Gymboree!!!

Filip and I have recently joined a really spectacular gym as of a few weeks ago and we really love it! We had joined one before in Bracknell, but it was pretty small (big enough for what we needed, but nevertheless small) and didn't have a pool or anything, just weights and treadmills, mostly. We enjoyed that, but didn't go as often as we would've liked and were paying too much to keep that up, so we ended up leaving it. After a long while, our friend Gogi called up and suggested that we (and a bunch of other happy recruits) should come by and check out the gym he had joined in Wokingham. So we (Keren and David and Filip and I) went on a Saturday night and took advantage of a free-of-charge visitor workout, to check out the place and see if we would be interested in joining. Gogi was really excited and showed us around and told us what they offer, etc., and even gave us a preview of what he could teach us about weight training and such. To say the least, we were interested! The gym has tons more variety and number of weight machines, free weights and aerobic machines than our other gym had, not to mention a nice pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, with really nice locker rooms and showers and even a cafe area for coffee and internet. There's also a merchandise section where you can buy the gym's 'signature' towels, swim suits, socks, workout clothes, water bottles, goggles, etc. We really liked what we saw (even the price wasn't totally unreasonable) and there was a deal upon signing up in the following couple days, so we joined! We've loved it ever since and we've even gone so far as to buy a locker combo lock for each of us that even has the name of the gym on it! Hahaha. We're excited. Filip even had Gogi 'set him up' on a regular weight training routine and we're both seeing a difference. :) And it's extra nice because a lot of our good friends go there regularly too. It's so nice to come with friends - exercise is a great thing to do socially! Every time we leave the gym, we feel so refreshed and energized and healthy - even if we feel a bit sore. Exercise tends to really motivate me to improve in all other areas of my health as well, which is exactly what I need - motivation! I'm trying to drink more water, go to bed on time (which is, incidentally, not working as well as I'd hoped - hehe), get more fresh air, eat healthier and so on. We went last night (we try to go at least 3 times a week) and both worked out harder than before and we actually feel good - soreness is surprisingly minimal! Yay! Are we making progress? I hope so! That always feels great - to start seeing results. I just hope I don't lose that motivation too soon... ;)

Rarity

Yesterday, I had the privilege, for the first time in forever, of cooking my husband some lunch! :) I mean, yeah, I cook dinner for him plenty (and he for me), but lunch is a different story. We're always working during the day and we can never eat lunch together, let alone a nice, hot meal. Granted, it was really nothing special, to say the least - it was spaghetti and green beans - but it was fun to have that with each other. :) I got to cook while he studied - I felt like a proper family - hehe - and then we sat down and ate together. We even broke open a bottle of 'wine' (yeah, it was non-alcoholic red) and used our 'special' flutes for it. This, I must say, didn't help the taste or anything, but it was an added perk to the whole setting. I couldn't drink more than a couple sips and Filip added Coke to his for improvement - haha - but the atmosphere and result was lovely! I wish I could do that more often! :) Time with family is priceless, no matter what it is that you do together! Mmmm...

Savoury Tendencies and Custard Tarts...

It's been such a long time since I've logged something in my blog and I've really found myself missing it. So, after such a long absence, I have come with something freshly discovered yet not all that interesting, so prepare yourself. Haha. I am going to make a statement about myself, yet (as I am human) it may not be always true or unflinching as I will explain... I have discovered that, against the choice between sweet and savoury tasties, I prefer savoury over all else almost 90% of the time. No telling why, but I found that a bit interesting - shocking, if I may! I used to think that I (like most of the people I come in contact with) would rather snack on sweet things rather than salty if given the choice. But when I look back on my (short-ish) life, I find that this assumption has been proven false the majority of the times I remember. I love savoury and powerfully flavourful food! It's just as unhealthy as sweets, but I am discovering more and more that it is so hugely my preference. Hehe. Granted, this always depends on my mood, but what I'm saying here is that my mood most often calls for salt before (or rather than) sugar. Yes, I definitely still desire a good Snickers bar now and again or a juicy apple pie or some thick and chunky ice cream (I could never deny that!), but it's almost sad and strange how often I discard sweets for a good portion of chips or popcorn or pickles or even a good kofte/chicken kebab. I have slowly realized, as well, that I don't feel attracted to chocolate much in general. I never have. Yes, like I said, I love Snickers and Kit Kats and yummy bite-sized crispy chocolates, but given a pure chocolate bar, I normally turn it down. I would rather drink tea than hot chocolate, Americano than a mocha, etc etc... It's funny and I feel like I am almost a betrayer of my own sex, although both my mom and my sister have observed this to some extent in themselves, so I think this is where I've gotten it. The bottom line is, when I'm really hungry and I crave something, I have repeatedly found that it is most often something savoury. Have you ever come to the end of a chocolate bar (even a small-ish one) or something of the kind and thought, 'Wow - I really shouldn't have eaten that - I don't feel so good'? I almost always feel that way when I eat something sweet, depending on what it is. But when it comes to savoury, I almost never regret it (in moderation, of course). :)

Now for the exception... and this relates to the 'depending on what it is' statement above. Drumroll please... ;)

I have a terrible weakness for little things called custard tarts! Oh man! Nothing could be more concrete than that statement! Haha. I cannot speak for all custard tarts in the world, but the ones that 'my' coffee shop sells are TO DIE FOR! I didn't really discover them (I mean, I knew we sold them, but never gave them a second glance) until my mom ate one and told me how amazing they were. One of our regular customers is an 'addict' as well, so I thought I should give it a go. I tried one... mercy gracious! They are what I have deemed as a sweet pie pastry crust filled with a smooth vanilla-like pudding, sprinkled with a light dusting of cinnamon, or something of the sort. Regardless of what it contains, even after the last bite, I find myself craving more! I never feel like I've eaten a whole dessert. It is one of the mildest, most refreshing, scrumptious desserts ever made! Especially on Thursdays... Our coffee shop/cafe, Santa Fe Coffee Company, always gets a new shipment in of fresh custard tarts on Thursdays... Ohhh, that shipment warrants an extra star for that day of the week for me. I don't really like Thursdays in general, but custard tarts up it a bit on my scale. ;) And custard tarts always remind me of one of my favourite Britcoms that my family and I used to watch together (and they still do): As Time Goes By. The character Lionel loves custard tarts and would seriously maim anyone who would take one from his tin. It interested me, these custard tarts... Now I'm sold - haha! Seriously, if you haven't tried one yet, do! I highly recommend it! :) And if you try one from somewhere else and don't like it, I am so sorry... But if you try one from our coffee shop and don't like it, I'm even sorrier. That would be my fault. :S Hehe anyways, enough from me. I'll talk to you later. Enjoy the day and eat your custard tart today!