Busting out the Bike

You know that Groupon thing? My mom’s friend bought one good for a one-month membership at a small women’s gym just down the road. Then she decided she wouldn’t use it.

So as of bright and early this morning, I officially became a one-month gym member (thanks Katherine).

After drowning my banana boat breakfast in the deep murky depths of my stomach of course. (Priorities People! Banana + peanut butter + Greek yogurt. The first half I inhaled plain while prepping the second. I was hungry and it takes time to spread PB and spoon out yogurt)

The gym is tiny and was pretty empty when I went in but they have quite a few classes, including spin (which I’ve only tried a handful of times before but I’ve loved) so I’ll be hitting up some of those within the next month. The Groupon membership also includes 5 FREE Smoothies. Um… you bet I’ll be taking advantage of those.

After activating the membership I moved right on to getting my sweat on…just not at the gym. Yep, I joined the gym only to turn around and walk right out, heading straight home instead to go on my first BIKE ride of the year!

(source)

And a superb bike ride it was. One solid hour of chilly winds, slightly overcast skies, nearly empty streets and blasting tunes in my ears. I always seem to forget just how satisfying biking is until I get out there again.

 

You know your day is exciting when a bike ride is the highlight.

Well that and “Cookie Dough” aka Blondie Batter Dip aka why ever bother baking anything when the dough just tastes so. darn. good?

I made the regular (PB-loaded) and the light (applesauce) version. Both good in their own right but the peanut butter is the clear winner. Because since when is anything not better with peanut butter?

I also whipped up a chocolate version with a bit of leftover batter dip blended with cocoa powder.

 

Yesterday was a little more thrilling as I Budda Boom Budda Binged with Mario at the dinner table. Ever been to East Side Mario’s? They have unlimited soup or salad and WARM garlic loaf. Um yes please! My friend Christy (my partial name twin…except for the fact that we spell our names completely differently – C and y vs my K and ie. They sound the same though which is all that matters) is always thinking and always suggests going with the unlimited refills. I’m down! And their garden salad is awesome. As is their bread. I could eat just those two as a meal and be completely content. But because I’m not sure if that’s an option…I figured I might as well throw in a small cheese pizza too.

My dinner photography courtesy of Google:

Thanks for the meal, Mario!

We also met up with a group of friends for beers and Taco Tuesday ($2 tacos!) but I had neither since I just downed a whole pizza and I was the DD. Responsibly Ricky over here. Instead I sipped on water. Man I’m lame.

 

I also finished the very last cupcake remaining from the long weekend celebrations yesterday. Okay, 2/3 of a cupcake. I ate the other 1/3 before breakfast.

THIS is only exciting enough to get airtime because a – it’s a cupcake and b – the only other food evidence I have from the past two days is yet another green smoothie and yet another salad with tuna.

Cold, quick and easy foods are the name of the game for summer, what can I say?

 

Do you find yourself gravitating towards easier (aka no cook) foods now that the early summertime has basically started? I can’t even think about cooking food 90% of the time right now. Fresh veg, fruit and liquids is where it’s at. Anything else makes me sweat just thinking about it. And it’s not even that hot out yet!

 

Ramble bamble.

The conclusions of this post:

• Eat at East Side Mario’s – even if just for the unlimited warm bread
• Bike – just do it. Though if you rarely (or never) bike, don’t choose a day that’s too hot or windy. You will regret it.
• Don’t try to be nice and save the last cupcake for the rest of your family. For some reason they will ignore it and you will stare at it every time you open the fridge until you bite the bullet and inhale it, pretending nothing ever happened.
• See The Hangover Part II – because I’m going to see it right now. I have high hopes!