Tuesday Night Book Club
Heyyyy 😀 Happy Indian Food Wednesday! How’s your morning going?
After work yesterday, I was so stoked to hit up a Bikram class.. just because I could! In Valdosta, I couldn’t do Bikram on a random Tuesday (unless I wanted to drive two hours), so I’m definitely taking advantage 😉
Post-yoga snackage:
Chocolate cherry bomb dot com 😀
-1 C almond milk
-1 scoop vanilla Sun Warrior
-1 T raw cacao powder
-1 C frozen organic cherries
-Stevia, vanilla and cinnamon
-1/2 banana
Eight months later and I’m still not sick of this smoothie- it’s that good, I promise 😀
After my smoothie, shower and making my cousin a grilled cheese, I met up with my aunt and her friends at OLV for book club.
Discussion Riesling:
We shared the mezze plate:
Tzatziki, tabbouli, baba ganouj, hummus, falafel and pita
and the most beautiful Chevre salad with greens, beets, mango, toasted pecans and goat cheese
I had a lot of fun chatting with all of the ladies, even though I haven’t finished the book (Sarah’s Key) yet. After hearing what they had to say about it though, I’m not sure if I want to finish it :/ It sounds really disturbing and I’m so engulfed in this book right now that Sarah’s Key may take a back seat:
Has anyone else read it? In an almond shell, Good to Great is an incredibly well-researched book examining the tactics of companies that maintained their incredible financial performance for at least 15 years. There’s a lot of knowledge you can take from the book and apply to your job and to life in general. Loving it so far 😀
This morning I’m off to a meeting for work, sending a care package to that one man I have a crush on, and taking a Zumba class!! I’m going to wear all of my Zumba gear and talk to them about teaching while I’m here 🙂 Hopefully it will *work out* – I miss teaching so much!
Stay tuned for a guest post from a very special someone….
xoxo,
Gina
Something to do:
Fave Indian Food recipes! 😀
–Gajar Halwa (<— vegan version)
Going out to eat for Indian Food Wednesday?? Here’s a post for Indian Food Newbies 😀
Something to talk about: Are there any fitness classes you can’t wait to try but aren’t offered near you?? I am SO excited to try Rebounderz- an indoor trampoline workout. We didn’t have it in Tucson and it looks like a lot of fun 🙂
Something else to do: If you’re in the voting kinda mood… here’s the link and my Entry #1 post. Thanks so much to those of you who have voted already!
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Rebounderz are awesome. So much fun. Except for the class where the girl hit the trampoline wrong and flew off into the wall. Eep! (she was okay!) I just heard about a dance cardio class called Sh’bam which sounds great but it’s not offered by me!
Mmmm that book discussion spread looks delicious! I used to be all about depressing books, but I just can’t handle them anymore. I don’t like to be sad!
PS- Voted 🙂
thank you friend!!
same here- i like books to bring me UP, not down
I have never heard of Rebounderz but that sounds SO fun!
G$!
I’m so glad you are enjoying orlando!
Those books look fab!
I am really wanting to read good to great 🙂
I have a question for you, as far as stevia goes, could you give me some guidance?
What brand do you use? Does the taste vary significantly from brand to brand and product to product?
I bought “Stevia in the raw” packets awhile back to use in my coffee and tea….It was so awful! The taste was horrendous with an extremely bitter aftertaste. Is this normal? I am really wantying to use stevia for baking/cooking and in my coffee and teas, but i also need a product that will taste good. Help!
yes, the taste varies among brands! try nunaturals- they have a lovely stevia, and the liquid stevia drops are amazing
I’m partaking in Indian Food Wednesday for the first time! So looking forward to dinner tonight with an old friend. 🙂
That mezze plate looks beautiful- I’m dying to make my own falafel! Do you ever make this?
i’ve made it once and it was really good! the canyon ranch recipe is my fave 🙂
There are so many classes I’d love to take, including Zumba! The location close to me offers classes during the day when I’m at work 🙁 I’d really like to try Body Pump too, but I can’t find those classes either!
I’ve heard of Good to Great, sounds like a book my husband would read — he loves to read about successful businesses, how to be a great leader, etc.
