I set out in my vehicle to run some errands around town this morning. I was going to come back and then bike to my gym, but since I was in the neighborhood of the hip Ballantyne Village YMCA, I decided to change it up and go there. I feel like a city slicker when I go to the new Y’s 
Here’s my sneaky iPhone capture of what it’s like there – I’m up on the second floor looking out.
I did 45 minutes on the ET and then a 15-minute round of lifting using the Freemotion cables. Love those.
Then I hit up EarthFare. Got lots of fresh local stuff. And non-local organic. Why can’t they be both at once!?
I was going to skip it for time’s sake, but I decided to go to Trader Joe’s as well for bananas, hummus, butternut squash and kefir to be like Allie. It’s been ages since I’ve had kefir!
I came home and had to rush to make a quick lunch and I’m blogging and eating so I can get to class in time!
There’s nothing faster than a quick thrown together salad –
- Romaine + spinach
- Carrot
- Green pepper
- TJ’s smooth hummus, which is good, but not AS good as Sabra – at least the plain flavor isn’t.
- Buttermilk blue cheese!
- EVOO + agave + salt as a light dressing
The blue cheese + hummus made this salad rock.
Plus a side of kashis (the end of the box!) and an apple, which I am saving to eat on the way to class or perhaps after.
I am currently OBSESSED with the song "Popular" from Wicked. And "Defying Gravity!" I’m wearing out Grooveshark listening to them on repeat!
Off to class – on my broomstick!
{ 74 comments… read them below or add one }
That salad looks delish. What’s the difference between regular blue cheese and buttermilk blue cheese?
I think just the milk they use. It has quite a bite!
I went through a Wicked sountrack phase a few years ago. I think I listened to it for a month straight…I was OBSESSED. My roommates loved it, let me tell you
I love those songs from Wicked! I also really liked the Ozdust ballroom one. I listened to that a lot too
<3 Blue cheese!!!!!
Jenn
i’m going to see wicked in 2010! can’t wait!!!
Lovely lunch.
I LOVE WICKED — have you seen it yet? INCREDIBLE!
That’s a really nice Y! I wish we could afford a gym membership, but I am training for my first half-marathon(eeek) in March and so I will just need some running shoes and the outside, I got plenty of that!
Funny, now I can’t get the song “Popular” out of my head! I took a photo at my YMCA a few months ago and got a LOT of weird looks – and I was taking a picture of an empty machine!
I’ve never seen Wicked, but really want to!
I miss working out at a nice gym – my school’s gym only has 11 cardio machines and then cybex type machines. Your YMCA pictures give me major gym envy!
Have a great Monday!
I love adding blue cheese to my salads! One of my fav combos is: arugula, sliced mushrooms, shredded carrot, blue cheese, chickpeas, craisins, and sunflower seeds. Yum!
Defying Gravity and Loathing are my favorites. I loved the book and the show!
Not bad at all for a thrown-together lunch! I love the generous hummus portion – I feel like some people just put on a little spoonful and call it good. I want to taste the hummus, haha!
I completely agree with you re: the hummus. I was so excited to try TJ’s new smooth but it just wasn’t as good as Sabra. Much cheaper though, so I’ll probably buy it again and see if it grows on me
That Y looks so nice and clean. It beats my school gym for sure
Some of the local stuff from EarthFare probably is organic, but since getting the organic certification is so expensive, a lot of smaller farmers don’t spend the money to have their goods certified as organic. At least that is what i have found to be the case in GA.
I love all things “Wicked”! And, I’ve never tried hummus on a salad. I’ll have to try it!
Mmmmm…buttermilk blue cheese.
Man, that Y looks super nice! The one we go to in S’port is seriously straight out of 1974. I always feel like I should be using medicine balls and wearing a Rocky sweat suit when I work out there
If you get sick of the Wicked songs, Avenue Q has some fun sing-along musical numbers. I also love to sing from the Rent songs…nothing gets me going like “La Vie Boheme.” My husband loves it
That Y looks WAY nicer than the one near my parents’ house!!
My little sister always makes me mixes w/ new pop songs she thinks I’ll like and tries to sneak Broadway songs in the mixes too!! Def love Popular and Defying Gravity.
You’l'l have to check out some of the songs from Legally Blonde the Musical–SUPER catchy!!
I just watched the Defying Gravity episode of Glee! I love that show and I’ve had that song stuck in my head ever since! I’m ok with it, though!
your Y is so much nicer than my Y!! I’m jealous! And my Y membership doesn’t even allow me to use other ones. obviously I have a bad deal.
Wow, busy day!
That salad looks great!
I’m getting ready to throw together my own quick and tasty salad! Musicals just make the day better, don’t they?
I agree! Sometimes salads really are just the best thing ever. Plus, you can never go wrong with a side of Kashi and an apple
I saw Wicked in 2007 and loved it! The music is great!
love love love Wicked!!! I was so excited when they sang “Defying Gravity” on Glee the other week. Have you seen the musical? Not sure if you’ve mentioned it. It’s wonderful
I got to see Wicked over the summer and I fell in love. I love the song Defying Gravity. It is amazing. Your salad looks sooooooooo good. I love blue cheese. Your salad dressing also sounds good. What ratio of ingredients do you use?
Literally a once around drizzle of each.
I’d love to hear about freemotion!!
