From my PhD alma mater, Our Lady of the Lake after my Grad Ring Blessing: Advent 2015: Daily Reflections, Practices & Prayers: A Season of Mercy (2015), David M. Knight.
From Bestie Evie at our CHRISTmas Gift Exchange Brunch: Pope Francis: In His Own Words (2013), Julie Schwietert Collazo & Lisa Rogak.
Each of these readings have offered enlightening passages for me to lead the ☼day.
To stay in the spirit for this season, I decked out with a little bit of my autumn aesthetics ~ ringing in the old with the new!
My little splurge to bring me cheer this time of year: this rad-in-plaid deer because plaid is on-trend (this one somewhat resembles Burberry) + it’s deer season (not that I’m a hunter) & reindeer season‘s just around the corner ~ so I’ll adorn it with special ornaments! Just to add to my eccentricity, I named this bad boy DOC to keep me motivated as I keep trucking along (more in high-speed) toward my doctoral degree! Along with Doc are A&A‘s *Dallas Cowboys* TD toy for football season & my classic Halloween decor ~ including Badtz-Maru pillow ~ on this plaid spread that accompanies autumn yet also is appropriate for winter as we approach CHRIS†mas in red & green!
What’s the best fall memory you have? ~ football games, both when I was in h.s. & when I’d see my *Dallas Cowboys* live (everything’s BIGGER in TX)
What’s your favorite book you’re reading (or have read) this fall?~ Guts Grace & Glory (football devotionals) that I received during Lent & am reading through football season
Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner?~ both (winged liner above in Exhibit B)
Best fragrance for fall? ~ Bath & Body WorksSweet Cinnamon Pumpkin (above in Exhibit A)
What is autumn weather like where you live? ~ we’re still as ☼sunny☼ as Indian summer but anticipate a cool-down soon
Football games or jumping in leaf piles? ~ BOTH! (see No. 1 for football & Exhibit B for leaf piles)
Skinny jeans or leggings? ~ either or, as long as I don’t have a muffin top in the denim or camel toe in the tights
What is something that nobody knows about you? ~ I don’t mind digging into Ramen even if there’s other food in the panty (especially as comfort food now that we’re entering a colder climate), which I actually ate for lunch this afternoon while watching Wong Fu‘s majorcook-off!
Combat boots or Uggs? ~ bringing on my Docs, baby!
What song really gets you into the fall spirit? ~ oddly enough, ♫Taylor Swift‘s ♪Wildest Dreams♪ because it could describe any desire (i.e., “tall” could be a tall order of StarbucksSalted Caramel Mocha), fulfilled or fantasized about
Facing east for the moon rise from my backyardgarden … Just another West Texas Friday night!
As much as ☼summer☼ is my favorite season (after all, that’s when my birthday takes place), I’m making the most out of autumn ~ especially going outside for crisp, fresh air!
double-duty edibles ~ such as coconut oil to substitute fatty oils in recipes plus is my favorite hair conditioner and also moisturizes skin, as well as removes makeup (according to The Sweet Life)
handy healthy snacks (not fast food) ~ such as apples, grapes (I dig mine fresh or frozen), pears ~ the pear or apple crisp can trigger brain juice flow, don’t ya know #DISPObustAFlow
chill your coffee ~ since I don’t drink as much for heartburn prevention, I store the rest in the fridge until the next day
tote reusable containers ~ mine from Starbucks saves me 10-cents per use and conserves resources (great for my next craving, this flavor-of-the-day: the Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino to redeem my latest Gold Card Reward*)
My everything store is Target because it offers decent prices on clothing ~ including my designer collablimited editions ~ as well as home goods, some groceries, and is my personal fave place for gift registries
You too can check out these Target en Vogue** photos by scoring a copy and scanning with your Shazam app
Lately, my pleasure reading getaways have been simpler to prevent brain burnout (i.e., pictures for eye candy) ~ so no information overload in this rotation
stay fit as you suds up ~ stretch (with caution) as you reach for body parts to clean, and if you’re seated during a bath, I strongly suggest doing water pilates (think table top position with head and feet raised for resistance as you move)
No believer is ever too busy to †pray† ~ even if we can’t take a ½ hour or full hour to meditate, at least devote a few to several minutes or even †pray† before, during and/or after your activities (my Rosary begins my days, and playing the ♪song♫ jump-starts it!)
* Rewards = another way to $ave (discount$ & FREEbie$)
These guidelines will save you in the long one ~ not only for the aforementioned reasons, but also from embarrassment (i.e., killer breath, B.O.) if you run into someone later… We don’t want to be Finch from the American Pie movies who had to go home from school every time he had to release his macchiato! You’re welcome. ✌
15. Bikini, tankini, or one piece? Show us your fave bathing suit this year!
I’ve already built up quite a two-piece collection through the years but wouldn’t mind adding a monokini to the mix ~ my fave of the moment: my VS chevron top & ombré bottom (see No. 5 “paleta” link for sippie selfie in said swimsuit)
This Season’s Shoes & MORE Score ~ especially the A+collaboration between ALDO & Target (coming to stores on ☼Sunday, September 6th/countdown in 5 days)
The highlight of my stay was when I sat in my Tita Fe‘s gourmet kitchen with Mami Aya, her siblings and their spouses ~ during which my MD aunts and uncles, who included
Tita Fe & Tito Rudy (my mom’s oldest sister and her husband)
Tito Robert & Tita Yollie (my mom’s youngest brother & his wife)
each endorsed me for my PhD ~ providing their sound advice that I’ll take with me as I progress toward my doctoral dissertation defense.
Before this Fall term and my Birthday, I was able to travel for my recent family reunion!
