cheesecake from Fazoli’s

Nutella Cheesecake

Don’t let the solid chocolate look fool ya … This bad boy’s full of flavor!

Combines 2 of my faves:

  • Chocolate hazelnut
  • My favorite fast food joint

    Nutella Cheesecake

    The darker the chocolate :: The sweeter the flavor!

There’s never been anything that I didn’t like from Fazoli’s ~ Italian, I’m in Heaven ~ including from this most recent visit.

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Giving Grape Italian Lemon Ice ~ a drink with a contributory cause!

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Penne Romano ~ steaming HOT!!!

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Yummy Post-Church Meal complete with blessings!

I’ve lucked out with this eatery (which opened in my hometown, thanks to my h.s. buddy’s dad ~ a contractor who liked it when he visited his son in college and decided to build it by their family home) because it’s always been quick, inexpensive and most of all: delicious!

NYE

Flashback *Foodie* Friday: I’ve rung in the New Year with Fazoli’s!

My former workout partner (who now lives overseas for the military) and I used to grab Italian Lemon Ice at Fazoli’s after we’d have a fun run at the park around the corner ~ we’d burn calories then reward ourselves with something sweet, refreshing and healthy!

Classic Strawberry Italian Ice

Classic Strawberry Italian Ice ~ nothing classic about it! #BoldAndFresh

Tour of Italy

Alfredo & Marinara + Meatballs = YOLO Italiano!

Fast & Fazoli's

F is for … Flashback *Foodie* Friday: I’ve even feasted on Fazoli’s while watching Fast & Furious movies at the drive-in!

Plus, now that I typically fly solo, I’ve done my work or homework there after hitting the track myself and have tried almost ALL of the seasonal desserts (except for the Red Velvet Cheesecake around ♥Valentine’s♥ Day ~ because it was out when I visited)!

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Watching my ☼truck☼ while sipping on this Strawberry Italian Ice Float!

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My fave Fazoli’s dessert before the Nutella Cheesecake came along … This Ghirardelli Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake!

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How do you eat an elephant? Savoring every single bite!

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Flashback *Foodie* Friday: I took 3 hours to work on this meal while writing my dissertation concept proposal!

Fitness Friday: ADIDAS

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Fitness Friday, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Sports, Sports Sunday, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 07/24/2015 at 09:35

All Day I Dream💭 About SOCCER⚽️

SI USA

World Cup Champs! 🏆

After all, how’d I land my muscular legs?

Actually, although folks have pointed out how I could pass as a kicker, I didn’t play fútbol, but I’ve surrounded myself with many fellows who 💕💞💓💗💖💝love💟❤️💛💚💙💜 the game, including

F is for … Flashback Friday

ToddlerJustin1 ToddlerJustin2 ToddlerJustin3 ToddlerJustin4 ToddlerJustin5 ToddlerJustin6 ToddlerJustin7

Don’t use this peak 🌅summer🌻 😅heat💥 as an excuse not to kick around the ball. You may have an indoor field ~ just like the one in the city where I’m pursuing my PhD which is happens to be run by someone from my hometown (how’s that for a small 🌍world?)!

FYI: All Day I Dream About 💡Scholarship🏤

And I’m taking those steps👣 to follow through toward scoring my goal!

Just like in soccer!

Thirsty Thursday: I LOVE GOD more than… 

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Thirsty Thursday, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 07/23/2015 at 18:40

Everything

Peace • Happiness • Love

Dream • Hope • Peace: We wouldn’t have any of our worldly pleasures without GOD having created them! 🏽💝😍🙏🏽☝🏽🌍🌎🌏🌺🐝✌

There’s this Beyoncé💃🏽 🎼song🎵 that I first heard👂🏽 earlier this week (although I’ve had it on my 🎧iTunes📻 for awhile) when I had my 💿playlist📀 on shuffle. I thought that it was lame because she kept singing🎤 about how she loved her husband more than 🎹music🎶 …

Maybe it’s because I’m not 💍👰🏻married?

Yet since GOD is my #1, I’m applying her sentiment to how I place Him above all aspects of my life:

Furthermore, I watched a Eucharistic Adoration💖 segment on EWTN📺 the other day. One girl with whom I really related mentioned that without spending time with the ♥Blessed Sacrament🙏🏽 and receiving her 💒Daily Bread, she’d have nothing in life.

☝🏽GOD guides us toward our blessings indeed!

When I had brunch with my devout Catholic friend after this morning’s Holy ⏰Hour, she pointed out my sentiments exactly:

GOD is the center of our life! ✨

Workout Wednesday: Blogilates on the Clock

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Sports, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workout Wednesday, Yours Truly on 07/22/2015 at 12:45

Got a ¼- to ½-hour per day?

Then you can spare a few minutes on sculpting your bod this ☼summer☼ and always!

