It's over!

...or is it?

It's day 30. I forgot. I was thinking about ALL December, so I don't have an update on my goals. I'll try to get that figured out tomorrow.

As for January, I haven't given it a lot of thought, but I think I may do 30 Days of UFOs. (UnFinished Objects.) I have a few crafting and household projects that just need some finishing up... A good way to start out the year, right?

So, stay tuned for the results of my month of fitness, as well as my UFO goals - coming soon!

I love magazines.

Just picked up the latest issue of Runner's World... It's interesting to me how impressionable I am. I read the magazine and all of a sudden running is just the coolest thing ever! I need to remember this going forward this season when I'm trying to train for my half marathon. Anyway, another beauteous day (and my birthday) so in celebration I ran 3.3 miles. I know, technically since it's Wednesday I should be trying to achieve my '5 miles in 60 minutes' goal... But I just didn't want to run another lap and a half around the lake. Plus, then you're on the other side from where you parked and have to walk all the way back... Blah blah blah...

Besides... It's my birthday.

Beautiful day!

I missed (wussed) out on running yesterday - it was gorgeous. I was not about to let that happen today, so at noon I hit the pavement! And the snow! And the snowbanks! :)

My leg is still bothering me, so I didn't run as far as I would have liked. (I had planned on my 5k route from home, around the lake, and back again... But only made it down to the lake and back.) Still 30 minutes of activity and all... And I plan on doing it again tomorrow because it is supposed to be likewise lovely.

I did forget lip balm and tissues... Guess I can't let so much time pas in between runs from now on.

Learnings for today: apparently if school is not in session, it is not mandated that the sidewalks around such institutions are kept snow-free. Also, people who don't shovel after the plows have spilled more snow around are lame.

But it's almost Christmas!

Okay, so I haven't been terribly diligent this week. I have excuses!

1.) I did pull a muscle last weekend, and I have learned that sometimes you just have to take some time off.

2.) I have been booked solid all week! And thankfully so.

...Plus we got MORE snow last night, so today I got to shovel. Yeah, 'got to.' W00t.

I have been staying on top of my circuits, just not the running. So, I may not get my 5 miles in 60 minutes goal, but I feel like I can really get my pushups goal done. Besides, I have a whole week still, and most of that I have off from work. The past couple weeks have been really physical at the ol' job, and it's been tough to be motivated.

So, not a total loss yet... But I need to get back on it!

...and what for next month??

Curses!!

Well, in a sad effort to get back into my fitness regimen I attempted a half-assed circuit last night during SNL. I also went a little sale-crazy and purchased a new running shirt and full-length running tights. (I swear it was a really good sale.) Anyway, I made a deal with myself that I could keep them if I ran outside today. (Because, really... Do I need two pair of running tights? Really?). So I did. I ran outside and it was kind of glorious... But I fear I pulled my groin. Sometime during the loose snow, or the vaulting over the piles left by the plows, (Yeah. Vaulting.). So I'm wrapped up and icing as much as I can.

It's supposed to be more than 20 tomorrow, so I hope I can run outside a little!

(Running tights are also awesome for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing... Two activities I want to do soon!)

Gym Fail.

Aside from feeling kind of ooky and whiny... I tried 3 different treadmills and the TVs were being all weird and when I finally got one that would show Criminal Minds I realized it was the one where you can't bump up the volume and of course when I'm running all ultra-fast it gets kind of loud and with Criminal Minds you kind of NEED to be able to hear the dialogue plus it was a new episode so I couldn't even make up dialogue...

...I did run the first mile at my goal pace. But then I only held on for a total of 20 minutes. So then I hopped on the bike for 10 minutes, stretched and went home.

I was in bed with my kitties and The Sing Off (from Monday) on my iPad at 9pm.

...but at least I got my shovelling done. Finally.

Slacker.

So I haven't been to the gym since the snow... The extent of my cardio has been shoveling (20"!!!) but I did do my circuit at home last night during The Biggest Loser Finale.

No worries though... Back on the horse! There is still 2+ weeks left, and I am going to the gym tonight.

Now if I can get all my beautiful coworkers to stop bringing in delicious treats we might get somewhere.

This had better not be the dawn of...

...30 days of shoveling.

I did not sign on for that!

Still haven't gone to the gym today, but the plows didn't show until 4. Plus I decided 30 minutes of moving snow as deep as my waist was enough cardio and weight training for the day.

Yes, I did then consume some holiday treats... But you've gotta live sometime, right?

Besides, after tomorrow everything should be back to normal.

In spite of the pain in the neck this weekend has been.. I [heart] snow very much. Yay, Minnesota winter!

It keeps snowing... and snowing... and snowing...

Yesterday:
Goal: 30 minutes running
Diversion: Outside! Snow! Nature!
Result: 30 minutes, 1.9 miles
Learnings: It was pretty fun... mixed up my usual route and set myself up for a couple short hills. I did learn from my last excursion -- I had chapstick in one pocket, and a kleenex in the other. However, I learned that more than one kleenex is a good plan.

Today:
Goal: 30 minutes on the bike, plus my circuit
Result: Helllooooo, snow! How about a mid-storm shoveling of 10-12 inches? Yeah, that's right... MID-storm. It's disheartening to shovel only to see your sidewalk re-covered by the time you finish. Plus it took 2 hours and my dad's help to dig my car out and move it 2 blocks to avoid towing from the snow emergency tonight. Secretly I wish I had snowshoes. I saw someone out skiing this morning while I was shoveling -- it looked like fun! Anyway, I feel as though I've gotten a bit of a workout today. Plus I get an off day, so today might be it!

Moving Right Along...

So, yesterday...

Goal: 60 minutes on the treadmill, and 5 miles?
Diversion: Criminal Minds
Result: 60 minutes, 4.75 mile (.25 miles more than last week!)
Learnings: Still super annoyed by earbuds... Pulled them out 3 times, plus they get all slurry and slip out when my ears are sweaty. (Ear sweat. Now THAT is hot.) I am really cruising toward my5 mile goal, and it wasn't even that hard! I'm feeling good about my training schedule - I feel like it's letting me add mileage without making it not fun. I also ran 5k in less than 39 minutes, which is a PR for me. I may reach my sub-30 5k goal by the new year!

Today is the bike and circuit training, which I plan to do at home while I bake cupcakes for my coworker's birthday. Awesome.

Hippo-palooza!

