Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

Out to dinner Friday night with my girls in Boulder Colorado.

We pull the prius into a front row parking spot for "alternative fuel vehicles only." A parking sign that is not surprising to find in the organic, natural, Wholefoods loving Boulder.  Tonight we are going to Mod Market. Their slogan- Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. They're famous for salads, with as many toppings and condiments as an icecream parlor (but we'll get to dessert later). Start with a some spring greens, add a scoop of walnuts, some potatoes, a little goat cheese, throw some edamame in there, a little corn,  maybe steak- you literally feel like you could stand there with a clipboard and pen, checking off all your daily vitamins and minerals as you watch them mix and lightly dress everything in a bowl. 

And maybe today you're feeling macho and extra hungry, you want one of their flatbread, whole grain pizzas. They'll fill you up and you'll still leave feeling you ate something green.

While most night going out with the girls is fun, tonight it is mysterious. All seven of us have received anonymous letters in the mail telling us to go to Mod Market at 6:30p.m Mountain Standard time on Friday, March 11th. The letters are printed on CU track and field stationary, so we know it's someone on the team that's pulling this shenanigans. So now we're here. We look around at the crowded tables for a familiar face (actually, we're expecting a table of snickering boys). Unsure of what to do, Paige, Kelly and I pursue the line and order. As Paige pays she's handed something....

At the table, as we all sit with delicious food in front of us beginning to devour it, we pass around a strange card printed to The Factory (Our house is unanimously known as "The Factory" to everyone on our team"). 

There once were these girls from the Factory,

who are very close to finding me,

to unravel this pickle,

you must next go to Ripple.

But first eat, relax 

and loosen the belt on your slacks.

Welp, I had no trouble with the idea of dessert. 

We call it icecream, but this is Boulder, it's really frozen yogurt. Ripple is a build your own cup, top it yourself, frozen yogurt place! I guess you could call it healthy... that is until you pile on the cookie dough, brownies, poptarts, marshmallows, chocolate sauce and totally bypass the fruit station. 

We get to Ripple and we're expecting another clue like the time from before. With our eyes large with icecream (uh frozen yogurt) we all sit down, spoons in hand, and I proceed to tell a little story.  

My little story starts with some letters I mailed. And I cashier I talked to at Mod Market. Telling her I'd be back in a half hour with a group of girls, wearing "this same bright red jacket" and I'd be so very grateful if she's give them this card addressed to the factory. 

In the end we all sat at the table enjoying our dessert as we see more of our runner kin toping off their own bowls of dessert.

I got exactly what I wanted- A family dinner!