POP Pilates Fast Flat Abs DVD

Cassey‘s latest DVD for fab abs in a synch: *Fast Flat Abs*!!!

Combine these 8- and 6-minute Blogilates routines to stay on the scene!

Monday Gun Show

6-Minute Sexy Arms

8-Minute Tank Top Arms

… followed by unloading groceries and lifting laundry!

Tuesday Booty

8-Minute Bikini Butt

6-Minute Sexy Booty

Midweek Midsection

8-Minute Abs & Obliques

6-Minute Sexy Abs

6-Minute Sexy Little Waist

Thursday Totes Tone

8-Minute Bikini Body

… followed by Beach Ball Beast Mode with Blogilates on Cosmo!

Friday Thigh Day

8-Minute Bikini Thighs

6-Minute Sexy Thighs

Saturday Sweat Sesh

8-Minute At Home ♥Cardio♥ x4!!! (>½h)

Run, swim and/or bike & hike for a mini-tri(athlon)!

Sunday Stretch Sesh

Leg Flexibility 

More sessions from Cassey Ho‘s Hot Body Year-Round!

Here’s to happiness & wealth of health!

Beauty QT Tuesday: Silver Lining

In ♥ & Soul, Beauty Tuesday, Community, Health, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 07/21/2015 at 13:05
G-Dub Gatas

G-Dub is forGray & White 😻🐈 Deuces ✌

I started going gray before I turned 30.

TMI, am I right?

  1. Going gray
  2. I’m >30yo

But I might as well keep it real about my age and aging process!

How’d I begin my silver streak👵🏽 in the first place?

  • My seasoned teacher colleague whose office was down the hall from mine had a head full of gray hair and suggested ~ actually, more declared ~ to me that this is a sign that we’re smart

👴🏽White👓 = 💡WISE!!!

My BFF and sis observed their own prior to mine. I first noticed it while I was doing my game day braids👧🏻 the post-season after my NBA D-League🏀 team won the 🏆NBA-DL championship

Now that I’ve found a few more stragglers as I’m growing out my hair to donate without chemicals after I graduate, I’m looking at the bright [light –> white] side ~ the silver lining, if you will (hence the pun)

At least I still have hair on my head!

Speaking of white, here in other news📰 …

🌠My impeccable style + my adjunct 🍎teaching🍏 income (lack thereof ~ yet happy to have a job) while I’m on sabbatical for doctoral school = 🍹champagne🍸 taste on a 🍺beer🍻 💰budget💸

Enter Mami Aya👩🏻 to the rescue!

My dear Nanay has been wanting to revamp my 💃🏽wardrobe, and with my 🎈birthday🎁 around the corner (hint hint), I took her up on her offer while mixing in pieces that I already have!

White Bottoms & Color Blocking + Silver & Gold = #BOLD

B&W

Since I wear white bottoms between Memorial Day & Labor Day, here’s what I wore to our evening/Vigil Mass at Church last weekend: my new *white HOT* slacks {Liz Claiborne Emma} paired with black off-the-shoulder blouse {*Express} over navy blue tank top {GAP} + black patent leather wedges {BCBG} + black & white color block handbag {Coach Hamptons} ~ I pay attention to every single detail, so the silver hardware on both my purse & sandals coordinate! [Alternate top: zebra striped cowl neck peplum {EXP*} 🇺🇸💒👠👒👜

Peachy Keen

Peachy Keen: My obsession with peach/coral has taken us by storm through this color block dress with taupe piping & white bottom {Calvin Klein} that looks dayum good with these nude patent leather cork wedges with gold trim {Antonio Melani, Dillard’s exclusive} ~ top it off with my rose gold heart tote {Guess?} + gold ♥heart♥ jewelry & we’re off! #PrettyInPink #GoForTheGold 🍑🌺👗👡💝👜👛🎀

Antonio Melani

My *new* nude (also available in black) patent leather cork wedges with gold trim by Antonio Melani can go with anything! ♥Love♥ the Tiffany Blue box & surroundings?

Cat Jewelry

My main ring & bracelet holder is this *Freedom* Cat!

“So, ok.” Happy 2-Decade ♥Anniversary♥ to Clueless ~ an inspiration behind my own teenage trendsetting! “As if!”

Sports Sunday: There’s Something About Brett Favre

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Home Sweet Home, Relationships, Sports, Sports Sunday, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 07/19/2015 at 05:00

After the former Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets’ Brett Favre‘s on-and-off again retirement drama💔 ~ I mean, news📰 ~ I’ve missed seeing him on the field …

Until he returned to Lambeau Field🏈 for his induction into the Packers’ Hall of Fame🏆 yesterday!

