First things first, our kick-off meeting for the fall season of Girls on Track (the middle school version of Girls on the Run) went so well yesterday. I am only one day in and I think I am going to absolutely love coaching and getting to know such vibrant group of 6, 7 and 8th graders. I will be leading my first lesson on Thursday and I am really looking forward to it!
To help everyone remember each other, our first activity involved introducing yourself using an adjective that started with the first letter of your first name. For example, I was “Jolly Julie.” I am not the best with names but I was shocked at how much easier it was to remember everyone’s names when they introduced themselves this way. “Silly Sarah” and “Artistic Audrey” are much easier to remember than Sarah and Audrey. When I meet someone new now I may have to think of an alliterative adjective to help me remember their names…
By the time I was done with Girls on Track and made my way home, Ryan had already picked up my father-in-law from the Charlotte airport and the two of them were on a walk with Sadie. Our first visitor at our new house had arrived! Once Ryan and Greg made it back to our place, the three of us headed out to dinner at a casual sushi spot.
Three cheers for parking lot photos!
My meal at Asiana began with the Tom Yum soup, a spicy lemongrass broth-based soup packed with lots of shrimp, mushrooms and tofu.
A shared spicy tuna roll followed!
For my entree, I ordered the scallops steamer with brown rice.
This dish was quite large but nice and light. I topped it with the brown sauce that came on the side and thought it was great!
Before heading home, Ryan, Greg and I popped into The Fresh Market to grab a sweet treat. I opted for a small bag of the white chocolate Chex mix from the bulk bins that served as my dessert (I truly cannot go to Fresh Market without buying some!) but left swimming in a pool of regret over my failure to purchase this:
It must happen SOON.
Have a great Wednesday, my friends!
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That soup looks amazing!
Oh my gosh. White chocolate chex mix sounds so good! And I don’t even think I can wrap my brain around what candy corn kettle corn would taste like?!?! I mean who thinks of these things?!
I have no idea, but they should probably be my best friend. 🙂
I teach middle school and I used to be the track coach also, wishing you luck! Middle level kids are a unique age, but very fun, look forward to reading about your adventures in tweens 😉
I was actually a little nervous when I got paired with middle schoolers but they were a riot yesterday! I think it is going to be a lot of fun!! And thank you for the good luck wishes 🙂
That descriptive name trick is amazing. THANK YOU for sharing this! I just started working with a group of 34 6th graders and am having a difficult time remember more than 10 of their names on a regular basis. I’ll definitely use this in the future!
I was so surprised about what a big difference it makes!!
So happy to hear about your great start with Girls On the Run. I started the application process last year, but didn’t follow through. I’m going to contact the NYC chapter to see if there’s still a way to get involved this season. Thanks for giving me the gentle push/inspiration I needed!
I hope it all works out and that you love it!!
I remember using that name game for an improv class I took years ago! We used the names the whole class and it really did help with remembering. I was “Lovely Lauren” – it was a very good ice breaker. 🙂
Have a fun visit with Ryan’s dad!
Love your scarf! I’m totally craving sushi now. Spicy tuna and shrimp are my favorites!
Loving your fall outfit : ) Spicy tuna rolls are my go-to at sushi restaurants.
i’ve heard that popcorn is fantastic!! I’ll have to get my hands on some too!
When I coached GOTR, I wasn’t able to make it to the first day when the girls were naming everyone. I arrived on the second day to find out that they had named me “Mustachio Madison!” At least since they hadn’t seen me yet, I can say it’s NOT cause they though I had a mustache 🙂
Second, YOUR PURSE! Where is it from? I’ve been looking for a large cross body bag forever!
Hahaha great name!! And my purse is Marc Jacobs and Ryan got it for me from Nordstrom for Christmas last year. 🙂
Ah, yes. Welcome to the danger of living close to the Fresh Market 😉 Far too many good things in there !!
Where is your bag from?? I LOVE it!!
Thank you, Stacy! Ryan bought it for me for Christmas last year — it’s Marc Jacobs and he got it from Nordstrom.
i love your scarf! YAY to visitors!<3
I’ve played that name game before and it definitely helps. As does repeating the person’s name a few times just after meeting them. Have fun with your visitor!
Just FYI, that popcorn is AH-mazing. You better go grab some! Hoard it!
Yay for visitors, especially the first in a new place where you can all explore together!!
