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My 40 days of meditation {in review}

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As you may remember, for Lent this year I decided to focus on ADDING something, rather than taking something away. I just felt like there was more meaning behind adding something beneficial to my life than there was restricting myself from sweets, chips, peanut butter, etc.

Since there were so many of you who commented and said you were interested in trying it with me, I wanted to check in and give you my thoughts now that the 40 days are over.

The verdict? Overall, I really liked it! But,was I good at it? Not really. Was it easy? Definitely not. Did I do it every day? Nope-I have to admit that I missed days here and there and didn’t always want to take time to sit and do it, but that’s ok. I didn’t want it to become another task; I wanted to WANT to do it because I felt the benefits. Therefore, if I wasn’t feeling it, I didn’t do it.

And that is OK. I’m proud of myself for realizing that!

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I have to say, though, “meditating” for just 10 minutes a day for a month + (give or take a few days… well, actually just take a few days) was much harder than I anticipated. There were some nights where I just couldn’t shut my mind off! It was so frustrating, but rather than getting upset over it, I just let my thoughts come in and tried to let them go right back out (I have to thank my date here- he’s actually the one who turned me onto meditating and when I voiced my frustrations to him about my racing mind, he told me to acknowledge them, let them come in and then let them out. It helped). This wasn’t always successful, but I tried! Some nights I used the 10 minutes to just think, because clearly I had a lot of thoughts that were racing through my mind. Yet other nights I was able to sit there, peacefully, and just breathe innnn and outtttt with big belly breaths.

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Will I continue this now that Lent is over? I’d like to say I will do it a few times a week, but if I’m being totally honest, I don’t know if I actually will. It’s not that I didn’t like it, but it was another added thing to my day. Granted, I should put down my computer/iPad/phone earlier or shut off my TV earlier or get up 10 minutes earlier to get in the 10 minutes of quiet, still, ME time. But sometimes we aren’t always as good at doing things we know we should do, right? Sometimes it’s easier to talk about the things we could/should/would do rather than actually taking the time to DO them. In the end, doing more and talking less is something I could really benefit from… anyone else?

I hope all of you were successful with Lent this year- I want to know how it went! Were you able to last all 40 days? Did you cheat at all? Have you decided to adopt the change you made for longer than the Lenton period? Any advice to help me do more and talk less?

Birthday Weekend Celebrations

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Another year of birthday celebrations have come and gone. It’s always a little depressing when something you’ve been looking forward to is over, right? I had total post-party blues on Sunday. Womp, womp.

I started out my birthday weekend with a pancake breakfast- something I never do. My date made up a delicious batch of paleo pumpkin pancakes which were delicious! He also made me a smoothie- I could get used to that!

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I worked a bit and then headed to Brighton to get a much-needed manicure and pedicure. It was SO relaxing. I go to Queen Bee nails and absolutely love it. I got a shellac manicure (which includes a paraffin wax) for $25! They also gave me a bottle of lotion for my birthday- so sweet of them.

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Saturday morning my sister and I went to a class at Recycle Studio. We were supposed to go to Lindsay’s class, but I was an idiot and we missed it. Luckily there was a class right after it that Lindsay was taking, so they let us just take that class instead.

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That afternoon, my parents came down for lunch at Santarpio’s. Although a pizza lunch was probably not the best lunch to have before getting into a tight dress, I enjoyed every bite of it 😉

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We came back to my apartment to have bunny cake and open presents. My mom makes me this cake every year- isn’t it the cutest?

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I was so happy that my parents made the trip down here. We hadn’t seen them in a long time and I always like when they visit!

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Saturday night was my birthday celebration at the Liberty Hotel. So many of my friends came- I couldn’t believe it! I had home friends, college friends, gym friends and other Boston friends I’ve made over the years. It was so good to see everyone!

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Thank you so much to everyone for coming out!!

I spent Sunday lunching with my Shapleigh girls, grocery shopping, and checking out all my presents from the weekend. My gym friends Steph, Alice and Jen brought me the nicest present- wine, wine glasses, napkins and a mani/pedi gift cert! I can’t wait to go back and use it. My upstairs neighbor, Lauren, gave me a nice bottle of wine and my other upstairs neighbor, Lisa, gave me the most gorgeous plant! You girls are all the best!

