*blue balls not included.
I don’t know why I get so annoyed by someone describing this site as a “sex in the city blog.” Which, AND not IN, amiright, ladies?! But it really makes me bonkers. First off, Sex & the City was not a blog. Also, I haven’t really written about my single-something dating life in, well.. four years of my no-longer-single relationship. Our baby projects and stories are individual and personal to our own life experience. And I did NOT start this blog to “be the next Carrie.” (I’m totally a Samantha anyways). Ultimately though, wanting some experiences to be kept personal is the reason why I killed the blog. This isn’t a dating project anymore. Lifestyle blog, maybe. SATC, no. But it’s not even a blog because I have no desire to post or update regularly. Thousands of you still come back every day to make sure.
And that’s why I’m posting. TEN YEARS LATER. Because there’s still yet some life to suck out of here. SATC lasted, what, 6 seasons? And that last one was a total mess.
So, I’m reading this book about sex toys right now. The history of the sex toy, really — and its inventors, testing subjects and physiologists doing secret research about human sexuality. The 50s and 60s of last century. Infamous (and apparently, urban legend) motorized pumping devices. The days before the fleshlight. Or any sort of sexual revolution. Perhaps there was one for some people, but these test subjects were considered the heathens of society. Most of the research was under a cloak of anonymity or desensitized with BIG MEDICAL WORDS.
The topic has once again captured my interest in studying sexuality and identity. There’s a great discussion made in the book about where the lines of studious passion and personal deviation blur. People, generally speaking, are still in this holding pattern of being really shy, uncomfortable and awkward talking (and listening and reading or watching) about sex — especially if it’s a reflection upon their own lives. But this is NOT a blog about my sex life.
Know this though: If you’re a stranger talking to me about my “sex in the city blog,” you’re just creepy.
My neighbor has chickens and bees. I love the concept of the rural life in the city. Unfortunately, our courtyard is exposed to the street, and our only outdoor living space, so it’s not an ideal setting for us. But amazing for those who can and do have the area to do so. I think it’s awesome that Pittsburgh as a city allows for this kind of thing (I remember the fight in Cleveland to change the city laws when I was still living there).
Anyways, we are conscious of sustainable living — always looking for more ways to recycle, reuse things, use less energy, and learn how to grow our own food. I love the concept of composting, but not sure we are that diligent. There’s also the worms. I’m a serial unplugger, by the way. You know the type: unplugging all the electronics, appliances and cords when not in use. The boyfriend used to HATE when I did that to the coffee pot every morning. Now we can’t because the plug is behind the cabinet — near impossible to reach (and the furniture we purchased online was total crap, so you can’t move it without feeling it’s going to fall apart at any moment).
Our community garden plot yielded really well results for us last year (lots of strawberries and greens!), and I’m hoping to do even better (really hoping for peas and carrots to come up) in Season Two. I definitely need some refresh tips on gardening, however (mostly because I couldn’t do any gardening last year with the cast); so I’m always looking for advice. I’m also really looking forward to purchasing a potters bench for my birthday gift because I hate when all those tools and dirt come inside the house. I’d have the boyfriend make one if I thought he could handle having a saw. He needs his fingers to continue to make the bread. And my dinners. I also really want a citrus tree just because… well, because they are pretty, but the boyfriend doesn’t think the plant could work in this climate. I’m willing to try (even if the trend this last season was a REALLY long, cold winter). Maybe even put one in the house. Want, want, want… I know. I’m the worst. Alas, I don’t know that any of this necessarily categorizes me as a farmer.
But y’all know how terrible I am with indoor planting. Seriously. We just don’t have the appropriate amount of life for anything. And I’ve now killed my second bamboo plant. *sigh* I will do better. Just, outside.
Are you hip to the urban farming trend? What steps are you taking to live a more sustainable life?