SI July

More info in SI earlier this month! Gotta ♥love♥ this fellow Lab parent! 🏉📰📖🐶🐾

Highlights from Favre’s career, c/o 🏈NFL🏉

Aside from his 👊🏼grid iron💪🏼 persona, I still enjoy watching Favre on

  • Wranglers Jeans👖 commercials📺
  • There’s Something About Mary💽😅😹

Fun Favre Fact:

He’s a fellow †faithful† ☝🏼Catholic✌🏼!

  • When I sang in my Valley Church💒 🎤Choir, a ❄️Winter⛄️ 🐎Texan🏇🏽 from Wisconsin informed me that he stood by her during Mass🙏🏼 at her regular Parish, and he was way taller than her!
  • Soon after she shared with me her story, this sighting was published 📰

With so many candidates in the running for Commander-in-Chief, I propose

Great American🇺🇸 Brett Favre for 👔President! I’ll be your campaign manager!

Study Saturday: Stats Woes

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Manic Monday, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Sports, Study Saturday, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 07/18/2015 at 09:00

Welcome to my 📚work💻 station!

OLLU Library Pano

Crunching numbers on these 💻devices📱 with my 📔manual📙 on hand👋🏽

I now can empathize with my speech🎤 students who consider public speaking to be 😅nerve-racking, while I encourage them to step outside of their comfort zones!

For yours truly, my anxiety😱 lies with 📉stats.

Earlier this week following my final excursion, I spent my Manic Monday at this corner dealing with my raw 📊data before meeting with my 🎓dissertation📜 chair the following day.

Here’s the trick to overcome such challenges:

Add something with which you’re comfortable into the 🔬mix so it’s an easier pill💊 to swallow!

{Just like a re-run of Tia & Tamera that I caught today when new mom Tia introduced her son to new solid food ~ he loved butternut squash while she tried to get him to warm up to peas}

Now that I’ve gotten the hang of it more after going through it in my grad classes plus one-on-one tutorials, I’m actually enjoying it on both my

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  • laptop

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and

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  • desktop with the much larger screen!

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Bearing in mind all of the above, my PhD program has been the hardest undertaking that I’ve ever experienced, and not simply because I initially anticipated stats with dread …

During my doc degree, I’ve encountered many emotional highs and lows:

Experiences Emotions
Preparing for my final and comprehensive exams plus my statistics Anxiety, Nervousness
Passing my final and comprehensive exams Accomplishment, Achievement
Failing my first stats course and having to retake (never let this happen before) Disappointment, Failure
Getting kicked out of my first study group (never gave anyone reason to want to before) Rejection
Celebrating my luminary and candidacy convocations Blessed, Bliss, Happiness
Passing my concept proposal and proposal defense plus my IRB request Relief
Working hard on my dissertation paper and data Dedication, Devotion, ♥Love♥ 

Yet at this point, I still wouldn’t ever trade it for the world!

Foodie Friday: Photo & Scholar Mode

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Foto Friday, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Study Saturday, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 07/17/2015 at 09:20

I kicked off my 🏤school trip🚘 with 🌇Sunday 🍹brunch🍳

CocoRita

🌇Sunday Brunch🍳 Sippie🍹 Selfie: CocoRita tickles my fancy! #salud

CocoRita & DosRita

CocoRita + DosRita = Lifting Up These Pinay’s Spirits! 🍹🍸

Rosario's

Sopa de Fideo y CocoRita a Rosario’s 🍜🍹🌹

Followed by a cool down from my grad photo shoot at my fave Irish🍀 🍺pub🍻

Storm Drank

Storm from Pat O‘s hits the spot! #salud #refreshing 🍹⚡️☔️

Pat O'Brien's

Selfie S is for … * 🌇Sunday Sippie🍹 Selfie * Storm that tastes as yummy as it pairs well with my dress #ColorCoordinating 🍹👗

Then I grabbed my 👓study📚 grub and more from 🌠💸☕️Starbucks!

iPhone order

A java perk exclusively for iPhone users: we’re the only ones who can order Starbucks to save ourselves a wait in line! 📲📱🌠💸☕️

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Knocked 2 birds with 1 stone: picked up the latest Cosmo for Blogilates & my iPhone order @ SA’s B&N Starbucks! 📲📱🌠💸☕️📖💞💓

Crafted Drink

C is for … Crafted especially for Yours Truly * Caramel * Cocoa * Coffee * Coconut * Coolness 📲📱🌠💸☕️🌰🍯🍫

Mocha Swirl

Caring is sharing: Mocha Swirl Drizzle ~ E to the Dizzle #DISPObustAFlow

To-Go

My baon (portable meal) for school, straight from Starbucks! #itsAWrap 🌠💸🍱

When I returned home, I hit another university where I’m approved to research and lucked out because its library has more 🌠💸☕️Starbucks love!

ACU Library Starbucks

Knocked 2 birds with 1 stone: Computer company at the library + Starbucks for a scone! #DISPObustAFlow