Been some time since I’ve written a “random” post.  Enjoy the randomness!

1.  Cheese Fries
Confession:  When teaching spinning on Monday nights, sometimes I’ll go 30 seconds (or even a minute – the horror), without saying anything – and that’s because I’m thinking about food.  Specifically, what I’m going to make for dinner after class.  Oftentimes that’s an easy decision – check out my dinner post for my go-tos – but every once in a while I’m just not sure what I’m craving.  That’s what happened a few Mondays ago, and how this random dinner of CHEESE FRIES was born!

Let’s talk about cheese fries for a second.  They remind me so.much.of.high.school, nights spent with girlfriends at Max & Ermas eating my fourth meal of the day (I had – have – a good metabolism).  As you probably know, fries are my favorite food.  Add cheese and bacon, and you’ve just taken it over the top.  Now that I’m 30, it’s not often that I indulge in real cheese fries.  Instead, I make my own “healthy” version of the classic!

This is both a regular and sweet potato cut into strips and baked (425 for a while – like 45 mins), a mix of pepperjack and cheddar cheeses, a crumbled black bean veggie burger, green onions, sour cream, avocado, and hot sauce.  Dipped in Trader Joe’s Parmesan Ranch dressing (only 30 cals / serving!).  Amazing.  Next time you have a craving for bar food, try these!

2.  Bangs
A couple of weeks ago, I got bangs.

I had been thinking about it for months, if not years, but always thought I had the wrong face shape for them – a little bit too heart-shaped and small, with a short forehead.  But a few weeks ago, I decided the hell with it – hair grows!  If I hate them, I’ll just grow them out and never do it again.  Well – I don’t hate them.  In fact, I really like them!  For the first time in a long time, I feel like I have a new ‘do with a little more spunk and personality.  And to quote my mother, “you should always have bangs for the rest of your life”.  Thanks, Mom.

3.  Equal Pay Day
Last Wednesday, I attended the Equal Pay Day Panel hosted by the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio with my friend Jenny, who I know through my cousins and who is equally progressive and feminist as I.  Perhaps you’ve heard that yesterday, April 14, marked the day that a women officially caught up to a man in earnings from the previous year.  In Central Ohio, women make $.78 on the dollar to men, and every 1 in 4 women led-houses (single or married) is not financially secure.  The statistics really are eye-opening, and are sparking a national discussion of what we – both men and women – can do to create meaningful change.

The panel was held at The Kitchen in German Village – a super cool space that you may recognize from a “Taco Tuesday” event I attended there last summer.  With lots of exposed brick, sunlight, and top-notch hors-d’oeuvres, I can’t say enough good things about The Kitchen.  The four panelists were all female entrepreneurs, and all had really interesting perspectives on the issues women face today in the workforce.  Thanks, Jenny, for the invite!

4.  No-Fortune Fortune Cookie
I’ve had a bit of a rough week (more on that in a later post), and this no-fortune fortune cookie that I got during Monday’s lunch was just too ironic not to share:

5.  Back on the Saddle

I’ll end with what feels like a new beginning.  On Sunday afternoon, I filled up the air in my bike tires and hit the trail for the first time since October.  The weather was perfect – sunny and warm but not too warm – and the fresh air felt rejuvenating.  Of course, I was somewhat terrified of falling off my bike again, and although I did come close once, I didn’t fall.  Success!  The first bike ride of the season always feels like the beginning of something new, and it’s just what I needed.  Triathlon season, here I come!