Ahhh, Saturday!

Happy Saturday folks!

How is everyones weekend thus far?  Mine is peachy.  I am currenty sitting at Panera….do you think I have enough stuff spread out?

Just came from the Y-taught RIPPED (all weight class) and had a great turnout!  Burned out some shoulders today, and I am already feeling it!

I wanted SO bad to get Zumba pics/vids last night but my Flip cam was acting up!  Depression!  Managed to get a shot of Holly teaching the Dance Central class which is a Zumba style class for the kiddos.  Can you say adorable?

When it was the adults turn…we shook it.  And shook it.  And shook it.  I also got to lead my favvvvvvorite song with Holly in a dance off!  Eeeeek!  It was alot of fun though!

Check out the duds…

Bracelet of the century?  I think so.

If you have not tried Zumba.  Stop reading this blog right now, go find a class……and GO.  Go ahead.  I’ll wait.

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See.  Wasnt that fun?!?!

In all seriousness Zumba is an amazing Latin dance inspired cardio workout that will leave you DRENCHED in sweat.  Our instructor choreographs all of her own moves, and also does alot of hip hop style dances.  It is absolutely awesome!

My friend Sharon was there last night, and had NEVER tried Veggie booty.  Luckily I keep a stash in my office.  I always have to be spreading the word about my Veggie Booty!  It is my drug of choice! 😛

I think I hooked another person on the booty!  Have you guys tried it?  Thoughts?

After Zumba I came home, and collapsed.  Can we talk briefly about odd cravings?  Being that Zumba was so late, I didn’t necessarily get to eat dinner (I know, I know…but I was so tired!)  This however, left me waking up at 2am STARVING.  I don’t know why it seemed appealing…but this is what I went for:

Pears?  Really?!?!  My body is so weird at times.

So fast forwarding past the 2am pears, got up to teach RIPPED this morning, then quickly downed my protein shake…

And some coconut water, which you MUST read about here.

And now here I sit!  Since technically the shake was my breakfast post class (I cannot eat before a class, my stomach goes crazy!) I am enjoying a nice brunch @ Panera…while reading up on GaGa in the latest Vogue…

Jalapeno Bagel with Veggie Cream Cheese anyone?!

Pure, carby, goodness.

This should be more than enough to get me through the day!

I am going to a wedding tonight and need a fancy outfit.  Coming from the guy who wears workout clothes to WORK, I am obviously a little behind in the dressing up department.  Any tips on what to wear??? I’m going to hit the mall on the way home and see if anything strikes me.  I hate dressing up, but weddings mean one thing….CAKE.  For that, I am willing to wear anything. 🙂

I also foresee a nap in my future.  Exciting, eh?  Have a great Saturday guys!  ❤

 

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Embrace Your Inner Hippie.

I’m pretty much that was the theme of the day yesterday, which I love….love….LOVED!

We started our Asheville adventure bright and early and headed out, Mountain bound!

Ok, Ok.  Technically Asheville is only like an hour away…but you know I couldn’t resist some snacks for the road!

I was diggin’ on the Hermit’s!  Bought them because I knew Emily had enjoyed them, and said they reminded her of Christmas!  I am all about some Christmas tastes!  She was right!  Yum!

Maggie and I also split my FAVORITE bar pre-downtown festivities!

We were ready to shop!

There was one slight problem.  It was FAH-reezing.  Granted, it was sunny and glorious, but the wind made it feel like winter time!  Brrrr!  FAIL!

Despite the frigid weather, Asheville was beautiful!

We went from shop to shop trying to avoid the cold wind!  There were tons of unique little gift shops, and I must say….it was hard not to adapt the “hippy” frame of mind!  I was digging it!

Speaking of digging.  After walking around in the arctic tundra for a while, we finally found Greenlife Grocery!

(check us out in the reflection!)  This place was so much fun!

Very Earthfare-esque.  ❤

BOOTY!!!!  Too bad I have 3 un-opened bags.  😉

Also, check out this yumminess:

I just wanted to open my mouth underneath, and let the choco-peanut goodness start a’ flowin’.

I also grabbed one of my favorrrrrrite items, of which Ashlei introduced me to a couple of months back…

Coconut Butter anyone?!?!

After leaving the grocery store, we also spotted some killer graffiti.

Cause this is thriiiiiilllllllaaaaahhhh, thriiilllaaaaahhhh niiiight!

After shopping, braving the cold winds, and walking…it was time to eat!  This place was full of fun restaurants, but we decided to go with an ALL veggie option, which I knew was going to be an instant win.

Check out their website for more information!  This place used to be located under a YMCA…which warmed my heart that much more!

It was so overwhelming having an entire MENU to choose from rather than 2 or 3 options.  So nice!  I was literally torn on what to get!  The menu was so expansive and impressive.

My eyes kept floating back to one particular dish…

The waitress also told me since it was my first visit, I had to try their special jalapeno/onion french fries.  Sounded like a plan to me!

This was so good, I’m not even sure if words will suffice.  The root vegetables were cooked perfectly, and blended so well with the sauce.  Speaking of SAUCE….the light and almost buttery sauce covered the entire dish, and the wheat ciabatta underneath soaked it up like a flavor sponge.

Then there were the spicy fries:

Wow.

Spicy/Crispy peppers and onions = Tyler found his happy place.

Seriously, I am moving here.

Hippies….Vegetarian Eats….URBAN OUTFITTERS.

Dear Asheville, where have you been all my life?!?!?!

Sadly, it was time to head home, but not before hitting up their local Earth Feezy!

Where I picked up a nice Vegan Chocolate Chip cookie, for the road!

Check out the scenery!  Maggie and I were trying to determine what this chapel like structure was!  Still couldn’t figure it out.

Who knows.