I had such a difficult time coming up with an adjective for my name… I ended up with “Authentic Angela,” which worked I guess, haha. Def true that it helps to remember names though! After a few rounds of that game, I knew everyone’s name. It helped that we have 7 girls, too 😉
We have a group of 17, so I know I’ll need a little practice even with the help of this game!
Candy corn popcorn?? I want!!
I love your boots!! Where did you find them? The time has come for boot replacement shopping….
Oh my gosh they are so old and were like $30. 🙂 The brand is Miss Me and I couldn’t find them anywhere online… It looks like the company isn’t even making boots anymore. :/
Angie’s Popcorn also makes a Pumpkin Spice Popcorn that is AMAZING. I highly recommend!
Mmmmm yeah, so um, if you could send me some of those spicy tuna rolls through the computer screen, that’d be great.
YAY for fall boots! And how fun to have your first visitor!!
LOVE your bag … where oh where can we find one! 🙂
Thank you!! It was a Christmas gift from Ryan last year. 🙂 It’s Marc Jacobs and he bought it from Nordstrom.
Love your outfit! In still wearing shorts & flip flops. I can’t wait for it to cool off.
Your outfit is so cute! I love the idea of the first letter adjective with the name. Such a great way to remember 🙂
That’s so fun you’re going to be a coach with GOTR! I started coaching last year, and I love it! It’s such a great program, and the girls are just so cute.
I found the Angie’s pumpkin spice popcorn at Wegmans (Northeast) and I’ve gone through 3 bags already… in a week. It’s SO good, Julie. So good.
This is all I want for dinner now… 🙂
Love your outfit, super cute!! And Oh Em Gee, white chocolate chex mix…..I need to stay away from that.. I know if I bought it I would end up eating the whole bag in one sitting then sit there and wonder if I’m A) going to have a heartattack or B) going to throw up haha.
My grocery store has chocolate covered candy corn RIGHT at the front entrance before you get to the produce section. It calls to me every time. I know how you feel!
this sounds like so much fun! Having a visitor is always exciting (especially when it’s family). And I love your outfit!
Kim
http://trendkeeper.me
I’m so going to have to try that with the names because I am HORRIBLE at remembering names! I’ll need to look up adjectives that start with A because the first word I thought of wasn’t something I’d like to be known as! LOL
The scallop dish sounds so good! Fresh and light! You must get that kettle corn and tell us how it is!
I have to be careful with using alliterative nicknames to remember introductions. Most of the time I come up with stuff that’s either unflattering or dirty. But whatever works, right?
That soup looks so yummy! Perfect for Fall 🙂 Aren’t visitors the best?! I love when my mom comes to visit 🙂 And my whole family for that matter!
I am a coach for Girls on the Run in Florida and I LOVE my girls. This is my second season and I cannot be happier to be part of the organization. We are working on getting Girls on Track going here. I love middle school students – you are going to have an amazing time and have such an awesome opportunity to make an impact (a much needed one…) on them! Good luck!
I am so jealous! We tried to order in sushi last night and my favorite restaurant in town was closed. I guess they aren’t open on Tuesdays. We had Vietnamese instead which was still good, but I love my sushi ☺
I’m so glad the first practice went so well! How’s my girls do you have in your group?
We have 17 girls!
You always have such cute fall fashion! I love that scarf, and the bag! You’re making me anxious for fall to arrive here in Southern California. It’ll probably be a few weeks. 😉
Always, Anita
I like how there’s a Domino’s and a Weight Watchers right next to each other in that shopping center…haha
You need to get that popcorn ASAP!! One of the best treats EVER!!!!
That meal looks delicious! I have thought of making that soup before but it called for a lot of weird ingredients I couldn’t easily find!
Uh oh…you’ve sparked a sushi craving. 🙂 love the spicy tuna roll!
How are you not in the parking lot of a Lowe’s or a Home Depot?? LOL. We spent so much time there in our first couple months of homeownership that the customer service staff knew my husband’s name!
Ha!!! SO TRUE. I think we are at Lowe’s every other day.
tom yum soup is my favorite!
Candy corn popcorn?? Sign me up for that!!
How excited are you to wear fall clothes! I? wish we had the “fall”
With love from…Houston lol
I miss our Fresh Market! It closed down a few months ago and their bulk bins were the best!
Julie! that is so cool! I am a runner for a high school cross country team and I would kill to have you coach me 🙂
I had a sample of that candy corn popcorn at Earthfare the other day! I don’t really like candy corn, but that popcorn was pretty tasty! Should’ve gotten it!
I love Fresh Market but I almost never go there because I know I’ll buy overprices but DELICIOUS treats!