Start of MBM!

Posted by Lauren

Wednesday Sandwich Love

Before the kickball game last night I was chatting with Nicole about sandwiches, debating between Togo’s and Erik’s Deli Cafe. Half way knowing she’d vote Erik’s, I followed her advice and stopped at the Erik’s near the kickball field.

I love this place. First memories of Erik’s Deli all relate to my mom. She would stop here and get a sandwich after a busy day at work and I was convinced that it couldn’t hold a candle to my beloved Subway.

Subway was right next door to my dance studio, The Joy of Dancing. Before class, my dad would take me there so I could get my favorite sandwich: bread, mayo, turkey, lettuce, pickles, bread (top to bottom). The circular kid size buns + a soda + cookie/chips? Perfect for eight-year-old Lauren.

Between freshman and sophomore year in college I had an internship in Morgan Hill. When I wasn’t dining at Le Taco de Bell with Dan, I usually met Krizia for sandwiches at Erik’s during my lunch break.

When Nicole started her senior year in HS, I lived at home (post grad) and looked for jobs. We’d occasionally meet for lunch at Erik’s because it’s just so frickin’ delicious. Their bread is phe-nom-e-nal.

My go-to order is the Pilgrim’s Progress ($6.80) turkey breast and fresh avocado on 9-grain wheat bread with Erik’s “secret goo.” It’s the only sandwich on the menu with a trademarked name. Legit.

Any of their sandwiches can be made with multigrain gluten-free bread at no additional charge – way to go Erik’s! They serve drinks in glass jars, and the interior is quaint/rustic. If you pass by an Erik’s Deli Cafe, stop inside for a tasty sandwich, fresh salad, hot soup, and/or one of their classic deli salads. Sup, potato salad.

I ate half of my sandwich before the kickball game and the other half at the bar to fuel up for a close game of beirut.

Thursday Morning

I slept in… but did NOT forget about my kickboxing 4-day challenge. HA! 4 days is so measly but it’s just really tough for me to wake up in the 5am window. Blah.

I planned to go tonight (which I did!) and helped myself to a bowl of cereal and some picture resizing for breakfast.

Eats

Before lunch I had some oatmeal/oat bran with bananas + toasted coconut.

My lunch was day 3 of the madras lentil/assorted veggies/rice combo. I got three servings out of the food I prepped Monday night! Success.

And you know what? There’s an all-hands meeting tomorrow with lunch provided so I don’t have to prep anything tonight! Score!

I had my third white peach as an afternoon snack (1 more left from Sunday’s Farmer’s Market visit!)

Once the van brought me home I made a quick dinner:

Broiled zucchini + sweet potatoes with pepperjack cheese + sauteed oyster mushrooms and spinach

Workin’ It Out
I laced up my sneakers and spent the rest of my night flopping between our gym and the kickboxing studio two doors down. I told you I would go!!

Kickboxing was great MINUS the fact that it started 10 minutes late and they broke off for “core challenge,” which I don’t pay for, 10 minutes early. So my 45 min class turned into 25 minutes. Not the most rigorous class but whatevs.

TOO high of an incline eeeeekk

Next up was treadmill time. I feel like I’ve been seriously lacking in the treadmill department lately. Which is worrisome because I have a gruesome half marathon on Sunday. The Lake Chabot Half Marathon is in Castro Valley and the coordinators describe it as “a very challenging hilly loop on mostly dirt fire roads.” Wanna see a course map? Click here. Thank goodness Nicole signed up to do the 5K!

It was surprisingly hard running while watching the NBA Heat v. Mavericks game. I am positive that I had more sweat dripping down my face than LeBron himself! Sexay.

Also, this run was TOUGH. I originally psyched myself up for 4.5 miles with three rounds of running and high incline walking, but it just wasn’t going to happen. Once Nowitzki’s last-second shot clinched the “W” for the Maverick’s, I hopped onto the elliptical to watch the rest of Chopped. I effin’ love that show!

Friday’s almost here!!

Friday is going to be a blast n’ a half! First off there’s that pizza party to look forward to, then after work I’m headed to San Francisco to party with some girl friends! I don’t know what’s on the agenda… but that’s the best part!

The night I turned 21! With Katie :)

Plus, this is the first weekend of My Birthday Month (MBM) and I’m so excited for everything on the radar:

• SF Friday night
• Lake Chabot 1/2 Marathon this Sunday (k, not super stoked if it rains though)
• Last kickball game of the season next Wednesday
• Taking time off work Thursday to hang with the sis YAHOO!
• Monterey Beer Festival next Saturday
• Hellfire challenge that Man v. Food inspired me to do (hello, hot wings!)
• Potential rafting trip
• Birthday weekend in Yosemite
• Trip to Chicago

BOO YA This is going to be an AWE-SOMMEEEeeeEEEee MBM!!

-Lauren

Question: Do you believe in having MBMs or are you more of a MBW (My Birthday Week), MBD (My Birthday Day), or DCMB (Don’t Celebrate My Birthday) kinda person?

For me it’s MY BIRTHDAY MONTH all the way. Having that outlook means 30 happy-dance days instead of 1! I’m also a firm believer in celebrating half-birthdays. Except nobody’s EVER on board for that one ;)