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I ended my day with a nice, long walk throughout the parks in Eastie and along the water. It was nice to have some quiet time just for me to reflect on the past year.

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Lastly, Monday night, my date took me out to celebrate with me on my actual birthday. We started with cocktails at Trade. I went with a Cosmo and I was very happy with that decision!

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We had dinner reservations at Row 34, which I’ve been dying to try. It was a good thing he tried making reservations a week and a half in advance because they were already booked solid (on a Monday!). I called and pulled some birthday strings, though, and got us in. Everything from the atmosphere to the service to the food was outstanding and we thoroughly enjoyed every piece of the experience. I even tried oysters- and liked them! I had the Bucatini and it was SO good. I think he had the bluefish, but I can’t remember… I blame it on the Cosmo’s 😉

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We both agreed that we can’t wait to go back!

Thank you, again, to all my friends and family for making my birthday weekend so amazing!! Here’s to 29!

 

Twenty-Nine

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Yikes. How am I just one year away from no longer being in my twenties? It’s really crazy to think about, actually. I spent some time on Sunday reflecting on the past year, and you know what? Twenty Eight was pretty awesome. Not only did I have the chance to do so many really great things and go on some fun trips, but I found a lot out about myself. I guess living alone will do that to you. I’ve realized that I should try and slow down, and although this is still very challenging for me, being aware of it is a step in the right direction. I’ve opened up and shared some deeper posts and have enjoyed connecting with those of you who read and comment here- your support really does mean the world to me.

Here are some of the highlights from the past year- I love that I have everything documented!

This list is really just a high-level glimpse into my year last year, but even if that’s all I did last year, I’d still think it was pretty fantastic. If 29 is anywhere near as great as 28, I’m in for a good ride. I hope you’ll stick with me during my journeys this year 🙂

Vegas State of Mind

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Did you know that April is National Stress Awareness Month? In an effort to help promote this awareness, I was contacted by the content director at Vegas.com asking me if I’d like to participate in their “Let Loose” campaign, which encourages people to turn to events/activities/hobbies/etc. to let loose and unwind. As soon as I heard about this, I was all in! With my crazy schedule, I can always use a reminder of ways let loose, unwind and have fun.

Obviously I’d love to GO to Vegas to unwind, but since that’s not an option at the moment, I’m just going to share my favorite ways to unwind (That don’t include a vacation) with you here on this little blog. My hopes is that it will encourage YOU to think about what helps you unwind… and then maybe even motivate you to do it 🙂

Have a glass of wine… with or without friends…

It’s no surprise that I love wine, but more than just loving the taste, I love the way it helps me relax. There’s something just so wonderful about sipping a glass of wine after a long day or to celebrate the weekend (or celebrate anything, really)… and doing it with friends is an added bonus 😉

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Go to the beach

Although this is a limited form of relaxation when living in New England since we only have a few short months to do this, it’s one of the best for me! I’m not usually very good at sitting and doing nothing, but there’s something about being at the beach that makes doing that VERY easy. I don’t even need a book! As long as I have a towel, sunscreen and water, I’m a happy camper.

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Get a manicure and/or pedicure

This somewhat forces me to unwind because I’m confined to the small, fantastic massaging chair, but hey- it works! It’s also a time to catch up on all the trashy magazines that they always have laying around the nail salon. A lot of places offer mani/pedi deals when done together so make sure to ask about that if you’re trying to save a little money.

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Read a book

I don’t do this nearly enough, but every time I do I’m reminded of how relaxing it is. Note to self: start a new book.

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Go for a walk

While working out at my normal intensity (read: high intensity, high impact, fast-paced, etc.) is not “unwinding” in and of itself, going for a walk is. It’s time to slow down, look around and appreciate having the ability to do that. I especially like going for walks with friends or my mom and sister. It’s a great time to catch up on life AND gain benefits of physical activity.

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Cooking

Being in the kitchen, with a glass of wine in hand and a good Pandora station on in the background, is one of my favorite things to do (outside of the gym!). This often takes up a good part of my Sunday afternoon since I like to spend time prepping lunches and snacks for the week and I like to make a nice meal that’s a bit more labor and time intensive than my weeknight meals.

