Ryan and I then headed to the gym to knock out our workouts for the day.
We started with 20 minutes on the elliptical before I completed a total-body weights workout.
| Exercise | Reps | Sets |
| Single-leg split squat with exercise ball | 15 each leg | 3 |
| Tricep pulldowns | 15 | 3 |
| Bicep curls | 3 min. straight | 1 |
| Leg extensions | 15 | 3 |
| Deadlifts | 15 | 3 |
| Dips | 15 | 3 |
| Various shoulder raises | 3 min. straight | 1 |
| Ab work on exercise ball | 50 various crunches | 2 |
| Plank | 1 min. | 1 |
I was a big fan of this combination of exercises. If Ryan didn’t need to leave the gym to have time to shower before work, I would’ve squeezed a chest and back exercise in there as well.
Breakfast
On our way home from the gym, I convinced Ryan to make a quick detour to Wal-Mart to grab some frozen strawberries and milk for smoothies for breakfast.
Once we got home, my cravings shifted and I wanted a savory breakfast.
I swear anytime I feel like I have to eat something, I don’t want it anymore. I think I felt like I had to make a smoothie since I convinced Ryan to make a pit stop for the berries at Wal-Mart (the store that Ryan calls the “eighth circle of hell”), so of course my taste buds wanted something savory when it actually came time for breakfast.
Fortunately Ryan didn’t seem to care when I started cooking up some eggs (probably because I made him breakfast, too!).
I made myself two fried eggs (one dippy egg, one not-so-dippy because I cracked the yolk) and enjoyed them with a toasted whole wheat English muffin and a banana.
A protein and fiber-packed breakfast. Oh yes!
PBF Book Club
A couple of weeks ago many of you expressed interest in a PBF book club. I’m so excited to kick it off today!
The club will work like this:
- We will select a book together from three different choices (survey style – see below)
- We will have one month to read the book
- After the month is up, I will dedicate a blog post to a review of the book and feature a bunch of questions about the book that we can all discuss in the comments section of the post
Sound good? Bueno!
Now it’s time to choose the first PBF book club novel!
Here are your choices (taken from your recommendations on the PBF Facebook page yesterday)…
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
Room:
To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it’s where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it’s not enough…not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son’s bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work. Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.
Please vote for the book you would be most interested in reading. You may vote more than once if you are interested in more than one of the above novels.
[polldaddy poll=5466756]
I will announce the chosen book on Friday morning.
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I am the same way with meals! 😛
I would love to read the Room. Love the book club idea! 🙂
I put every single time I break a yolk. graaahh.
and by put, I mean pout.
Room is actually on my to-read list, so I would definitely love to read that one! I’m intrigued.
I’ve heard great things about Room and The Book Thief. I think that either book would be a great choice!
The Book Theif sounds really interesting, I’m voting for numero uno.
THIEF. oops
So excited to start the book club! I’ve only heard of Room but the other two look interesting as well.
room is very good. i listened to it on audio book!
i havent read the others!
but i would def. recommend room!
Glad you had a better morning today! I’m with Ryan; I avoid “Wally World” at ALL COSTS!
Last night, my sister gave me her copy of The Book Thief, what a perfect coincidence! I’d never heard of Room before though, and that sounds really good too. I might have to pick up a copy either way.
Woo hoo for a book club!
I’ve already read Room (it’s an amazing but DARK book) so I might have to sit this month out but the other two have been on my to-read list for ages!
you could still participate in the discussion if that book is chosen!
Until I read this post I had not heard of “Room” , but its looks very interesting. I hope it wins, although I will probably pick it up either way.
Room sounds like a really good one! For September, one of my goals is to make more time to read. I’ve got a couple of books stacked up on my list, but I can’t wait to hear the discussion!
I live in a small town with not many grocery store options but there is a Walmart. I agree with Ryan! I used to work at a Dr’s Office in the same town. I would have to dodge patients because they would stop me and ask about their lab work, etc. Not fun!
All of those books sound interesting! I like your book club idea and I’ll be on board with whatever you decide!
Jenna (at Eat Live Run) Just posted about “Room” yesterday! Now I can be members of both book clubs 😉
Woohoo! I am excited for the book club! I have really been wanting to read more and I hope this motivates me to do so! I am actually reading Sarah’s Key right now after I saw it on your blog, and so far I am hooked!
I TOTALLY agree with Ryan about Wal-Mart!! I can literally feel my shoulders tense up when I walk through the doors!! While Target makes me instantly happy!! ; )
Completely agree Kim!
Wal-Mart sucks the life out of me but I could spend all day at Target!
So excited for this! I’m almost done with the 3rd book in the Hunger Games series so I’ll be needing another one soon. Perfect timing 🙂
? Hunger games has series? Huh, didn’t know. I am reading hunger games right now,what are the books that follow?