Okay, so I know that technically the 30 Days of Creativity are over... but some things are just too good to let go. PLUS, one of my activities from November blossomed from one custom apron into NINE custom aprons. Soon my work will grace the employees of the Hyppo (gourmet popsicle shop) in St. Augustine, FL. I sewed up 9 of these suckers this weekend... got them in the mail today. They turned out so awesome!!

(Also, because I had to get them all done and packaged up and in the mail today I did NOT go to the gym yesterday. So, I missed my biking -- but I did do my circuit at home after the frenzy of sewing and packing and addressing.)

Day Six!

Yesterday: Technically my "off" day... but since I didn't do my circuit on Saturday, I did it today! The beautiful thing is that it doesn't require gym equipment, so I did it at home! Woot! (And Reuben helped. Not really.)

Today: 30 minutes on the treadmill
Goal: 30 minutes. And, eventually, maybe 5k?
Diversion: Scott Pilgrim... because it was not a good time of day for cable.
Result: 35 minutes, about 2.5 miles
Learnings: I am really excited for cordless earbud technology. Errr, affordable cordless earbud technology. I pulled the bug out of my left ear at least 6 times during the run. Lame.

Day Four!

Yesterday's Activity: None
Excuses: Okay, so it snowed. One might think that Minnesotans would be capable of dealing with a couple inches of the white, fluffy stuff. One would be wrong. After spending 2 1/2 hours in the car to travel less than 10 miles... plus having a "challenging" day at work... I was done. And I was feeling kind of crummy and achy, so I drugged myself up and went to bed. I think it was the right choice.

Today (so far!): Running outside!
Goal: Not to freeze, or throw in the towel too early.
Diversion: A beautious winter snowscape, and my Nano.
Result: 24 minutes, about 1.5 miles
Learnings: Running in snow is hard! Big kudos to the folks clearing the snow along Wheelock Parkway -- nice job. The feeling that your running tights are going to fall down is quite disconcerting.I was pleased to be correctly dressed -- I didn't freeze. I also have the best snow-running ensemble ever -- all black! So, I won't be running in the dark.

I may still do my planned workout later today, but I am glad that I took the time to try the outdoor running.

Day Two!

...and I already was whining. But I thought, A) it's only the second day, what kind of wuss am I? and B)... well, I forget what B was but it got me to the gym.

Yesterday's activity: 1 hour on the treadmill
Goal: 5 miles
Diversion: Criminal Minds
Result: 4.5 miles (up .25 miles from last week, so I think my goal is attainable!); 800 calories.
Learnings: It is unfortunate when the show you are watching causes you to get a little choked up when you are already wheezing a little from the exertion. (Also, I was able to do 30 "girlie" pushups in under 20 minutes so I may have to amend my goal to be "real" pushups.)

Today's activity: 30 minutes on the bike, circuit training
Goal: 30 minutes, complete circuit before getting booted out by a class
Diversion: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Result: 30 minutes attained -- SPvtW is a good diversion (and good for another 3 sessions!), circuit completed without cutting anything short; 480 calories.
Learnings: Was way too thirsty (undermedicated) and drank way too much fluids before the workout. It made biking a bit uncomfortable and my ab work too (especially the stupid plank.) Also forgot my arm band for my Nano 'cause I had to load Cee-Lo on my Running playlist. Annoying (but worth it.)

My Final Day!

And not very exciting...

I decided that December should be a commitment to me and my fitness... mostly so when all the newbies show up at the gym in January I can look down my nose at them.

So today I created my fitness plan for the month of December.

My goals will be:
Lose 4 pounds. (Seems realistic - what with the treat overload I'm anticipating for the month.)
Be able to run 5 miles in under 60 minutes.
Be able to run 5k (3.1 miles) in under 30 minutes.

Also, for fun... the Army Fitness Requirements:
45 pushups in 2 minutes (yes, I'm counting the girly kind with my knees bent.)
76 situps in 2 minutes (with my back issues, not sure if this is happening.)
2 miles run in 16 minutes.

I'm also hoping that some snow will show up, because I'd like to do some winter fun "cross training" including: ice skating, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing.

Here goes!!

Me and Trader Joe's

...make a great team for pasta!

I picked these tortelloni up (pesto stuffed) from Trader Joe's. In a fortuitous twist of fate, the unidentified container I chose to thaw from the freezer (freezer roulette, anyone?) was pasta sauce!

The pasta was super easy -- put in boiling water for 4-6 minutes and done! And re-heating the sauce was a piece of cake, too.

And both tasty... and timely. I was only able to make it through a couple days of the pumpkin curry soup (it became more and more potent the longer it stewed in the fridge.)

In The Works!

So the only thing that really keeps me on-task with stitching is if what I'm making is a gift -- so here's the most recent! I think it's adorable.

Pumpkin!!! Soup!

It doesn't look like much. For sure. (A lot like baby food.) But my dear friend baked and pureed pie pumpkins this year. She was nice enough to give me some, so I made some Pumpkin Curry soup! This is my first creamy-type soup... I've done stuff with broth before but this was exciting. It's all pumpkin, with sauteed yellow onion and garlic. And curry powder, of course. (Maybe a little tooooo much.)

Another apron!

I must have done the pleating a little differently on this one... it seems longer, but I think that's because it's not as "poofy" at the bottom... strange. I guess that's what make hand-made special! You just never know if your math is going to be right! :)

Turkey Hand!

Classic.

Pasta!

Inspired by an incredibly garlicky entree at The Cheesecake Factory, I was looking to make a pasta with a very simple sauce (olive oil) and lots of my favorite vegetables.

I love the slice 'n' dice process, so I started with tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers (orange, yellow, and red,) mushrooms and (of course) garlic.

The result was so pretty!! But not very flavorful... I need to do more research on herbs/spices for the next time.

Cheesecake!?

Something I have always enjoyed... but secretly feared. I mean, not that a cheesecake would come for me o my sleep or anything -- more feared its creation. But this was going to be it! My attempt to make a cheesecake. First, some backstory...

I saw a recipe called "Maple Cheesecake with Baked Pears" (with a picture, of course. I can't tell you how many recipes I pass over, though I'm sure they're delicious, because there's no picture. A picture will get me every time!) and knew it was the one. I talked about it at work, and one of my coworkers said I simply HAD to make it (and bring it in for everyone to eat, of course.) I said I'd love to, but unfortunately I didn't own a springform pan... of course, she did and said she's try to remember to bring it in for me to use. Now, were this me it would mean I hoped that I would remember to get it to work within the next week or two... or month. But no, she brought it the next day. No pressure, right?

