Hi y’all. Hope you’re enjoying your long, holiday weekend (for my American readers), filled with fresh food, family, friends and fireworks.

I finished up another week of training with SmartCoach today with an easy 30 minutes spinning solo and ~25 minutes of strength training, including the yoga kettlebell workout that I’ve been wanting to try from Shape Magazine. I became addicted to both yoga and kettlebell training this past spring semester, so I figured I would really enjoy this routine… I did!

I used a 14lb. bell for the exercises (the lightest at the WREC) and pair of 10lb. dumbbells for the bridge set. I did all of the moves except Half Moon (a bit intimated, but I plan to try it for Round 2).

 

Why this routine?

 

There was more poolside reading today and (cool, air-conditioned!) studying at Starbucks a la an iced decaf Americano.

An early protein-packed salad for dinner and then this happened…

I got my shiny, new food processor from its box and made my midsummer nights’ dreams come true.

If this isn’t summer bliss, I don’t know what is.

Creamy Coconut & Fresh Peach Banana Soft Serve

• 1 1/2 small frozen bananas

• 1 tsp. coconut oil

• 1/2 fresh farmers’ market peach, chopped

• 1 tsp. toasted pecans

• 1/2 tsp. unsweetened coconut

In a food processor, puree banana and coconut oil until creamy. Top with peach, pecans and coconut.

Makes 1 dream come true.

You see, I haven’t quite figured out how to sleep when it’s a raging 88* in my apartment, so instead, I dream up cool, recipes for this smokin’ hot summer. My appetite has changed drastically (for the better) since I returned to Chico last Tuesday; this is really the first dessert-like food I’ve had in days.

Do any of you have advice for sleeping in the heat? I’m a novice at this whole air-conditioning, can’t sleep under your covers sort of thing. The forecasted low temperatures are the high temps, roughly, where I was raised… kid you not.

Off to refill my Ball jar with ice water…

Take care,

Hill