Picture Challenge Day 8: Chocolate

I didn't think this would be a hard one.  Turns out when it's chocolate it doesn't stay pretty enough to photograph for very long for me.  Apparently chocolate disappears quickly around here. 
I am a healthy eater who eats chocolate.  I don't think of it as a "cheat" or my one "bad" food.  Chocolate in the forms I now consume it (healthier versions than your typical Snickers bar), has some health benefits and is something I have consistently in my daily food intake.

These little treats are from Whole Foods.  I love pomegranate.  I love dark chocolate.  I love Whole Foods.  So, as you can see, these things needed to end up in my house and eventually, in my tummy.

These chocolate goodies come with a weekend story! 
On Friday my dearest husband asked me a strange question during lunch.  "Would you like to go to a Rockies game this weekend?"
Some engineers from his parent company in Japan have been visiting all week.  They are now headed home as of today.  Yesterday, however, was a final hoorah for them in enjoying the states.  Someone from the American plant needed to be there to entertain and make sure they enjoyed the day... however, for reasons unknown, we were the only ones who were indifferent or willing to go.  So, Saturday morning we were on the road to Denver with two Japanese men following us.
To waste some time since we got to the Crowne Plaza Hotel so early (by the way, we didn't have to pay for anything on this trip), we walked to the nearest Whole Foods, which was a bit disappointing in it's selection when you know you love their honey roasted peanut butter and it wasn't an option, and the large collection of nuts is cut down because it's a smaller store.  So, we walked a mile and a half to Whole Foods to buy a Chilli Cherry chocolate bar and these chocolates. 
The game was okay, the Rockies lost and we never got on the big screen.  The Japanese guys can drink and were shocked that I only wanted water!
The best part of the trip was dinner.  We went to Sodoba, an authentic Japanese restaurant in the "LoDo" region (downtown Denver).  Because I had no idea what to get and most of them were planning on Sushi, I just told the waitress I was vegetarian and didn't like Tempura.  Okay, I lied.  I eat meat and it isn't that tempura isn't delicious it's that it has oils in it and those oils make me sick (and it isn't the healthiest option).  So, she took good care of me, bringing me only vegetarian things.  I got a salad and vegetarian sushi (mmm, avacado rolls!).  I avoided eating regular sushi (which I don't care for)!
The company was so much fun at dinner, too.  Ken-son (I don't know how they write their names, but that's my guess on his) sat next to me and encouraged me, again and again, to use my chopsticks.  He was very kind and though I didn't know what he was saying half the time I laughed the whole evening.  Watching them interact with the waitress, who spoke fluent Japanese, and the crazy dynamic of a lot of engineers and a production worker (who continuously bowed and served drinks to everyone at our table).  It was a lot of fun and I learned I could eat in Japan if I just tell everyone I'm vegetarian.

Picture Challenge Day 7: Sunset

I remember reading an interesting article when I was in high school about people who preferred sunsets over sunrises.  People who loved sunrises tended to be more practical, more productive but rated how they enjoyed life lower than those who loved sunsets.  Sunset lovers were more romantic, more laid back and rated their life enjoyment pretty high.  Whether or not these are true I have no idea.  I prefer sunrises and I enjoy life a lot... maybe if I loved sunsets I would be really, really happy all the time.
Anyway, on our way to South Dakota this past weekend, we got to witness a really great sunset.  Unfortunately, my little point and shoot camera and the fact that we didn't want to stop to take a picture doesn't allow you to see the awesomeness of it.  There were a lot of rainstorms going on and we were looking at the sunset through miles of rainstorms, all lit orange.

Actually, looking at it, this picture isn't all that pretty at all.  Sorry.  I tried to get you a good sunset picture and I hadn't seen one until that night.
Our trip to South Dakota was good, though.  We hiked Harney Peak with Jim's dad and our dog, David.  We had ice cream at Armadillos (which started a trend, I have now had ice cream three days in a row.  By the way, if you haven't already, you should make some banana based soft serve, it's delicious.  I used this recipe yesterday.  I didn't use a sweetener but I did put a bit of fresh ground peanut butter in it. I highly recommend it if like me, chocolate is your one "cheat" to a healthy diet.  I don't consider it a cheat, actually, but maybe that's for another post.

Photo Challenge Day 6: From A Distance

First, an explanation.  When I went to Minnesota and posted so many pictures I'm far ahead, so I'm relaxing a bit on posting so the days can catch up to my pictures (so I'm not half way through November with more than enough pictures!).  So if you have been missing the picture challenge, I'm sorry, but that's why I'm doing it!
Nothing too exciting has been happening since the last post.  I did get a high-speed bee sting while we were biking on Saturday.  Right in the face.  A few days before that a bird pooped on me while I was on a run.  And to add to that, I got a spider bite while lifting weights in the basement.  Nature is rejecting me.

Today's picture challenge had me thinking about perspective.  I took this picture because it's a common running route for me.  That road goes on for a few blocks that you can't see.  Usually, looking this direction I am coming from home.  Some mornings, getting to the end of this road seems like a long way.  Other days it's just the beginning and it flies by.  It's all about perspective.  Just like everything else, looking at it from a distance, it looks like a long road the never ends.  Looking at it one foot in front of the other it doesn't seem so bad.

Picture Challenge Day 4: What I Ate

This was the one I was really looking forward to for the longest time.  If you haven't noticed, I love talking about food.  So every day for the past week I've made some great dishes that I would love to share with everyone, only to have forgotten my camera.
And instead of doing that all over again, I will just share with you my new breakfast love. 
Honey flavored greek yogurt with blueberries.  Yum for protein and antioxidants! 

Yup.  I'm going to be that boring with this post.  Hopefully the next picture will be a bit more enteratining.

Photo Challenge Day 4: Favorite Color

Or "Favourite", as the actual challenge says.  Is that the England English version, like colour?  You can tease my hick sounding comment if you want, but it looks french to me and makes me want to really exaggerate the word like "favooooorite". 
Anyway.
Today's challenge was favorite color.  I reserve the right, as a woman, to have options.  I love all sorts of colors and the specific situation determines which one is my favorite.  For instance, I love wearing bright green when I run but bright green isn't my favorite color.  I like the way I look in pink.  My favorite flowers are orange.  My blue music room and burgundy kitchen are my favorite rooms in the house but I would hate to have a burgundy music room or blue kitchen.  My husband pulls of blue shirts (especially light blue) better than anyone (I give everyone permission to look at his eyes while wearing a blue shirt.  It's okay, you can fall in love with him a little bit, I won't be offended).   I like the color of all of my dogs.  I love my dark brown couch.  My glasses are dark green to go with my green eyes.

So if I had to narrow it down to one "color" (or "colour", ha) I would say clear... if that is allowed.  Clear is pure, goes well with everything and to me seems peaceful.  It makes me think water, flowing and refreshing and pretty even though it lacks color.

Water in our new fridge purifier.  I thought it was really pretty.