Anyway... today was the day. I was not as successful doing the press-in crust as I would have hoped. I need to do some research on a better method for that. It was uneven, and therefore baked unevenly... it didn't go halfway up on the sides like it was supposed to... etc. Also the pears weren't cut very consistently, so they didn't bake very evenly. Next time.

I think it turned out awfully pretty, and I hope it tastes good, too!!

Here comes Turkey Day!

So I admit it... I love the cranberry sauce from a can. That Ocean Spray whole-berry is delicious and sculptural! BUT... for the past two years I've tried to broaden the horizons of my extended family by making cranberry sauce from scratch.

Behold, my super-delicious cranberry pomegranate sauce! It also features a granny smith apple and an orange. And a cinnamon stick (but I recommend removing it before serving.)

I only made a half-recipe this year... both because cranberries were a ridiculous $2.50 per bag (ouch) but also because I just finally finished all the leftovers I froze from last year. I know it's a novelty, and it will never replace the ribbed mold of the can -- but I try!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Dala Horses!!!

In hindsight... I probably should have gone for something more muffin-shaped. Something portable and freezable -- but these lovelies can certainly come to work with me.

The pans are from IKEA -- it's funny because I don't have any normal loaf pans, so it's dala-shaped or nothing.

The mini chocolate chips are just a little extra something-something to tip the scale from "bread" to "dessert."

Yum.

Eggselent!

Started today off right... with a tasty omlette! This is not my usual breakfast fare (now with the cold weather I usually go for oatmeal) but the nice thing about weekend mornings is that you have a little more time t be creative.

Anyway, this ended up being a sort of "clean out the fridge" omlette... some leftover pico de gallo, some meatless Italian sausage, green onion and cheese! It was taaasty!

It's a Seeeecret!

I made something today... But it's for a gift, so I cannot reveal it.

I also created a digital copy of my Scott pilgrim vs the World so I can carry it with me constantly only iPad.

A Craft from the Past!

When I was thinking about the "rules" for this month I kind of ruled out anything I did at work, since my job is kind of "creative." However, since this was kind of an "above-and-beyond" project, and it's a bit nostalgic, I decided I could use it anyway.

So, I remember waaaaaaay back to a faboo craft called "Perler Beads." You've got these little tube-shaped beads, and pegged grids -- you arrange them into shapes, and then lay wax paper over the top. Add a hot iron, and the beads melt together making shapes!

Teh awesome.

I like the orange the best... though it just made me want to make other fruits, and PacMan, and Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde. Oh, and all the Mario stuff... 1UP mushrooms, etc.

A Custom Order!

One of my favorite things about my Etsy shop is getting emails from people that have bought my stuff and are sooooo excited about it. Today I got to fill my first custom order -- a woman in Florida who wanted an grown-up version of my hippo apron for kids. Apparently, her friend works at a popsicle shop called the "Hyppo" and wears an apron while he works... SO... It will be a nice birthday surprise, I hope.

I also hope it looks a little more attractive on her friend than it does on my dress form. Eep.

Chilly Means Chili!!

I love chili. Well... my chili. I don't really like beans much. And I only use vegetables. And nothing canned, only fresh (well, okay the beans I *do* use are canned, but one day I might get dried and reconstitute them. Maybe.) And I don't like cumin, so I don't add that. Can I even call it chili? (I do use chili powder!)

Anyway... it's cold and chili is delicious. Plus it's easy! (Coming from someone who lives the "slice and dice" part of ay food prep the best.) Zucchini, and squash, and onion, and carrot, and tomato... and anything else I scrape together from the fridge.

This batch turned out especially well! (The only thing that could have possibly made it better was corn.) I can't wait to have it for lunch this week!

Afghan in Progress

I was at my parent's house the other day and my mom was crocheting and watching the game... and I thought "I haven't crocheted since last winter! I should get on that." So I did.

As can be expected, with my addiction to bags in general and wish to have every little accoutrement for my hobbies, I have this wicked-awesome crochet bag with places for 6 yarn skeins, plus scissors and hooks. And the pockets for the skeins have eyelets inside to thread the yarn through! I know. Awesome.

The reason why crocheting afghans in the winter is super-awesome, is that as you keep working the afghan keeps you warm while you make it!

Applesauce!!

I love apples. Nom nom nom. Unfortunately, I'm a little particular about them. My favorite apple is probably Jazz, and of course I love Honeycrisp. Sometimes neither are available at the ol' grocery store though, so I have to branch out. This past week was one of those -- unfortunately it was a fail. Bummer.

However, know what's also yummy? Applesauce! And it hardly matters whether the apple is all crisp, which is what I look for, 'cause it gets all warm and mushy anyway.

Anyway, this batch was lovey and tastes great in my morning oatmeal!

...and Cakes!

So, usually I'm a cupcake baker. Easy, cute, portable... and when you make them the way I do (box o' cake mix plus one can of diet soda) they're relatively low-calorie.

Anyway, I decided to mix it up today and make a CAKE instead... my first one! It was just your basic white cake mix, so I decided to sprinkle in some mini chocolate chips to add some excitement. The frosting is just your basic vanilla (and it looks like I may have sampled a little too much, 'cause the frost job is a little thin in spots.)

I was wishing I had extra so I could try some fancy piping on it... but it's safely tucked away in the fridge so I won't eat it.

Cupcakes!!

Oh, cupcakes are so cute. And delicious. These ones aren't edible, so much... but still cute! They started life as a kitchen towel, but it was a quick snip and stitch to get them into apron shape.

Warm and Toasty!

(...even when you don't exactly follow the instructions right!)

Okay, so the book "One Yard Wonders" is awesome because: A) It's written by a local author and part-owner of Crafty Planet -- one of my fave craft shops. Also, B) every project in it can be done with one yard of fabric or less! (However, let's face it... not everyone can actually wear a shirt or skirt made with only one yard. Nor should they.)

I was flipping through it because I was looking for a replacement for my exploded hot/cold pack, and voila! A pattern for a pack and an obi-style belt. I didn't care much about the belt, I just wanted something I could thrown in the microwave (like, NOW) to put on my aching neck.

