Match Made In Heaven

Today I was totally in my jammies at 2:30. Check out my sweet, soft and organic new robe (thank you Abi!!)

(Dexter liked the box it came in, too)

Okay. I’d be lying if I told you that I wasn’t usually in my jammies at this hour in the afternoon. I totally am. I usually exercise right after lunch, take a super long and hot shower and then get in my pjs. Usually by 3:00. It feels wonderful!

Today I did my usual 40 minute bike ride down the bay. I kept my heart rate the whole time pretty much at 175...that’s normal, right?! I was working it pretty hard and it was 80 degrees outside! I like to keep the resistance cranked up all the way on the bike and then do 20 second sprints when the music on my ipod really gets me goin. SO much better than the elliptical but I fear soon it might just be too hot outside!  This biking routine I’ve been doing is just as good or maybe even BETTER than a traditional spin class…for real! I swear, biking and running are the only two cardio cross-training exercises that get my heart rate up! During my sprints I would reach 180 but usually it was a stable 170-175. I thought about everything that was said on the last post and I really do have a very high resting heart rate. It goes along with my super fast metabolism. Just a natural thing I’ve always had. So I guess the good ol’ Polar is right!

It was perfect timing….when I was pulling up my driveway on my bike the UPS man was walking up with a huge package with my name on it! Abi, from Quaker, had sent me some of their new Simple Harvest Trail Mix granola bars to sample (along with the super soft and cosy robe…Carrie, yours is on the way!) and I tore into that thing like a (pausing to try to think of something funny……..) cat on a cat-toy. Okay, that was not that funny but I’m tired yall!

This was the perfect thing after my bike ride! It was sweet and yummy with plump dried cranberries and chunks of dark chocolate. And, I’m very happy to announce that it did not contain ANY ingredients that I could not pronounce! Woohoo!

Ingredients include:

Whole grain rolled oats, brown rice syrup, crisp rice, sugar, dried sweetened cranberry pieces, semisweet chocolate chunks, almonds, peanuts, honey, sunflower oil, inulin, whole grain rolled wheat, molasses, soybean oil, water, glycerin, salt, vanilla, soy lecithin.

Each bar contains 150 calories, 5 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein. While there’s not enough protein in these to provide long lasting fuel, they are perfect after a workout for a little pick-me-up! And, of course, I love that there is no hfcs to be found in the ingredient list.

I worked on some emails and such and then started dinner. I finally got all the ingredients to make my delicious meatless sloppy joes! This has always been my vegetarian-go-meal of course because it is so EASY and versatile. I made this all the time my senior year of college and even tricked my very southern roommate’s momma that it was real meat! It freezes wonderfully and makes great leftovers…I’m already seeing a wrap in the works for lunch tomorrow! Tonight, I served it atop a baked garnet yam (I am going to turn into a sweet potato soon, I know it) and had some yummy roasted brussels on the side.

My tummy and mouth were so happy! I have never had this on a sweet potato before but it was like a match made in heaven and was super filling as well.

I assure you it can. For dessert I had a warm VitaBrownie topped with Dark Chocolate Dreams pb

I have no words besides bliss.

ZestyCook’s long awaited E-Cookbook is now available….and is FREE!!! Seriously, guys, this has been a work in progress for a loooong time and I’m so excited that it finally is all done and set. You will find all your favorite food bloggers in there ( including myself wink wink) and it is chock-full of superb recipes. Check it out!

I am dying to finish my book and start on the new Jodi. Its like seriously burning a hole in my nightstand. I can’t wait to dive into it!! Tomorrow is Tuesday, which means work (I am doing my first ever wedding cake tasting at 11 am!!!! A woman wants to try both vegan chocolate & vanilla cake!!), 5K training and hopefully a little yoga afterwards to stretch out those tight hamstrings.

Night!