Music
Food
Fitness
http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/
Katie,
It’s all cables – I like it more than machines or free weights. It’s kind of the best of both worlds.
http://www.freemotionfitness.com/
That gym looks so nice!!!
salad looks yummm! Also surprised not more people at the gym.
I love Defying Gravity too!
Wanna see that wicked!! won’t miss it!
“Popular” is my favorite song from Wicked! Well, it’s definitely the most catchy, that’s for sure. If you haven’t seen the actual musical yet I highly recommend. GL at la escuela!
What a fancy looking gym! One of the ones here on campus is pretty ghetto looking… but has a great view of a lake and foresty loveliness!
The wicked soundtrack is my new favorite. I’m hoping to see it in January locally!
that gym kinda looks like my college gym!
Wicked is my favorite musical/soundtrack ever. It’s amazing!
i love hummus in my salad – sometimes i thin it out with some water to make a dressing!
The Wicked soundtrack is amazing — I’ve seen the show 3 or 4 times and am not sick of it yet!
I struggle grocery shopping when choosing between organic and local. Usually, I end up choosing local over organic and just wash the fruits/veggies extra-well but it’s hard to know what’s “right.”
What a great option for working out! The equipment looks awesome!
Another fabulous salad!!!
is it weird that defying gravity has been my go-to gym song since i first heard it back in high school? love it–and looove the glee version!!
I haven’t seen Wicked although I have heard great things about it!
ooh and that salad looks wonderful!!!!
Did you know Wiked is coming to DPAC in April/May? You should come back then!
That gym is HUMONGO! I did not even know YMCA’s got that big! And thanks for the shout out–I love how kefir=Allie now. I’m proud of our linkage though….as I happily chug cranberry brulee kefir…
My parents are going!! I can’t go with my internship schedule
Bummer!!! Have you seen it before!? I have but my Mommas hasn’t, so I’m going to see if we can get tickets for Graduation weekend. You know, since Oprah isn’t coming this year we need some excitement
Have you heard the version of Devying Gravity by the cast of Glee (tv show on Fox?) I’m currently loving it! It’s on Grooveshark!
I told you Defying Gravity was the BEST. You should have heard me during carpool. And yes, I sing with OTHER PEOPLE’S kids in the car. Bless their little hearts.
beautiful gym! great iphone shot, and i LOVE the free cables too, what a woooorrrrkkkout!!!
enjoy your afternoon kath!
Defying Gravity is such an amazing song!!!!
I AM TOTALLY OUT OF THE LOOP. Sorry for caps lock was editing a .dwg Are you going to see Wicked soon or have you? It must be the perfect Kath event as you simply must wear your fave. GREEN!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t think I’ve had blue cheese but everything goes well with hummus so I’ll have to try that combo out! What a swanky gym!!
If you haven’t seen Wicked yet, it’s coming to CLT this spring/early summer. FYI!
I saw!! In May, right? I think that’s the show I’m going to try to see if we can’t see it in NYC
Wicked sound track is pretty much amazing!!!! Have you seen it in person? (I can only dream…)
Saw Wicked in NYC and LA. If you haven’t seen it yet, I definitely recommend. Only problem though is it’s gotten to be like Rent, where people sing along IN THE THEATER!
Re. Wicked: Haven’t seen it….YET! Just reading the book now!
We traveled to see it for our anniversary last year, and built the entire trip around the performance. We had to wait a couple years to see it, as we had busy schedules and were moving, worth waiting for! You must wear a green dress.
You need to go see Wicked Kath! You would absolutely love it. The music is great!
Those kashi look popular. Great again Kath
I know there are some farmers here in WI who are organic, but don’t go through the hoops of certification. It’s possible that if you obtained contact information for the farmers, you may find that the local is both.
So excited to have found your blog via Breathe Magazine’s Website! Yummy food with pictures to boot
…and a fellow Wicked fan! I look forward to more blog reading over here and more healthful ideas. Feel free to stop by my little spot at http://myembodiment.wordpress.com for a mix of yogic, equine, and trauma psychotherapy 
!
Welcome!
Sneaky photography indeed! hehe. Lovely salad too
Defying Gravity gives me goose bumps EVERY TIME I listen! Saw it this past year and seriously…love!
Wicked is my all time favorite musical! I saw it twice in London and would happily see it again. I love Defying Gravity!
OMG, seconding anyone who has recommended the Glee version of Defying Gravity. Kath – if you haven’t seen Glee yet, you need to watch. You’ll die and go to heaven. Or at least get the first soundtrack from it online somewhere. Lea Michele’s voice is so addictive. Love her, and her character!
Kath, I love Wicked, too! Have you ever seen it live? If not, you have to…it adds so much to see a storyline with the songs!
I love “Popular,” too, but I’m learning “No One Mourns the Wicked” in my voice lessons. It was written for Kristen Chenowith, who is higher of a high soprano than I am! Singing it is like a hard workout, except the body part targeted is the chest and throat, not the legs. Maybe you can relate to it that way. When I really hit the high note, my ear canals tingle!
My husband and I took a special trip to New York to see Wicked on Broadway. I cried at the end when Elphaba and Fiorino got together. We were sitting fairly close to the stage, and the actress playing Glinda gave me a kind of funny look because I was crying. I’m such a goof!!
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I don’t know what happens yet!!
That’s a nice looking YMCA
I love “No one mourns the Wicked.”
I recently saw “Wicked” for the first time while on a trip to London, so all your references to it make me smile
.