In spite of following the directions wrong, the pack works just fine! It's filled with whole flax seed (organic, though that matters not) but I could also have used rice. I'll be tackling it again (the right way) to make the whole project... but it was a great, fast solution!

It's Wednesday!

And I will be stitching! But I'm not posting another photo of the project, 'cause it looks pretty much the same. I'm just not very speedy.

My new project of the week will be sewing a hot/cold pack! Last night, the gel pack I'd been using (and abusing) finally burst. Icky gel stuff all over. Yuck. However, I found a pattern for a hot/cold pack using rice or flax seed... and heaven knows I've got fabric to spare!

Pictures will be forthcoming!

More Ribbon Fun!

Today was beautiful, and gorgeous. My lawn mower would not start (again. Still.) so I went for a run, instead! It was a great day for it, and my body was ache-and-pain-free for once.

Of course, that cut into craft time, so I stiched together a few more of the ribbon blankets I prepped the other day. SO much fun! I like the monkeys especially.

In other news, two of my monthly creations have sold from my Etsy shop! Oh the joy. It's one thing to finally see yards and yards of fabric turned into what you envisioned them to be -- and something completely different to see them leave your house!

It will be so wonderful when my tote of projects is empty. Here's hoping!

It's been a week!

And in celebration... something that's NOT an apron!














Another thing I started making (though due to some apparent patent infringement I cannot sell on Etsy) are these adorable ribbon blankets. I've read that they're great for the sensory development of babies, and they love sucking on the different ribbons and discovering textures.... blah, blah, blah.

It's really a great excuse to buy adorable flannels and fleeces!!!

I have a lot of fabric waiting to meet this end, as well.

(And owls are apparently VERY in, in my world.)

Playing Catch-up!

Sometimes you know that you're just not going to have time to do the things you want to. Thankfully, I wasn't able to craft every day because I was doing other fun, awesome things. SO, I figured if I had a net gain of +3 crafts for Friday-Sunday... that would still keep it as a craft/day.
(And I did MAKE a pig of myself on popcorn on Friday night at "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.")















So, it's 3 more aprons! (Actually, 6... I had supplies to make 2 of each style.) I'm really enjoying seeing all this fabric actually become something... not just take up space in a drawer.

I do have to confess that a trip to JoAnn was required -- I am starting with only things from my stash, but when you run out of the matching thread or coordinating trim, you gotta get more. But only what I need... okay, and maybe there was a cute remnant that I picked up to make another apron. :)

It's a sickness! I know!

Cook it up!

(Okay... not cooking, per se... Cut it up? Maybe?)

So, today I hemmed some curtains. (Finally. I hung them up in July, 'cause you know otherwise I would just have them sitting around in the package. So I hung them up, even though they were too long.) They are pre-packaged sheer panels, and I still have to sew the actual curtains. We'll see if that gets done this month -- It's just hard to find room to cut and pin 9-foot panels in my teeeny house. I think I may have to go off-site.

So, there's a farewell potluck for a couple of my coworkers tomorrow... It's hard to do potlucks at work, 'cause they always want you to sign up and tell what you're going to bring -- only I have no idea what I'm going to bring until I make it. So, tonight I made some of my signature pico de gallo (or as my family affectionately call it... "pinko.") I find such satisfaction in cutting things into teeny teeny pieces. The ol' slice and dice. This is a perfect dish for that!

What will tomorrow bring? I know for sure I'm planning on MAKING a pig of myself by eating a ton of popcorn at the Riverview while I watch "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World." That'll probably be it! :)

Stitching!

So, here's my secret. I cross-stitch. The thing is, unless it's got some sort of deadline (wedding, birth, etc.) it's not going to get done. My stitching process is an eternal one.

So, anyway... here's what I'll be working on today. Why today? Because today is my weekly night at Stitch and Bitch. Every Wednesday, I gather with a group of 3 or 6 or however many people can show up... we eat, and chat, and stitch. We watch movies sometimes, too.

(Though occasionally we neither stitch, nor bitch... but we're flexible that way.)

Also... I didn't have my camera with me, so my cell phone had to stand in. (It looked much better in person.)

A variety!

So... I made many things today.

1. I made myself go for a run. (Okay, a jog.)

2. I voted! W00t! (I'm trying to CREATE change! Right?)














3. I completed another apron. (I confess, though... while digging around in my craft stuff yesterday I found it nearly completed! I'm not quite sure why I didn't take it that last few steps...)

Day One!

Meet my "Hoot" apron! I actually did a lot of the prep work for this yesterday -- and it still took a while to do!

I'm a little concerned that I might have bitten off a bit more than I can handle -- at least on the week days!

Anyway, I already decided that anything I sew has to use fabrics and notions that I already own... I have SO MUCH fabric. I actually bought this fairly recently, and only because I had a coupon. (And it is SO CUTE!) The bias tape on the bottom is way thinner than I am used to, and it kind of freaked me out. Pinning it on was probably the most time-intensive part of this project.

As an added bonus, some of the things I'm creating will be available for purchase in my Etsy Store!

Looking ahead for the week, I expect some baking might happen... but otherwise it just might be a bunch of aprons!

(I think I may need a plan.)

Welcome!!

So, since I'm gong to try doing this "30-days of _________" thing, it was recommended I have one blog for the whole kit-n-caboodle. So, here it is! I'll try the wonders of tagging to keep them all straight. I may even transfer all my biking and vegetarian-ing posts on here!

Enjoy! Tommorrow starts "30 Days of Creativity!"

The Last Day!

...Halloween candy is vegetarian!!

Looking back on the month... Not too much was different. I had some challenges when going out to eat, and eating at other folks' homes. I had a lot of "what?" and "why?"

I had some... "but chicken is okay, right?" and "but you still eat fish."

And the best one: "You can just eat around the meat."

I don't know how my health was impacted (but I did have some blood tests done toward the end, so we'll see if anything has changed) but I do know it was easier to keep my weight even in spite of not biking every day.

I would do it again! ...But I'm glad I can choose to do it.

For Your Consideration...

Bike, I want you to know that I keep you in mind in so many facets of my life.

For example, when I bought my new car I found one where you can RIDE INSIDE.

Yeah, that's right.

No more rain. No more road-spray.

You, and me, in air-conditioned comfort.

I might even let you pick the radio station.

My new favorite...

...and I'm sad to think that vegetarians hear this all the time...

"Just eat around the meat!"

Disappointment!

Yeah, my day was so perfectly timed out... Work, stay late for a meeting, then off to REI for my cold-weather biking class.