I vote for Room, sounds like a book I wont be able to put down!
Omg, yes! The next two are Cathing Fire and Mockingjay. When you get to the end of Hunger Games you’ll see it kind of leaves you hanging. I suggest picking up the next one before you finish Hunger Games otherwise you’ll be running around like I was desperate to get your hands on it!
Room is SUCH a wonderful book! I highly highly recommend it and would love to participate in a discussion about it! I was a child development major and now work as a pediatric nurse so it struck a major chord with me. A book club is a great idea!
This is such a good idea for a book club! I’m going to have to follow along! 🙂
I think I’m going to have to read all 3 because they all looked great!
Julie random question- doing your elliptical/strength training workout- do you do those on days back to back? I have been trying some and LOVE! But wasn’t sure if you strength train days in a row! Thanks 🙂
no! i always leave at least one day in between strength training if i’m training the same muscles.
I voted for The Book Thief above! It looks really interesting, and I love books set in the World War II era. I’d be really happy with Room, too, though–I’ve also heard great things about that book. Yay, I’m so excited to start the PBF book club! 🙂
I hate when I accidentally break the yolk on a drippy egg. But at least you got one good one – that’s all you really need 🙂
I’ve heard really good things about “Room” – I need to finish “Cutting for Stone” and then read “The Hunger Games” – but then I’m totally going for “Room”
I’ve been wanting to read Room for a while. I need to finish up Mockingjay quick, so I can join in on the book club! Can’t wait to see what gets chosen.
Graceling is such a good book!!! 😀
all those books sound good! i’ll definitely follow along with any of those! I’ve been thinking about reading the room for a while.
The Book Thief, and Room are wonderful books – but very different the Book Thief puts a really different spin on life and Room was just so dark and confronting. I hope one of those gets selected as I would love to see what everyone thought of them.
I’ve heard only wonderful things about this book. It’s on my list of “must reads”.
I just read Room and it was amazing! I hope that gets picked 🙂
Yay!! “Room” is in the lead!!
I have not read Room or Graceling but I recently finished The Book Theif and it was amazing. Unlike anything I have ever read before. It was such a touching book in a very unexpected way and I would highly recommend it!
I’ve heard so many good things about “Room.” I was literally just talking about it with someone in class last night! Its next on my list of books to read 🙂
Haha…my boyfriend also HATES Wal-mart. I on the other hand don’t mind it. The only time it’s a pain is on Sunday after church when EVERYONE decides to go and you can’t push your cart without hitting three people. 🙂
I read Room this summer and it is a wonderful book and a great choice for a Book Club.
I’ve read all of those books, and loved each of them! They’re all very different books. I think that my very favourite of the three is The Book Thief. No, Graceling. No, The Book Thief. Ummm…
I recently read Room…it was FANTASTIC! And so relevant with the rescue of Jaycee Dugard. Her book was also amazing and so inspiring. I’ve heard good things about The Book Thief too!
I only chose Graceling because I’ve read both The Book Thief and Room (which were both great, by the way!).
you can still participate in the discussion if room is selected!
love the book club idea. Also I know you are always looking for great books- I just finished “One Day” – the movie is now out in theaters with Anne Hathaway and it was a great read so I figured I would share!
The Room has been on my hold list with the library since last year.. I just got a call yesterday from them telling me The Help was finally available for checkout lol I’m so behind the times and too cheap to buy books.
I LOVE the idea of a PB Fingers book club! I haven’t read a novel in a while so this is a great motivation for me to start reading again! I voted for Room because it’s gotten good reviews and has been on my “To-Read List” since it came out this summer.
Have you thought about putting Sadie on a lead? That way you don’t worry when you let her out back. You can just hook it up to her harness/collar and she would be fine. I use one for my dog who is tiny and could slide under my fence if he sees a bunny or something and takes off.
yes! i think we may be doing this!
I voted for Graceling but I’m interested in Room as well. Great picks! How long will voting be open for?
until friday morning!
I read “Room” earlier this year and it is a wonderfully, powerful book!
Can’t wiait to see what you choose! 🙂
I LOVE graceling and the book thief. I’ve been wanted to read the Room.. PBF readers will enjoy Any of these!:)
Oh, book club! I’ve read Graceling and it’s just such an excellent read. I’ve heard Book Thief is good, and I’ve yet to read Room.
{Yummy breakfast! I heart eggs and English muffins.}
I agree with Ryan’s assessment of Wal-mart, and I would vote for Room! I need to get a library card!
Another blogger is reading Room. I have heard some great things about this book and may have to pick it up at barnes and noble!
So excited about the book club. I absolutely agree with Ryan’s thoughts on Walmart. I cannot stand that place.