Great weekend- salon, friends, sushi, motivation and running!

Happy Monday folks!

While I could spend the next week down in the dumps because my boyfriend is working in Shanghai til next Tuesday, I've been focusing on the positive and how great my weekend was!

Salon
First off, after being bummed dropping off Ryan at the airport on Saturday morning, I quickly got a smile on my face for the rest of the day after visiting my favorite stylist Crystal at the Ulta in Woodbury (MN).  Even though I live 35 minutes away now, I still go back to her every 6 weeks!

I got red foils on top of my red and blonde foils from six weeks ago, I love it!!!

Friends and Sushi
I got together with one of my best friends on Saturday night so we could catch up, enjoy some sushi and have fun!  We went to Sushi Tango in Uptown, sat on the patio and enjoyed funky drinks, I loved my pomegranate tangojito, and yummy sushi rolls!  My friend tried this cool roll called "flame" and it was seared on the outside, just a little bit, I recommend it!

After dinner we headed over to the Pizza Luce block party.  The party was super crowded and it was kinda difficult to get our food/drink tickets and obtaining a beer/slice of pizza took a bit over a half hour, I wish that was better organized. But, we had a good time listening to the last band and being outside on a nice summer night!

Motivation
Whoo boy, did I get a big kick in the butt of motivation from my friend Mariah this weekend!  Mariah races in triathalons! A few friends and I went to Lake Nokomis to cheer her on in the YWCA Women's Triathalon on Sunday. 

A few things I did not realize about triathalons:
1. People of all ages, shapes, sizes and athletic ability participate
2. Pretty much every participant I saw, while exhausted, was elated to be participating
3. People are there pretty much every leg of the way cheering on EVERYONE
4. I can ride a bike, I can run, I can practice my swimming...I can do one with some training!

Hmm, something to think about :)

Running
I did my first ever run all the way around a lake this weekend for my Couch to 5K, Week 8, day 1 run!!! Thank you to Corryn for commiting with me to a run on a hot (over 80!) Sunday afternoon run with me!  I wasn't prepared for all the people and the heat, I got through all my water and my pace was a bit slower than usual, had to walk for a minute a couple times.  I did it though! I went around a lake like a big girl! Lake Harriet to be exact, yay! I plan to do it again in cooler weather and see if that improves my time, I'm sure it will.

Oh! I also got a new running accessory this weekend a Nathan's Quickdraw Thermal Water Bottle. The bottle had a spot where I could attach my car key inside a zip in pouch, which I could definitely fit an ID or some money, etc in along with it.  My water stayed cold, it had a nice handle to slip my hand through, easy to use, loved it! Yay, now I think I can go on longer runs!

I hope everyone had a fun, fulfilling and active weekend!
<3 Merbear

One Step, One Breath Priorfatgirl Summer Event

This weekend I joined some familiar faces, made some new friends and learned lots of new ways to think about the mental and physical aspects of my healthiness journey. Jen, of Priorfatgirl hosted this awesome and fun event!

We all met at The Beat Coffeehouse at 8am on Saturday morning, uffdah early, good thing they have wonderful coffee!

The first speaker was Mary Sailors of Fit this, girl! She's a Personal Trainer, Bootcamp Instructor and a Kettlebell instructor and super nice and easy to follow.  She gave us a presentation about how to focus on your goal, what to think about mentally, physically, food wise, and environment wise. She showed us exercises that anyone can do at home with a band, too!

Mary Sailor, Fit This, Girl!

Lets Squat!

Kris @krisgetshealthy.com and Ann @twelve-in-twelve.com

Ann working on resistance band moves

Jen @priorfatgirl.com
pulling those bands!

Yay Jen!

Kris and Ann listening attentively to instructions

Kris's turn!

Work it Kris!

Jen talked about how much relationships can change, can be lost, and new ones can be built as we change our minds and our bodies to become healthier. Our lives, our environment, the people we want around us, the people that can accept our new lifestyle may change who we surround ourselves with and who chooses to stick with us.  She said that 80% of marriages where one spouse loses a significant amount of weight end in divorce...so its important to compromise and to keep lines of communication open!

Jen





Doing her thing






















After meeting a the coffeehouse, we ventured to our 2nd half of the day, which was a cooking class on Healthy Comfort Foods by KitchenWerks.

We learned how to make:

Spaghetti sauce served on romaine or wilted broccoli slaw
(as pasta substitutes)



Topping off the mac 'n cheese with breadcrumbs



mmm organic, gluten free and appropriate portioned
mac 'n cheese

Coconut chicken strips, they are coated in
a flax crumb topping and baked on a sheet
with coconut oil, SOO GOOD!

Pizza made on Joseph's Lavash or Arnold's Sandwich Thins
We used the homemade sauce or olive oil as the base



Jen putting together what she claims was the "best" pizza















I had such a wonderful time catching up, networking, learning new things, tasting new things (you betcha I'm going to serve pasta sauce on wilted broccoli slaw now!)  Plus a healthier recipe for mac 'n cheese and chicken strips, yum nom nom nom!

Made me feel healthy and accomplished all weekend.

P.S.
On Sunday I also ran outside for another 25 minutes w/ a 5 min warmup, yay me!

What I Love Wednesday

Big bay window in my
new home

Leftover Chipotle Burrito Bol because
I only eat 1/2 at a time, YUM!

black cherry and pomegranate Chobani!

Pretty Pedicures



Pistachios!




I like turtles



Busy Weekend Ahead!

So I'm moving in 15 days and how many boxes do I have packed? Umm, about 10....BUT..my apartment isn't that big, most of my stuff lives in storage types of drawers or containers anyway (which I just tape up to move).  Still..I'm feeling guilty, cuz I have kinda a busy Saturday ahead, and then on Wednesday I'm leaving for 5 days of  vacation, hehe..oh well, it'll all get packed up, I did this a year ago though and I'm way more organized and have a lot less stuff this year. So I'm not sweatin' it :)

On Saturday I'm bringing my cats to the vet. Shorty loves it, he just likes being touched, paid attention to, whatever so the vet is like dreamland to him.  Isis on the other hand, she gets hissy and snippy (doesn't bite) and the vet tells me every year that she has a heart problem goes her heart rate is so high, no, its not high, she just hates the vet and gets all hyper.

After the vet I'm going to get my girlie mani-pedi on at the local shop in prep for vacation! I want my pretty little tosies and fingers to look amazing for grandma you know!

Then I'm so excited for my night!  First, its sushi dinner for my friend Amanda's 40th birthday! Woohoo for Amanda and for sushi!!! Then, after dinner I'm heading up to Andover to a BBQ and Bonfire with lots of long time good friends, even a couple that now live in Denver (I'm in MN for those that don't know!) I'm so excited to see everyone!!!

Oh oh, okay yes there will be exercise this weekend, either tonight after work or on Sunday I will do my 20 minute run! I'll report back on Monday how that goes!

I hope everyone is going to have an awesome weekend!!!!