...except the class was NOT 7-8, as I had recorded in my calendar -- but instead 6-7:30!!

I was uber-disappointed.

I'm not concerned that my season of biking is over (though after the weather of late I was feeling doubtful)... But I would have liked to know what I was (potentially) getting into.

...Perhaps I'll get a second chance!

Seriously, Applebees?

Not a single one of your entrees is meat free?

Even the salads?

And your cheese quesadilla has bacon?

Oh, Applebees... You are such a disappointment.

Reunited...

...and it feels so good! Had a great ride today... Just around the lake and the neighborhood. The sunlight is so unbearably short now (pesky job) so I felt a bit rushed... But the whistle of the wind through my helmet was awesome.

I've got a cold weather biking class coming up next week... It's at least a start to see how hard-core I'm willing to be this winter.

Did we break up?

I assure you, we're still an item.

I know you lose count of the times I walk past you... not looking or acknowledging you in any way. Being silent as though I don't want anything to do with you. I haven't checked your tire pressure, or taken you for a spin around the block.

...but I still love you. And now that life has decided to take a little break, I think we can work on our relationship again. In fact, it sounds like tomorrow is summer's final farewell, and I think we deserve a little ride.

Just you and me.

Missing the Meats?

Not really.

In fact, this week I have been suspiciously unmolested by meats.

It helps that I've been working at the crack of dawn, and then been at rehearsal until really late... no opportunity for meat to sneak into my life. Just my bag lunches and bag dinners.

I've also had a gross cold all week, and nothing really tastes right, you know?

I'm looking forward to my final week of vegetarianism... I'm going to really comb the recipe archives for something special!

Week Three!

The weather is (finally) getting a little cooler, so I threw together veggie chili for lunch this week. I was so tired and wiped out after being out of town all weekend, and then dealing with crazy stuff for the theatre... But it was so nice to take the time to slice-n-dice veggies and making something delicious.

Plus I'm in charge of all my food this week, so temptation should be at a minimum!

So few?

So tonight I was at the fancy-pants President's Dinner for Homecoming... I thought to myself, "oh, no! I wasn't vegetarian when I RSVP'd for this event... I hopeI can get a veggie entree!" (Of course, If I wasn't able to, I could just eat around the chicken.

It turned out it wasn't a problem... But I did overhear our waitstaff telling another member of the table (who IS vegetarian) that only FOUR people had asked for the veggie entree.

Four.

I swear there were at least 450 people in the room. What is that - 1%? (I guess that would be 4.5 people... But I'd probably be the .5, eh?)

And just when I thought I was home free... TURTLE cream pie for dessert! Can I even eat that?!

I did. :)

A Blast from the Past

I'm back on campus for my 10-year college reunion. When I registered, I didn't know I was going to be 'playing vegetarian' at the time. Oddly though, none of the registration info requested my response for food preferences... In any case, one of the coolest things I got to do for the first time in a decade was eat lunch at Big Creek Market. It's an organic, co-op-y place that also serves homemade soup and bread. It opened my sophomore year, and I ate a lot of tasty food there over the years. Today I had some super-tasty vegetable soup and the most delicious (warm!) bread I swear I've ever had.

I also picked up some adorable items prime for the upcoming gift-giving season.

Soon I'll be going to one of the local bars... (Which is something I've never done. Not even 10 years ago.) ButI'll be armed with a granola bar or two, in case the snacks are on the meaty side. :)

Bikes Everywhere!

So I'm back to the ol' college campus for my 10-year reunion. Now, my college is not large. Also, it's on top of a hill. (The top of the chapel is the highest point in the county!). Now, when I was a student, I'm sure there were bikes on campus. It's inevitable, right? And maybe I'm more attentive now with my new-found love of biking... But seriosuly, folks. Whaddya need bike on campus for? I walked 'all the way downtown' this afternoon and it took all of 5 minutes.

There are a TON.

AND a lot of kids with headphones on, not talking to anyone. What's the world coming to?

Oh, the carnage!!

(Is it still considered carnage if there's no meat?)

Anyway, a belated celebratory birthday dinner tonight at the Tavern Grill in Blaine (sister, brother, or near cousin to the Tavern on France in Edina.) They are famous for their "build your own" options (salad, pizza, burger, and bloody mary.) I'm usually a pizza girl, but wanted to try something new... unfortunately most of their standard fare off the menu is meaty. So, build-your-own-burger it is! They have two veggie options -- a veggie patty they make themselves, or a portabello mushroom. I was feeling adventurous, but not huge-mushroom adventurous, so I opted for the veggie patty. I could visually identify black beans and corn, without looking too closely... but then the whole thing fell apart. Literally. Hence, the carnage.

Hmmm. Perkins.

Ended up at Perkins for a celebratory birthday brunch this morning.

If you're not into breakfast stuff, Perkins is not the most veggie-friendly place. Aside from pie, of course.

The shame was, for dinner I went to Bad Waitress in Minneapolis, and all I really wanted was their seasonal pancake selection: Apple Crisp!! I opted for a very tasty veggie sandwich instead, and my dining companion got the pumpkin pancakes - which are divine - and let me steal a few bites.

I'll be returning for the Apple Crisp pancakes. Oh, yes.

Grrrrr...

Today was beautiful.

Gorgeous.

(Okay, a little on the warm side for October, I admit.)

I wanted to go for a ride SO BAD... But my schedule was just way too packed. I mean, I had a great time with all my stuff but... I missed the zoom and wind.

I love lettuce!

Or at least I'd better...

Dining at other peoples' homes is a challenge! (Especially when they don't know in advance you've spontaneously decided to be a vegetarian for a month.) You don't know what you're in for, and you don't want people to feel bad!

Today I ate a lot of lettuce.

Chafe much?

So I can't be sure if it is chafing.

It seems unlikely that I would experience that joy now, as opposed to sometime during my 30 straight days of biking.

But it is a mite uncomfortable.

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled program...

There was a time when I would feel silly driving to the mall to use a coupon. The time, the gas, etc. etc.. Strangely, when I'm riding my bike to the mall to use a coupon - it felt fine! And how great to use it as an excuse.

10 miles today.. To the mall, to Stitch & Bitch, and home again!

Veggie Curry!

...may have given me horrible indigestion. Or food poisoning.

I'm not sure, but I'm kind of wary to eat it again - I spent much of the day feeling like someone was stabbing me in the stomach.