I understand not wanting to read a depressing book — thats how I felt after reading The Lovely Bones — that I need to not read depressing books because it really brought down my mood.
the lovely bones messed with me for a very long time. i didn’t want to finish it and had to FORCE myself to, just so i’d know how it ended :/
I really want to try bootcamp, but my gym only offers it once a week at 8am on Saturday (I usually have other plans on Saturday mornings) so I haven’t been able to go. It’s the only fitness class that I haven’t tried. I think I would love it because I LOVE having my butt kicked! I know I could do my own bootcamp style workout but I am much more likely to take it easy on myself if I’m not in a class setting.
i have always wanted to try a rebounding class!!
I wish there were TRX classes in my gym!
your aunt seems so cool! I love that she let you go with her to her book club!!
my aunt isn’t just cool… she’s seriously amazing <3 especially since she's letting me be a squatter in her house, haha
I have never heard of rebounderz, but it sounds like fun! I’ve wanted to try Zumba but my gym doesn’t offer it 🙁
I’d like to try yoga and Body Pump, but the closest place that offers Body Pump is an hour away, and our YMCA only offers yoga while I’m at work. 🙁
so how does bikram compare to ashtanga (that’s what i practice). i’ve never tried it since i haven’t belonged to a gym in years! is it slower? is it geared towards relaxation or more towards balance?
I think Good To Great is required ready for every MBA program, I did really enjoy it and have read a few of his other books.
That book was intense (Sarah’s Key), but I would definitely recommend finishing it!!
I still haven’t tried the cherry bomb…I need to get on that!! 🙂
I have always wanted to try a zumba class but there aren’t any in my area 🙁
I’ve heard that book was really dark. I still haven’t decided if I want to read it yet.
I would LOVE to know what you send to the pilot whenever he’s gone. My bf will be doing his first deployment in February and I’d like to start getting ideas together. He’ll be gone for his birthday and holidays too so those kind of ideas would be nice too. I’m sure you’ve done this more than you’d like. 🙂
I’ve been wanting to try the Bar Method..it is near me, but really pricey so I haven’t bit the bullet yet!
You’re like my husband. He can read two books at once. I have to finish one before I even start another. Both sound great, though. I’ve only heard wonderful things about Sarah’s Key.
I really wanted to try body glide (a class with those purple disks), but my gym took that class out this summer and fall, boo! They are starting two new classes that I’m excited to try – a trampoline one like Rebounderz and a beam class (with foam beams on the floor).
I really want to try body pump! I have heard so many good things about it around the blog world. We don’t have it here, but the Gold’s gym I go to offers a class called Group Power that looks like it uses a similar concept.
Book club looks fun! Don’t be afraid to finish Sarah’s Key. I read it about a year ago and absolutely loved it! My mother-in-law told me that it was kind of sad and to be careful toward the end so I was really weary about finishing also. Even though its really sad, it was such a fantastic book and an eye-opener as well. Keep reading, I think you’ll appreciate it!
Good to Great is a fantastic book, and you’re right, even though it is based on company research, there’s a ton of information and viewpoints that can be incorporated into your own life. Happy reading!
I can’t believe its already Indian Food Wednesday! This week finally seems to be moving.
I’m so glad you are enjoying book club – I want to give it a try but have been hesitant because I’m so shy.
My gym just starting offering Zumba so I’m going to give that a try and I can’t wait!
you’ll love it!
I think that’s a fab plan for zumba! One look at your moves and entusiasm and I’m sure they won’t be able to turn ya down! 🙂 Have a great one!
I have Tuesday Book Club, too 🙂 However, as happy as the club makes me, I had to opt out for some serious self-care. So I had my own book club on the couch and my cat. 🙂
I’m reading What is the What — anyone read it?
hm… I had the book club on the couch WITH my cat. I didn’t sit on him lol
ahaha!
I am so jealous of all your yoga and fitness class options! Fingers crossed you land the Zumba job!
I was just thinking at the top of the post that I wanted to make some Indian food tonight. Thanks for the recipes!!!
oh man, indian sounds so good right now! i need to convince the hubby to get some with me… 🙂
Yes, I also want to try the Rebounderz. Here in LA we seem to get the up and coming classes more available (don’t hate me!). The trapeze class at the Reebok studio was awesome and I just tried the Bar Method not too long ago too, both are great. I am getting super involved with the TRX Training System too. Have you tried that Gina? you would love it!
Great indian choices. 🙂
When we had a new Director start in my department 2 years ago, she implemented the Good to Great model across all the departments she oversees.
Needless to say, in a business setting with the conflicts of government, unions, and contracts…it’s been hard to implement.LOL
Great ideas,though!