☼#SundayFunDay just what I need: brief breather from my doctoral dissertation #FreshAir #AllTheGolfBallsICanHit #UnclesBackyard = #BombDotComb #BirthdayTrip2015 #RnR #ReyesReunion + #SelfieSunday “Ate” Elaine at “Auntie” Mary Jean a.k.a. “Tita” Inday! Yes, I’m older than my gorgeous aunt & about to be more w/my bday next wkend! #Countdown2theBiG #MagandaKaTalaga #SundaySelfie #WorkingOnMySwing #GoingGreen #GoingWithTheFlow #ChillaxinMellow #DISPObustAFlow🌞🌼🌻🌅⛳️ 🎓💣👑💁🏻
If you’re a passenger on the road🚙 or in the 🌌air, my tip would be to tote👜 yourself with
🎥Films (saved on your digital device or DVDs💽 if you have a portable 📻player)
👓Literature (electronic📳 or in 📇print)
🚘Travel🚗 💞workouts💓 (do with what you got or follow along videos)
Regardless of my so-called 🌴R&R, as a mad 🔭scientist🔬 I couldn’t resist bringing 💼study📖 materials!
While many may be 🚢traveling🚤 around Labor Day since the 🌼summer-to-school🍎 transition, I’m taking every single off day to work on my 💻dissertation📇 ~ which was the story of my life throughout the second 1/2 of this past 🌿summer. Now that the we’re back into the swing, I’ve resumed teaching🎓 and really need to set aside extra time exclusively for my 📜paper…
Before returning to the college🏤 for 🍁fall🍂 term, my parents flew✈️ me to visit family as my 🎈🎁💝🎂birthday🎆🎇🎊🎉trip! Despite needing a brief 🌴vacay getaway, I still reviewed👓 and revised✒️ my draft📝 every single day, whether in flight🚁 or during down time.
However, I still had plenty of entertainment🎬 on my 📱iPhone, laptop and hard copy📚 to keep me occupied while I was in the friendly skies🌐 or on my own:
I would’ve added more movies🎥 to the mix, but not all of my apps📳 are up to par. Either way, I stayed occupied when I wasn’t 😲😵asleep😴💤 or visiting with my relatives ~ my Mami Aya‘s siblings for their reunion (that was the plan, but I ended up just referring to those at bedtime and did my dissertation during the day)!
Plus, I packed👜 light💡 with only one pair of shoes👡 to match my 👗outfits!
Paired both of these OOTDs with white sandals before Labor Day! Skirts and scarves galore! 👛🎒
Fun ⌚️Times⏰ were in store ~ now I ☝🏽️aim🏀 to 🏆score!
#DISPObustAFlow 🎤
👣FYI: Happy Trip was a saying from my Lola 💐Rosa🌹 ~ my beloved maternal grandmother👵🏼
Btw, in between flights, I treated my layovers like shopping sprees and strolled the terminals like I was on a mall walk! Honest & Benefit kiosks * Dallas Cowboys store * Mini*Starbucks$ Lovers♥
With my smaller home office space during my sabbatical, I make the most of my workstation with eye candy ~ so *ASIA* adorns the side of this desk! 💺😻📷💻📇
💡Scholar⚡️ 📓Mode: revise my working document for as many as 12h/day
Shower: taking a cold one on these hot dog days of summer can energize me between my workout and study session or I’ll relax in the bath between my scholarshift and bed time to snuggle in clean sheets
🌈Pleasure🌟👓Reading: I haven’t read as much non-scholarly material as I used to love to before college & grad school, but I’ve found that a little bit helps to ease my mind & unwind lately ~ my current reads are relevant to my research in an unconventional way (stay tuned this Study Saturday)
💭Choose😴 to 💤Snooze: as a chronic insomniac, I must make a conscientious effort to hit the sack ~ while I tend to stay up late reviewing and proofing my paper, I find that I’m more effective when I work on it earlier in the day with energy!
Just like Vince Carter had discipline with the Dallas Mavericks a couple of seasons ago, I also didn’t take break days! Yes, it’s essential to have some R&R, but at this point, I’m
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!
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
laptop
and
desktop with the much larger screen!
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
My favorite YouTube📺 fitness gurus have been featured for living by and writing✒️ wonderful work, from their blogs📓 to their books📖 ~ highly recommended by this well-read👓 workout fanatic!
Loyal viewers📺 are in for a treat to become their readers📖
All three of these publications📚 include exercise routines, nutritious recipes and lifestyle advice. Here’s how each are unique:
📕Sarah Dussault (2013), a.k.a. Sarah Fit, aims to get you back into your best 👙shape.
📗Cassey Ho (2015) of Blogilates tracks a whole year’s worth as 🍀seasons🌺 🍁change❄️.
Currently, I’m in that triple-F ~ 👊fit, 🐯fierce and 💋fabulous ~ mode for 28 days ~ so I say the mantra💭 of the day🌞 with every rep! 💪
Bibliography
• Dussault, S. (2013). Get skinny again!: The right exercises to get back your dream body and the secrets to living a fit life. Salem, MA: Page Street. 👙
• Ho, C. (2015). Hot body year round: The POP Pilates plan to get slim, eat clean, and live happy through every season. NY: Harmony. 🔥
• Scott, K., & Dawn, K. (2015). 28 days to fit, fierce, and fabulous: Create the beautiful body and mind of your dreams. NY: Rodale. ✌️
Welcome/Mabuhay/¡Biénvenidos! I am a USAF brat who was born in Germany and grew up State-side while celebrating my Catholic and Filipino heritage. ☼Sunny☼ DISPOsition Elaine’s Eye Candy/DISPhotos ~ I love GOD & His creations, so I take photos @ any given opportunity. Elaine DISPOrts ~ I am passionate about sports, which is my research focus on my ... Continue reading →
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