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… if I were to go to Vegas, then my choice ways of unwinding and enjoying myself would be laying poolside at a fancy pool, treating myself to a massage or some other spa service, going to a show at night and indulging in all of the amazing foods that the restaurants have to offer. I haven’t been to Vegas in 5 or 6 years, but all this recent talk of it makes me want to go back!

Now it’s your turn- What’s your favorite way to unwind? Do you like to do an activity or relax by reading or having a glass of wine? What’s your favorite destination to retreat to when you’re looking to unwind? Have you been to Vegas? If so, what’s your favorite Vegas activity? Feel free to share your favorite ways to “let loose” on Twitter and use the hashtag #letloose2014!

ClassPass in Review: Thoughts & Reviews of Classes

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Well, I’m sad to say that my month ClassPass membership has come and gone. Where the heck did those 30 days go?! Since my pass is done, though, I wanted to take some time to share my thoughts on the experience, as well as a brief overview of the classes that I was able to take in and around the Boston area.

Core Fusion Cardio- Exhale Spa

  • Location: Battery Warf
  • Website: http://www.boston.exhalespa.com/boston-battery-wharf-class-schedule
  • Instructor: Chrissy Snyder
  • Thoughts: It’s no surprise that I LOVED this class. I love everything about Exhale Spa. I think the classes are challenging, but rewarding, the instructors are super knowledgeable and the whole experience is worth a visit. I love that they have a phenomenal locker room because it’s nice to be able to shower after a class and carry on with the rest of my day.
  • Review: Exhale Spa: Core Fusion Fest

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Velo 45- Velo City

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Pursuit 45- Pursuit Boston

  • Location: Back Bay- Boylston Street
  • Website: http://pursuitboston.com/pages/schedule
  • Instructor: Amanda Lilley
  • Thoughts: I loved Pursuit Boston! Everyone was super friendly, the space was airy and bright, the energy was high and they had a shower (or 2?) that you could use after the class. They also had plenty of places to change and even had an area to stretch and use weights. The class didn’t use weights, but they are adding new “boot camp” cycle classes soon. They also had some shoes to borrow and provided free hair elastics and chapstick and your first class is free. Lastly, they offer a bunch of special packages which are worth checking out. I highly suggest trying it out.
  • Reviews: This Week: Workouts {lots of teaching again}, Review of Velo City & Pursuit Boston, Things I’m looking forward to

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Exhale Flow Yoga- Exhale Spa

  • Location: Battery Warf
  • Website: http://www.boston.exhalespa.com/boston-battery-wharf-class-schedule
  • Instructor: Michael Alba
  • Thoughts: This class was exactly what I needed the day that I went. It was a Sunday morning class, so the energy was peaceful and the instructor was amazing. Michael walked around throughout the class and assisted us, which I love. He helped me get deeper into poses so I could push myself past my boundaries and get the full effect of the post. The flow was well planned out and had smooth transitions. I left the class feeling 100 times better than when I went in!

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Request Ride- Recycle Studio

  • Location: Back Bay- Newbury Street
  • Website: http://www.recycle-studio.com/schedule-2/
  • Instructor: Linsday Bucci
  • Thoughts: Again, it’s no surprise that I loved this class.  Out of all the cycling studio’s I’ve been to in Boston, Recycle stands true to be my favorite. I feel like it’s the best total body workout because we do chest presses, triceps pushes, core exercises and upper body weight routines all while on the saddle. Lindsay’s classes are awesome because her playlists are amazing, her words are motivating and she has us in 2nd or 3rd position most of the time, which I love since I hate sitting in the saddle for too long! The only thing I think Recycle lacks compared to other indoor cycling studios is the fact that they don’t offer a free first class… or anything free for that matter. Shoe rentals are $2 and they charge for elastics and other little things like that that most other studios offer for free.
  • Review: #hellyesyoucan {My First Recycle Studio Experience}

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Fly 45- Flywheel Boston

  • Location: Back Bay- Prudential Center
  • Website: http://boston.flywheelsports.com/reserve/back-bay
  • Instructor: Jessica L
  • Thoughts: Meh. I wasn’t feeling this class, partly because it was a Friday morning, which means I’m usually beat from my double on Thursday night and partly because the room was more empty than full. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the instructor’s music, choreography or instruction style. However, I have been to classes there that I loved- Ana is an amazingggg instructor, so I would suggest a class with her! I love that Flywheel is huge, so it can fit a lot of people. I also like that there is a score board- I was concerned about this at first, but the fact that they only put that up when they want you to race and challenge yourself makes it a great tool! All of your rides are stored within your profile, so you can see your progress throughout the weeks, which is cool. Shoe rentals are free (yay), your first class is free (double yay) and they have hair elastics. There are a few showers to use as well.
  • Reviews: Indoor Cycling at Flywheel, ClassPass is here!

