Archive for January, 2010
Welcome to the second day of Yoga Week!
Hopefully you’ve already entered in the Gaiam yoga mat giveaway. But what good is a yoga mat if you are just going to get it all mucked up taking to class? And I don’t even want to think about the germs it might pick up along he way- yikes!
Luckily, the folks at Manduka are generously giving away a top-of-the-line yoga mat sling. Let me just tell ya- I am super jealous of whoever a scores this goodie because it is jut as stylish as it is functional.
From the Web site:
Anytime, anywhere, the Mat Sling is the perfect accessory for your yoga mat. Light, stylish, and extremely durable, the sling is made of recycled fabric and designed to adjust to every body type and any size mat. With an attachable pouch to store your wallet, keys, water bottle and essential personal items, the Mat Sling is a model of sophisticated simplicity. Whether you walk, bike, or drive to the studio, the Manduka Mat Sling makes the transition from your life to your mat fun and effortless.
Highlights
- Shoulder padding for added comfort.
- Easily adjusts to fit every body type and any yoga mat.
- Convenient carabineer attachment points to clip on items such as keys, reusable water bottle or accessory pouch!
- Smooth, durable nylon strap easily slides on and off, yet maintains a firm grip when carried.
- Clip-on accessory pouch made of recycled fabric to store essential personal items (i.e. wallet, keys, eQua® hand towel).
To enter to win, please leave a comment telling me your favorite yoga pose – or which one you are looking the most forward to learning.
TO WIN EXTRA ENTRIES YOU MAY:
- Tweet about the giveaway
- Blog about the giveaway (if you don’t have a blog, email someone the giveaway)
- Follow me on google reader
- Add The Daily Balance to your Blogroll
GOOD LUCK!!
I have a new favorite restaurant: L’Albatros
Look how charming!
Clevelanders – go here. Now.
After looking at the menu in advance and considering all your suggestions, I felt ready to make a decision. But when I got there, I just got overwhelmed and conflicted again! Everything looked phenomenal! I ended up asking our waiter, Robert, what he recommended. He pointed out the Walleye and Lobster Quenelle, which was recently featured in Esquire. A FAMOUS dish?! How could I go wrong?
Ah-mazing.
oh
my
word
If I’m ever on death row — or know that I’ll be dying in 3 hours, this would be my final meal. The flavors were so incredible! The fish was light and flaky and soaked up the delicious, buttery, savory sauce quite nicely. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the lobster quenelle, but it exceeded all of my expectations. For those of you who are tilting your head, wondering what the heck quenelle is, I’ll fill you in. “French quenelles, usually made with pike, are dauntingly rich dumplings that the restaurant makes with lobster meat, egg whites, heavy cream, and herbs, combined in a food processor to form a thick paste.” These were then cooked like a dumpling and served alongside the fish. So rich and creamy, yet surprisingly light! Out-of-this-world.
As you know, the Mister and I dined with his boss Tom and Tom’s girlfriend, Jess. Jess ordered the cassoulet, which was explained as “braised white beans with lamb, duck confit and sausages.” Take a look!
Jess LOVED this dish, as did everyone else who tried it at the table. Our conversation basically stopped for 20 minutes while everyone was eating. All anybody would say is yuuuummmmmm and “this is the best meal EVER.”
The Mister ordered Hanger Steak and Frites (fries). He was quite pleased.
Just when we thought we couldn’t eat another bite, Brandon, the restaurant manager (I think) stopped by with a treat for the birthday boy.
Behold…
This cheese was out of this world! I wish I could remember the names of them all, but for those of you who live in Cleveland, you are going to have to go to L’Albatros and give it a try — it’ll knock your socks off. Not to mention, the service was outstanding — these guys know their stuff and are so incredibly helpful — plus, they didn’t turn their noses at me when I couldn’t promounce the fancy words! For those of you who aren’t lucky enough to live in Cleveland — this restaurant alone is worthy of a trip — just make sure you invite me along 
Make sure you enter my Yoga Mat giveaway!
Good morning, everyone!
Are you ready for the long-awaited surprise?! I said, ARE YOU READY FOR THE SURPRISE! (Go ahead, fist-pump into the air and clap your hands )
Remember my fitness resolutions goals?
Well, as you all know, I don’t do anything half-assed. If I’m going to learn something or make a commitment, I go all out. So in an effort to become a little yogi, I bring to you…YOGA WEEK.
In an effort to familiarize myself with the practice, I’m going to be doing a lot of reading, introductory videos, classes, etc. For those of you who have been thinking about starting yoga, NOW IS THE TIME! Let’s conquer this sucker together
But we’ll need gear, won’t we? We’ll need the right tools, too, right?!
Lucky for you, I’ve got ya covered. Each day this week, I will be featuring a yoga-themed giveaway and providing introductory information for those of you who want to get started with me (and for those of you who already practice). I have some AMAZING giveaways lined up — total retail cost of all prizes is roughly $180!
Be sure to check in every day to see what we’re up to and score some great yoga gear.
Now, in order to do anything, you’ll need a yoga mat. And don’t get one of those cheap-y mats that will fall apart — we’re in this for the long run, people!
Let’s do this the right way and get The Flower of Life Mat from Gaiam
Gaiam Flower of Life Mat
Flower of Life Yoga Mat features:
- Textured nonslip surface
- Provides cushion for your body
- Lightweight, durable and chic
- Solid construction
The folks at Gaiam are graciously giving away one yoga mat to one lucky reader. To enter, simply leave a comment telling me why you want to start yoga – or if you already practice, tell me what you love most about it! And as always, there are multiple ways to score an entry.
TO WIN EXTRA ENTRIES YOU MAY:
- Tweet about the giveaway
- Blog about the giveaway (if you don’t have a blog, email someone the giveaway)
- Follow me on google reader
- Add The Daily Balance to your Blogroll
Just leave me a comment letting me know that you did each of the above and you can get up to 4 more entries!! If you already follow on google reader and have me on your Blogroll, just let me know – you’ll still get an extra entry
GOOD LUCK!