By the time we got back home, I needed some caffeine replenishment.

I swear, there was coffee in there at some point.

Dinner time rolled around and we were both craving Indian food!  Sahib time!

We split the Aloo Gabi (Cauliflower), and the Baingan Bartha (Eggplant)

Deeeeee-licious.

Then, as if we hadn’t had enough excitement…we met up with our friend Melissa, and went to see the new Steve Carrel movie, Date Night.

Hilarious!!!

(now let us fast forward 8 hours, after Tyler finally gets to sleep.  Don’t you just love the magic of Blog-O-Vision?!)

Breakfast was a delicious and random mixture:

Best part was the strawberries the size of my FACE!

I started my bowl with some PB Puffins and Granola from the Feezy…

I then covered the dry mixture with rasp/strawberries and then covered in Almond Milk

Yummmmm. Cold cereal on hot days = love.  Poor Mr. Quaker is probably angry that I have been forgetting him as of late.

2 seconds later…

And *that* my friend….ends a pretty ADD/crazy post.  Hope you enjoyed.

It is sunny….Saturday, and gorgeous.  If you aren’t stuck inside working like I am, get out and enjoyyyyy it!

Mongolian Grill-ness.

It has been entirely too long since this blogger boy has indulged in some Chinese dinner goodness.

This is yet another example of how you can eat OUT, and still eat healthy in an all-to-easily unhealthy atmosphere.  Don’t get me wrong, this place was chocked full of the classic sodium-ridden buffets full of fried things that I didn’t even realize could be fried.  (corn….mussels…..SALMON?!?!)  If you ever get a chance to go to a Chinese/Japanese place with a Hibachi grill…go for it!  Totally delicious and healthy!

It was raw veggie heaven!

My bowl ready for action:

Broccoli

Cabbage

Squash/Zucchini

Mushrooms

Red Peppers

Pineapples

Topped with 3 spoonfuls of pineapple sauce, and it was grilled up!

From the “bar of doom” I grabbed a couple of pieces of sweet potato, and two small portions of Rice and Noodles.  Deeeeee-licious.

Resisted the urge to get dessert at the restaurant because I knew that Emily and I were grabbing TCBY before Starbizzle later.  Come on though, how could I resist this.

Thank you, cookie-sahn.

Once dinner was ovah, headed to Johnson City to meet Emily and Russel for some yogurt!

I wanted my fav-o-rite flava….but resisted:

9.5 times out of 10 I would hands down get this flavor, but I snuck in my own toppings:

Have I mentioned that I am currently obsessed with my dried Kiwi/Mango?!?!?!  It went perfectly with White Chocolate Mousse

C’mon people.

I then scurried over to Starbucks where we both currently sit!

Now, if you will excuse me…I have some Chess to attend to.  Hopefully tonight will be complete domination!!!!

Remember!!!  Tomorrow is the last day to enter for the FREE YOGURT PRIZE PACK!!!!

TGIS!

Hello bloggies, I hope that everyone is having a funtabulous weekend.  Mine got started out GREAT today!  Many reasons added to this feeling of joy, one of which being breakfast…

Mixed those two lovies, and then added some Yogurt…

Which, coincidentally, is the same yogurt you can win for FREE by entering here.  You get 4 free small containers, 1 free large container, and a super cute tote bag!  Enter, enter!  Voting closes midnight Sunday!

Cereal + Yogurt + Nana + Cinnamon = perfect start ‘o the day.

Raise your hands if you are jealous of the cheetah bowl.    ……..   thought so.

After I was properly fueled I found another reason to be excited:

This is honestly the most gorgeous day we have had all season!  Almost feels like spring time!  Felt good getting that Vitamin D!  Thank you, spherical ball of heat.

Headed to Johnson City for spin class, and was expecting the worst on the ole knee with two spin classes to teach back to back.  I was a good little Physical Therapy patient, and did all my stretched beforehand (those suckas take like 20 minutes!) and had NO knee pain in class!

One down, and one to go.  I was still a little nervous on the way to Spin #2…but my GaGa shades helped me conquer my fears…

Rocked it O-U-T in my second spin class.  Full, hot, sweaty, 110% effort.  Seriously a spin class for the books.  Yet again…NO knee pain.  It was incredible.  Friday morning I could hardly walk it hurt so bad…and after only 2 or 3 rounds of deep stretching/strength exercises for the weak hip, I had no pain!  I was elated.

After spin I headed down to Pan-izzle to pick up lunch to take back to work.

I got half the veggie sandwich…half the fuji apple chicken salad (no chicken!), and a whole grain baguette.

Oh bread, how I love thee.

So yummy.  Here is my short rant on Panera.

It is one of the few places I *trust* that I would consider fast food.  Not that long ago (in my carnivore days) I was eating only Chik-Fil-A as my “fast food” source thinking it was somewhat healthy.  Even the “healthy” options are loaded with sodium and preservatives.  Big let down.  While I know that Panera is not 100% organic, they do try to incorporate a multitude of organic items and their website has a nutritional calculator that is far and beyond any other I have found.  You can see all the ingredients plus SUBSTITUTE items, which I do very frequently.  Today I did a different bread and cheese then the normal sammie, so it was nice to get an accurate calorie count, while being picky.  😉

Dessert was involved, of course, and included my favorite dried fruit…Kiwi!  (a piece or two of mini Hershey’s may have somehow fallen into my mouth as well)

I worked away for a couple of hours, and now here I sit…enjoying my Trail Mix bagel with Natural PB (see, another reason to ❤ Panera)

What can I say, 2 hours of spin class really works up an appetite.  Although, I rarely need a “reason” to stuff my face with carbs.

Get out and ENJOY this lovely day people!  It’s a good one!

Enter in for that free yogurt, too!