Teh fun!

I may try again...but not until I don't have to go to work super early. :)

Back In The Saddle!

I am feeling so blessed that we're having such beautiful weather. I did take the past couple days off, but the sight of my bike sitting in my dining room day after day grew too much to resist! Today's ride was a pretty low-key jaunt to the library, where I leafed through all the 2009 back issues of Bicycling magazine. I think I may have found a bike to consider buying... But not until next season.

Right now I'm really on the fence about winter biking... Do I go for it? Will it be worth investing in the extra gear to discover I don"t really want to do it at all? Should I put that money toward a trainer instead, and bike my little heart out in my basement all winter?

These are difficult choices... besides, winter offers so many new and fun activities. I'd really like to try snowshoeing, or get back into cross country skiing... And there's always shoveling. Great card workout there.

Here's hoping the snow stays away for a while 'til I figure this out.

Monday, Monday...

The veggie version of Betty Crocker's Hamburger Stroganoff was acceptable. Not as awesome as I remember, but that could be time coloring the memory. I was going to try out a new veggie curry recipe tonight, but first I have to track down red curry paste. (I've only ever used curry powder before, and my local market didn't have any. I'll have to do some treasure hunting!)

My next challenge will be my Wednesday night Stitch and Bitch. Do I eat beforehand? Do I bring food?

This is challenging.

The First Temptation!

I was feeling pretty good about this challenge, 'cause I don't cook a lot with meat anyway. My friend and I were talking, and she asked what might be a 'deal breaker'... What meat-based food would I do anything to eat? I thought my mom's pork chops, probably... But what I didn't think of was: Hamburger Stroganoff!! I love it, and of course it's what my mom is making for dinner tonight.

Not that I have to eat at my folks' house, but I'm certainly not above a free meal.

So, this will be my first test! Can I re-create my beloved Betty Crocker Hamburger Stroganoff recipe in vegetarian form?

We shall see...

No Soup for You!

Veggie Day Two!

Today I ran into my first Veggie hurdle... I was stopping at a cute soup and salad place for lunch. When I left my house to run my 5k race this morning, it was 41 degrees. 41! And though the race had passed, and the temp had moved up to a balmy mid-50's or so... soup sounded wonderful. So I jumped in line, grabbed a lemon bar (Yum. Not meaty.) and built a tasty veggie sammo on wheat. Then the soups... Chicken Pot Pie, German Sausage, or Clam Chowder.

Vegetarian Fail.

Ah, well. The sandwich was yummy, and drowning my sorrows in a lemon bar was perfectly satisfying.

Vegetarian FAIL!

Welcome to October... Also known as Vegetarian Awareness Month!

So, in celebration, I've decided to pledge to be Vegetarian for the month.

Today was day one.

Because I have a near and dear friend who is a vegetarian, I've had some help in making this decision and also sticking to it. Yesterday she asked me, 'what about gelatin?" I was pretty sure it wouldn't be a big issue. I probably wouldn't even run into any gelatin-y foods. Wrong.

Starbursts have gelatin! So do marshmallows... But that was a little more obvious, and I blame my newbie status on that error.

So. Not bad. My first day and I screw it up (potentially.) I guess I've decided that gelatin is okay, but I'll try to be more conscious of it going forward.

As for today's nummy veggie foods: Said friend and I went to the Herkimer in Minneapolis to enjoy a veggie entree and FREE dessert! (In celebration of World Vegetarian Day.). I had a fabulous veggie sandwich on foccacia, and a pumpkin bread pudding. Yummo.

Final Day...

...but not my final ride!

The day is gorgeous, and once again I'm wishing I'd pretended to be busy instead of signing on to do something during the waning daylight hours. Ah, well. I still hopped on the bike to cruise around a while.

So, here I am sitting in the shade... Bike by my side... Wearing my clever bike-related shirt... And listening to my iPod through the speakers in my helmet. I am SO getting my bike-geek on right now.

Here's hoping fall decides to hang around a while longer.

Oh! And in a beautifully timed delivery, my uber awesome W00T shirt arrived today...

Behold the Biking Viking!!!!!

A Day Not All About Biking

Unfortunately, I am not awesome enough to run a 5.8k trail race AND have awesome biking adventures. I only biked far enough to secure internets for this posting. However, the trail race was teh awesome.

I can't believe that tomorrow is the last day of my "30 Days of Biking" adventure! I can say for sure that I won't be waiting for the next pledge to bike again... I plan on biking at least until the snow flies. I'm also super excited to see if they will do this again in April.

Looking ahead... Keep an eye out for my upcoming blog... I just pledged to be a Vegetarian for the month of October! That's right, it's "Vegetarian Awareness Month."

I hope I can think up a clever blog title.

Gateway Trail: Vegetarians Beware!

(Unless eating bugs doesn't really count as "meat." Or, if you can bike with your mouth closed. Apparently this is not a skill I posses.)

Ride Report: Gateway Trail
Where: Trail Head at Cayuga in St. Paul to trail closed area in North St. Paul
Distance: 12 miles
Weather: Partly Sunny, 63 degrees (quite a sight better than the Tater Tour.)

As a "reward" for having to get up at 3:30 again for work... and the resulting 1:15 release time... I decided to try to get a bigger bike in today. (Tomorrow I have race #3 in my Trail Race series and I think I may beg off the biking for my body's sake.) ... (Okay, and maybe I went a little overboard with the chocolate chip mini-muffins at work and felt like I needed to burn off some major unnecessary calories.) My dad has been singing the praises of the Gateway Trail for years (as an in-line skater) but I had never been... Until today!

What a nice ride! I think my favorite part was recognizing the roads as I passed over/under them and having a mental driving map. The best part though was topping the crest of a hill and seeing the North Saint Paul Snowman! I had gone much farther than I expected.

I have mixed feelings about the fact that the trail was closed not much further along... I feel like I could have ridden more, but I was also afraid I'd get too involved and find myself in Stillwater calling for a ride back to my car.

Probably my least favorite part was the removing of various bugs from my clothing and glasses that had been crushed to death by my high velocity. (This might also rank as the most AWESOME part.)

Sock Report: Light pink and fuschia... knee-high of course.

Oh AND.... I couldn't believe I'd been biking for 28 days with a video camera. My iPod does video. I could have been sharing fabulous videos all month! Ah, well. Here's 25 seconds of riding bliss. It's like you're RIGHT THERE with me!

