I joined a GYM!

Last night, Steven and I cashed in our savings, sold all our stuff, and sunk our money into our local gym.

Ok, that's not exactly how it happened.

It was more like, "Oh, it's only 71 dollars in total for the month, and I can bring Steven every single time, and I can cancel without penalty?"

"Let me just transfer some money to you and sign this little piece of paper. Thanks."

I am now a proud owner of this beepy tag thing that allows me to enter the Crunch premises.

It sounds weird, but I am looking forward to running on a treadmill on a weekly basis. Not only will it give my knees a break from the unavoidable downhills of North Sydney, but I can also zone out and listen to my beloved Radiolab podcasts without tripping over tree roots, run into poles, or get hit by a car.

Also, Crunch is like the largest gym in gym history (totally made that up), so there's plenty of space for Steven and I to amaze the crowds with our AcroYoga ninja-ness.

What gym have you joined, and why?

The Chatswood Library, where books are free!

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time in Chatswood in North Sydney. 

It's where one of my main yoga studios is, and it's really accessible by train from our house. 

The Chatswood Library is massive and absolutely gorgeous. It sits below the civic centre which is also connected to the performing arts centre. There is green space out front, a wide-screened TV (which plays free movies sometimes!), and restaurants and shops just down a flight of steps.

Inside, there are nearly floor-to-ceiling windows. The library goes around the central reflection pool with steel structures of "art" not captured here in the photo.

I signed up for a library card and had it sent over to my house.

I went back for my first library book today. I think I'm going to be at the library a lot. It's been far too long since I've read books all day long, so I can't wait! (Yes, I'm a nerd.)

I also picked these up from a neighbourhood grocer's a few days ago: kiwiberries! 

I forgot about them until today.

They are literally like tiny little kiwis, but you can eat the skin. They're hairless, sweet, tender, and friendly and kind. I want them to be my friends forever. 

At Chatswoods, I discovered one of my favourite fast food restaurants from now on. 

It's like Chipotle, but Australian.

They're called Salsas, and they have this great rice bowl. It's a bed of spicy rice, black beans, zucchini, broccoli and onion, salsa, and cheese. I got them to add a wad of delicious guacamole. 

I think this is something I can legitimately re-create at home, so stay tuned for deliciousness!

My Day, in Instagram photos

A beautiful, sunny day in Sydney.

We got off the train at Milson's Point and saw beautiful views of the opera house, and Luna Park.

Had a coffee and smoothie break in a cafe in the nearby Kirribilli suburb. 

Took the train to North Sydney Station, and wandered the streets.

When I saw this awesome fern, I had to take a picture.

Then, we journeyed up to Chatswood, and stopped here in the Garden of Remembrance to enjoy the roses.

Later, we went back to the city for ramen at my new favourite place to eat.

Now, our feet are tired, our bellies are full, so it is time to curl up in front of the lap tops and watch some Big Brother Canada.

Best day in a while

After my run yesterday (I'll blog about this later!) I woke up feeling pretty good. I was determined to paper the town with my resumes. 

NO RETAIL STORE ANYWHERE IN SYDNEY WOULD ESCAPE MY WRATH. 

I took a train (btw, 6 dollars for the ride. SIX DOLLARS! Gawds, I'm so poor now.) over to Chatswood, a  suburb in northern Sydney.

Actually, I had an ulterior motive in coming here to Chatswood. 

It is the location of a Lululemon store, and you know how I love to get my lemons on. 

The ladies here were super nice (as they are everywhere), and asked me a bunch of questions. They didn't seem to mind that my visa only allows me to work with any one employer for 6 months. 

I'm invited to an open interview soon, and I hope I get a job (for the sake of both Steven and my sanity). 

My lunch was Sumo Salad, this fast food chain with ready-made salads in nearly every food court I've been in here in Aussie-land. 

I chatted with Steven about how happy I was that the Lulus were nice to me. 

Then, I went for a walk around Chatswood since I'd already paid the $6 to get there. 

I was looking about the shops when I saw the mighty OM sign in a window. Naturally, I examined it further, and found The Yoga Hotspot. 

I went inside and talked to David, the co-owner of the studio, and I'm excited to practice, and possibly teach (!!!!) at The Yoga Hotspot. 

Then, as I was walking back to the train station, glowing with happiness, some guy came up to me and said, "Sorry to stop you, but I couldn't let this chance walk away from me." 

"So, you're pretty cute, and I thought I'd just try to talk to you." 

"How are you doing?" 

When I picked my jaw back up from the floor, for a milli-second I thought about toying with this guy, but then I said, "I have a boyfriend. Sorry." 

"Boyyyyyfrrriieennndd?!?" he moaned. 

"Good luck!" I patted him on the shoulder. 

And that's the makings of a pretty awesome day. 

How was yours?