If you like “Good to Great,” I think you’ll enjoy the book I’m reading now: “Drive. The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” by Daniel Pink. I recently posted some picks and pans from my book club on my blog here: http://molly-sweeney.com/?p=857
Good luck inundating yourself at Zumba class! 😉
I would love to try Bikram Yoga or even Hot Yoga! My gym caters to much to the people who are older and retired, so all of the classes are focused around them and are during the day when I am at work…I am hopefully moving to the Dallas/Fort Worth area soon, so hopefully I can find a good place to try new things there! 🙂 I did try Zumba for the first time yesterday and loved it!
Want to try Hot Yoga, closest is 45 min. Thinking on givivg it a try soon. Maybe a B’day present to me.
Oh I remember when I moved from SC to CA 7 years ago. First of all, there was hardly ANY yoga in SC, let alone 7 yrs ago, and in Myrtle Beach a total tourist town, there were like 2 classes a week and if I missed those, I was screwed. When I got to Cali and there was yoga on every corner, 7 days a week, all days and nights and times of day, I went thru mega yoga overload! It was freakin’ great! Some days I’d take classes at multiple studios…just b/c I COULD! ha! I loved that omg i CAN just b/c i CAN feeling 🙂
That book…I think that looks like a great book and I bet my hubs would enjoy reading that too!
So happy for you…you sound, seem, and I know you ARE so loving your life there and are happy!!!
xox
🙂
Dinner looks fab 🙂
I would love to try BodyPump but they don’t offer it at my gym… (although I know they have something similar. Regarding which I’m just being lazy 😉 ). Also want to try anti-gravity yoga!!
Thanks for providing the link to vote, it is hard to find everyone!!!
I feel like an indoor trampoline workout would be SO much fun…
I kinda think you book club should become and eating club… so much awesome food!
i was just wondering, do you ever rest!? LOL. it seems you workout everyday!
I love Bikram followed by a nice glass of vino. PS. We need to be wine buddies because my favorite two wines are shriaz and riesling too 🙂
And of course you have my vote lady 😉
So I have a question that is totally unrelated and I can’t find your e-mail address! My question is – do lower back exercises count as back exercises? Or are they in another muscle group?
I haven’t tried zumba yet. Im not sure if I will like it! Is it a good workout that actually makes you sweat or is the dancing low impact, so you don’t really get out of breath!?
i havent been able to find a zumba class but i REALLY wanna try it!!
xoxo
I’m making a Gina recipe for dinner tonight — eggplant curry or whatever its Indian name is — and serving it with naan! Yum!
I need some Indian food in my life asap. I’m not a fan of depressing books, the world has enough of that! I want to spend my time reading something uplifting, exciting, or inspiring!
“In an almond shell” is so cute 😀
I was inspired by you to try Zumba tonight! I loved it – and am hooked! Will be definitely going back! Thanks for inspiring me to try it!
You had me at trampoline. Sounds like a blast! I used to do gymnastics and one of my favorites was the tramp. Oh how I love bouncing into the air. HAHA!
I have been meaning to try OLV since it opened in SODO…it looks really nice! Now what I heard was, there happens to be a KILLA tj maxx right next door. At said tj maxx, it is not uncommon to find $200 Boutique 9 heels on clearance for $15, sealed (since I am kinda a germphobe) NARS blush for $6, or Seven “A-Pocket” jeans for $40. Just sayin 🙂
what?! excellent to know
Hi Gina. I really enjoy your blog. I’m in the Houston area and we have quite a few Indian restaurants here. I’ve never eaten at one and am trying to get out of my restaurant comfort zone every now and then by trying something new. Reading about it on your blog every week has me inspired to try Indian but I don’t know one person who has ever eaten it and was wondering if you could occasionally thrown in a pronunciation ‘guide’ for the dishes you write about? Maybe just something simple like ‘sounds like ___’ ? There’s a good size Indian community in this area so most of the restaurants are owned/run by people fluent in the language/culture/etc and I’m worried about butchering the names and not ending up with what I’m wanting to order.
I just read good to great in my MBA program. It really is a great read! I really makes you realize why some companies have such great business models and are #1. It’s also fun to think about your favorite companies and what makes them so much better then their competitors. I do that all the time. I did a mini business model analysis on Nike…
http://iheartspandex.com/2010/09/im-drinking-the-nike-koolaid/
Do you have any reccomendations for dairy free protein powders? I recently became allergic to dairy so I was wondering if you have any good recommendations so I could make your delicious smoothies!!