A case against air fresheners...

...specifically those tree-shaped ones:

On my way to the library today I happened upon one in the road. I was clipping along at a fairly good pace -- and I could smell it! It was like a sickly-sweet cloud. I can't imagine it's power in an enclosed space like a car. Gross.

Today's a fun bike day. I have a bike maintenance class tonight at REI, so I decided to make a couple stops on the way. I'm currently at the library (and for the third time have forgotten my library card. It used to make SO much sense to keep it in my car! If I was at the library, my car was at the library... Except now that's not always the case. I think I may suggest that they distribute a cute keychain version of your library card - you know, for convenience.) And soon I will embark on a journey to JoAnn Fabrics, and maybe Goodwill, and perhaps Half Price Books (depending on how much time I have to kill.)

And in case you're wondering: Yes, I am wearing striped knee-highs.

Only 3 days of awesome biking fun left!!

Maybe striped socks are my 'thing'...

Wore them again today... Mostly because I decided today's ride didn't need to be all 'hard core.' So I just threw a pair of shorts on under my skirt and took a little ride around Como Lake. I wasn't the only one taking advantage of the beautiful evening, which is awesome. Except that means a lot of non-bike people on the bike only trail. Because of that, I opted not to go around more than once, but instead took a more scenic route through the neighborhood. It was nice! Tomorrow night I have a bike maintenance class at REI that I am considering biking to - though the bike home will be in the dark.

We shall see what I feel up to! Only 4 days left!!

Tater Tour! Ride Recap...

What: Tater Tour 2010
Where: Three Rivers District, Maple Grove
Distance: 25 miles!
Weather: Cold, a little rainy at the start

Critter sightings: 8 squirrels, 9 dogs (8 on leash, one staring forlornly out a patio window), 1 bunny.
Bike riders I passed: 6
Bike riders I passed dressed correctly for the weather: 6 (I may be faster, but I'm not smarter.)
Number of sticks kicked up to smack me in the shin: 1 (and one is enough.)
Number of inches of water on the section of the trail that is "prone to flooding": 3-4

I came, I saw, I biked! It was chilly, and a little rainy (though it stopped the actual raining about 5 miles in I think.) I was well-dressed in lots of layers, which I was pretty proud of -- but I didn't really have any rain protection to speak of. There weren't a lot of folks out and about, so it was mostly a solo ride -- which was nice! The 2 hours went by amazingly fast, and aside from some serious annoyance at my iPod skipping... it was pretty pleasant. It would have been an amazing ride if the weather would have cooperated.

Wrapping up the ride with a baked potato and a root beer float was pretty close to heavenly!

(No one else was sporting striped knee-highs, you can bet.)

Victory!!!

I have a destination for my ride today... REI!

Why??

Because (miraculously) my cycling shorts arrived today! I will pick them up, and had a nice cushy ride tomorrow.

Thank goodness. :)

Here comes the sun? Maybe?

It's taunting me right now.

Peeks of sun, then BAM! Cloud cover.

The small square of sky showing out the basement window is blue... But I'm going to stay down here a while longer and hope for the best.

I really do want to get a dry-run (bike?) in with my cold-weather gear. I'm excited to get my arm-warmers out and about... and pick out an appropriate pair of crazy knee-high socks to protect my ankles from blustery winds.

...I don't really have a rain plan though. Which would be wise when 25 miles are in my future.

...Except maybe a really fluffy towel and thermos of hot cocoa waiting for me in the car. :)

Rain. Rain. Rain.

Gross! Gross gross gross.

I have a 25-mile ride on Saturday, and this isn't helping me prepare well.

Guess I'll take the time to give the bike a lookover... check the tires and what-not.

I'm really hoping the rain clears out in time for a ride tomorrow. I'm hoping I can work on my cool-weather-wear strategy BEFORE I'm on the bike for 3 hours.

Keeping my fingers crossed!

Getting in(to) Gear!

Nearly missed out on riding 'cause the rains came a little earlier than expected... But today was all about the gear!

I got myself some arm warmers (oooooooo) and a Smartwool headband.

I'm really trying to do everything I can to encourage my continued biking into the autumnal months. Also, I figured both of those purchases would translate seamlessly into running gear as well.

I also keep forgetting that I have to ride 25 miles on Saturday... And my bike shorts (padded!) have been delayed in shipment. I really really really wanted them for the ride! Guess I'll just have to tough it out. :)

At least I'll be warm.

Here's hoping it doesn't rain ALL day tomorrow!

I [Heart] Hills!

(I am SO kidding!!)

So a 5:00 production meeting = an automatic bike ride! You all may remember the shenanigans of the last production meeting commute. I decided to go with a more hilly, but less traffic-intense route this time. Yeah. It was tough. I did give up halfway up one hill, and that's fine with me.

So, the meeting was good and fun and speedy. Since the theatre is so close to Summit Avenue I thought I'd ride it for a while and appreciate the beauty (and the bike lane.). Then I didn't turn off where I thought I would... So I cruised by the Cathedral, and then the Capitol building, and then down Rice Street... It was a pretty long detour to avoid some hills.

And then I had the Kent Hill to contend with anyway... I made it to the first cross street., and then walked the rest. On the plus side, I had the opportunity to work on that awesome skill that real cyclists have where they steer the bike with just the seat.

I'm getting better.

The Sun Saves the Day Again!

Here comes the sun... Do do do dooooo...

Boy did I think I was doomed for a bike today. Misty and cold and gross... But then I heard this awesome rumor that from 62 degrees at 3, it would be 70 by 5 and 77 by 7??! Seriously?

Seriously.

So today was going to be a great day for a ride, and it was. I knew I had to go to the gym, of course... But that just seemed like too short of a ride for the glory of the afternoon! So I decided to go to Barnes and Noble (an extra couple miles) and then hit the gym on the way back.

It was good.

The ride home was pretty tough though. I'm hoping that when I go home to check the tire pressure it's on the low side. (It's always easier to blame the equipment, eh?) Of course, I am pretty much physically exhausted and I did just work my legs at the gym... So maybe I should give myself a break.

Hoping for more great weather tomorrow!!

The Sun! The Sun!

Wow, was it cold this morning! I have a good friend biking in the Minneapolis Bike Classic today -- 53 degrees and cloudy is certainly not ideal.