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Pilates Mat ReMIXX- Boston Body

  • Location: Back Bay- Newbury Street
  • Website: http://www.bostonbody.com/locations-schedules/boston-new/
  • Instructor: Jessica L
  • Thoughts: I loved this class! It was a nice change of pace from my usual high-intensity, high-impact workouts. This was the same instructor as the Flywheel instructor and I have to say I liked her a lot better in this environment! She gave a great workout- we did weights at the beginning that literally made my arms cry. I was embarrassed that I had to take breaks with 3lb. weights! From there we moved to some core work and then the glute work, which, again, killed me. I couldn’t even finish a set, which actually got kind of discouraging. I like to be challenged and feel the burn, but I also like to be able to achieve the task at hand. Oh well, something to work towards! I liked the studio space a lot and the employees were super friendly. They offer a wide range of Pilates classes.
  • Review: This Week: Workouts & Things I’m Looking Forward To {Birthday Week pt 1}

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Pilates Tower- Studio J

  • Location: Government Center
  • Website: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=44032
  • Instructor: Kristina Shumsky
  • Thoughts: LOVED it. I was lucky enough to end up having a private lesson with Kristina and she was amazing. She asked about my fitness levels, areas of concern and what I would like to achieve during our half hour and went to town. We did all sorts of stuff that left me quite humbled. I liked that the majority of the classes were just a half hour- it was a nice change from the usual 45-60 minute commitment. We used the tower machines, which can be intimidating at first, but they are really an amazing tool. The studio has only been opened for about 2 months, but they offer a number of pilates and yoga classes. I definitely suggest trying it out and maybe you could be lucky and have a private, too.
  • Review: This Week: Workouts & Things I’m Looking Forward To {Birthday Week pt 1}

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As you can see, I was able to jump around to a number of different studios to try out a nice variety of classes. The beauty of ClassPass is that it doesn’t allow you to visit the same studio more than 3 times in a month, which is great because it forces you to venture out and try new places. It would have been easy for me to go to the same studio and class throughout the month, but I tried to branch out and try classes and studios that I may not have tried otherwise.

Although I absolutely love ClassPass and think it is the most brilliant idea, there are some “cons” to the system that I found out as I learned more about the membership. I feel it’s only fair for me to share these with you, too. They definitely aren’t deal breakers for me, but rather just things to keep in mind!

  • You have to schedule your class 24 hours + in advance. While this isn’t a huge deal, it can be frustrating when you realize you can take a class the next morning, yet you can’t actually book it since it’s less than 24 hours away. It can be hard to plan out your week of workouts days in advance, but it’s kind of necessary to do when using ClassPass.
  • You can’t cancel a class. Once you book the class, you’re committed to it, otherwise you lose your class and have to pay $20. I do have to say, though, that when this happened to me (totally on accident), they waived the fee and gave me the class back. I wonder what would happen if you learned you could no longer take a class you signed up to take? I bet if you emailed them an let them know about the situation they would help you.
  • Not all classes at a particular participating studio are included in the ClassPass schedule. I’m not sure why this is the case (maybe because they are “high demand” classes and fill up on their own with non ClassPass members?), but it’s something to be aware of.

As you can see, my “cons” aren’t anything too major, especially if you know about them in advance. Otherwise, I think ClassPass is absolutely worth the money for a month membership. With the number of participating studios seemingly increasing on the daily, you’re sure to find a class that fits your need/want for a particular day. Whether it be a high intensity cardio class, barre class, Pilates class, yoga class or spin class, you can find something both in the city and the city’s surrounding towns.

Thank you, again, to ClassPass for providing me with a membership to see what it was all about. It was such a fun month!

Disclaimer: Although I was provided with a free month membership to CLassPass, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Questions for you: Have you been to any of the classes or studios I’ve listed above? Have any of you signed up for ClassPass?