There was a rumor that the sun was to make an appearance later in the day, so I did some house chores (gross) and some driving errands... Then I did some cooking and baking, and lo and behold -- sunshine! SO GORGEOUS!

I did take my usual route to the gym, but on the way home decided to take the Lexington hill down to the lake and around. I wish I had some more time this afternoon to have some more bike time!! Ah, well. 5 miles will have to be it for today.

Another Day Off

I wish it was because I chose to take it off... I was just away from home allll day!

My day started with a drive out to Maple Grove for the REI Scratch and Dent sale. I arrived around 9, and was greeted with the sight of a line stretching alllll the way down to DSW. Including tents and sleeping bags. Oh, and it rained the night before and it was pretty flippin' chilly. (Apparently people had started camping out 8pm the night before.)

The store opened at 10, and I wasn't having any of that... so I went to Trader Joe's to pick up a few things. (Including a new Fiberful bar -- with veggies! Beets and Pumpkin, etc.) I did get in line around 9:30, and when they handed out numbers I was in the group slated to go in the warehouse at 11:15. So I shopped.

Score: (1) pair of winter-y biking gloves for 50% off, and a headlamp for my next trail run (since I finished the last one in near-darkness.) As for the sale, it was pretty picked over by the time I got in. They DID have a Scott hybrid bike for $189... but each group was only given 10 minutes in the sale. Not even I can make an impulse buy THAT fast.

I spent the rest of the afternoon at an awesome garage sale, then went out for delicious Indian food, and finished up the day at the final regular season MN Stars soccer game.

By the time I was home -- I was beat!

PS - Glowsticks make everything better.

Friday, Friday.

Not too exciting today... Just another trip to the gym!

So today's thought is about yellow lights. In my many years of driving I've come up with my own tricks and approaches to yellow lights. In a car, thankfully, you're really moving. If you're on a bike, you've got pedal power (a wing and a prayer!)

I've come to really distrust the new 'count-down' style, because sometimes it's counting down to the yellow, but sometimes it's just counting down to the ol' red hand. And there's no way to tell which type it is.

I guess it's best to err on the side of caution.

Second thought of the day: everything is better with glow sticks.

Biking... To the Gym

So, my back is kind of messed up.

X-rays have confirmed this.

What can I do? Have a core of steel.

The challenge? Because of my back issues, I can't do any floor-related ab exercises.

No crunches of any kind.

Lame.

So, today's bike was to the gym to use the faboo machines! It's actually pretty timely. I was thinking that with the weather getting colder I would have to make fiends with the gym again. And get used to the routine of going... And the treadmill. Gross.

At least they have cable. :)

Rain!!

Okay... So it was raining and I didn't take the bike out.

I DID check it's tire pressure and pump it up to the recommended PSI though.

I was also running the second race (of four) in my trail race series, so I wasn't exactly sitting around eating pizza.... But boy does that sound good!

The awesome part is that I haven't Run AT ALL for the 2 weeks since my last trail race... I've just been biking. And guess what? I knocked over 2 minutes off my time!! It was AWESOME!!

I can't wait to get back on the bike tomorrow!

A Day Off.

Yeah, I know. I was thinking about making up some fantastic story about a great ride and awesome adventures...

...but the fact of the matter is I got up at 3:30 to go to work because people are CRAZY and then I had to drop my car off for some repairs and then I finally caved to peer pressure and mowed my lawn. Gross.

I also have my second of four 5k trail races tomorrow night and I thought I should take a real day off.

Of course... it's still beautiful and sunny and the night is a little young still.




...I could always hit the DQ.

A Rant, and a Confession.

Rant: Okay, SuperAmerica... I know that your main function is to service vehicles of a 4-wheeled, motorized variety. However, I also know you're not making jack on the gas purchases -- it's the ridiculously overpriced convenience items inside. SO if you want me to desperately pull into your parking lot, seeking refreshment, GIVE ME SOMEWHERE TO LOCK UP MY BIKE!!! I do not want to wheel out to the sidewalk to lock it to the bus atop sign. (In defense of SA, I have been to one station with a bike rack. Unfortunately, it is not one of the 3 I frequently ride by in my neighborhood.)

Confession: Sometimes, when I'm cruising around with my sunglasses and awesome helmet and various black accessories... I feel pretty bad-ass.

And now for Plan B!

Okay, so most of today I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. I think this is at least partially due to the large amount of bike action over the weekend, and also because I think I'm getting sick. (But not this week. No time to be sick this week.). I considered taking a day off, but then the sun hit me and I felt I had to enjoy it while I can! (Plus, ibuprofen is a wondrous thing.)

I decided maybe I would go to Barnes and Noble. They have books, and internets. Of course, once I was on the bike I started thinking about all the things NEAR B&N... Target and Goodwill and Cub Foods... and all the other errands I should be doing.

...and how I would never be able to load all that crap on my bike to get it home.

So, I reconsidered. Off to the library! (Also with books and internets!)

Now I shall bike home again and use the proper vehicle for said errands.

Awesome weather! Please stay!

PS - Dear School Bus... I know that you are special and protected from up on high... but I'm pretty sure you are still required to give me 3 feet of space and not scare the crap out of me. Thank you.

Biking and Birhwood! Nom!

About 8 weeks ago a dear friend of mine suggested we bike from her house to the Birchwood Cafe (one favorite food eatery.) It was a mere 6 miles... totally doble. Well, one would think. At that time I was still rocking my 42-pound cruiser and any sort of incline made my lungs explode. However, NOW I can fly, right? Plus I totally did 16 miles yesterday, so what's 12 miles today?

(Totally doable with a delicious meal break in the middle, anyway.)

So the day was gorgeous and perfect for this outing. We ate outside, too. I had a tasty TLT (Tempe Lettuce 'n' Tomato) sandwich on foccacia and a cup of chicken chili. Nom. Nom nom.

I kept myself away from the desserts, which I was pretty proud of... but then my friend and I had this totally weird mind-meld involving ice cream at Izzy's! (Apparently why I didn't stop yesterday!)

So... that was our next stop. It also helped that there is a killer hill leading up to Izzy's from Birchwood.

That is a kid's scoop of Lemon Custard, with a (huge) Izzy scoop of raspberry sorbet. It was heaven in a cup.

But was this the last treat of the ride? No! Since we did most of the ride along the river, it was beautiful and scenic all-around. However, we were lucky enough to end our ride at this scenic overlook and it was simply a great way to end the ride.