It’s been a long four weeks, my friends. Because of my wrist injury, I haven’t been able to participate in most of the outdoor activities I enjoy this time of year. And forget doing any sort of weightlifting or special training. While thankfully I have been able to skate a few times a week to get my legs moving, I needed something to battle that “I NEED TO WORK OUT!” voice in my head. So, I was more-than-excited when I received an email invitation to check out Verve 360 Degrees of Wellness.
More specifically, asking if I would be interested in giving Pilates a try.
Um, is this the thing that will make me limber for sexy time?
I was too afraid to ask… this was my first Pilates experience, so I was going to make it work for body in some capacity.
And I first wrote cavity and realized all that is wrong with the brain portion of said body.
But prior to agreeing and setting up my initial appointment, we had to conquer the omnipresent cast issue. Good news: with Pilates there are work-arounds for injuries or disabilities, while still receiving the core impact of the workout (see what I did there?).
My personal instructor and guide for the session was Linda. She complimented me on my hard-as-a-rock legs. I like her already, obviously. But then she recognized my lower spinal curvatures and my “lopsided” strength. She’s really good. By the end of my appointment time, I feel like we connected — mostly because she was personable, took the time to explain the exercises and listen to my body’s history, while truly paying attention to me, my body and what it could do well or was struggling with.
Sadly, I have no pictures of me using this contraption.
During my exercises Linda explained to me the history of the practice and its principles, the “machine” (which I would later learn is called a reformer), and her personal journey with rehabilitating clients through a combination of breathing, flexibility, alignment and stability — all using that funky-looking machine “the Reformer”, the Cadillac (another crazy looking machine), the Wunda chair and a series of controlled-but-flowing movements.
My body is strong, but I surely failed the breathing portion. Right? Something that should come naturally; yet, I’m a hold-my-breath-while-exercising girl. I know, I’m doing it all wrong. My trainers have always scolded me about my improper breathing technique, but Linda would always return to it: after each exercise, during each movement… always, ALWAYS making sure that I was breathing properly. Inhale-exhale. Scoop my stomach. It made a huge impact with me. And since my class, I’ve found myself “checking” my breathing — even while not working out.
I left feeling recharged, much like after yoga, but not dripping in sweat. I might have chuckled over how surprisingly “easy” the workout seemed.
But Linda had the last laugh when I could barely climb my steps two days later.
Oooh, I definitely missed that kind of pain.
ABOUT VERVE360:
Verve360 is a holistic salon that specializes in complete health and wellness. Their model respects the client and puts you in charge of your own health and vitality. They offer a variety of exercise classes, as well as a full salon and spa. For Pilates, they just expanded their reformer and chairs available on site, and will be offering group equipment classes. During my session, there was a nearby class doing Zumba, which looked like total fun. I also saw aerial fabrics hanging from the rafters. FUN!
THE GIVEAWAY:
Want to be on your way to total health wellness? You have a chance to win a free Pilates equipment class at the Verve360 studio downtown. Simply comment on this post to be entered to win: what’s your favorite position? PILATES POSITION, PERVS. For extra entries: tweet this contest or share on Facebook (make sure to come back here, leaving a separate comment that you did). I’ll pick a winner at random next Wednesday, June 13.
Add Verve360 on Facebook or follow on Twitter: @VerveWellness too. Note: not required to enter contest.
Disclaimer: I received a personal Pilates instruction session for consideration of this giveaway post. All opinions and experiences are my own. Total value of one Pilates equipment class is $40. Always consult with your doctor before you begin any exercise regimen. For more information, please see my disclosure page. Thanks to Verve360 Pilates Pittsburgh for providing the prize!
I sincerely believe the cleaner your diet, the better you feel. I’m already an avid label reader because of food allergies (thanks a lot, Trader Joes), but I feel like I already have a leg-up on healthy eating, considering I don’t eat frozen foods and rarely have fast food. Even more recently, the boyfriend and I decided to keep as close to natural as possible. We cook most of our meals from scratch; we’re now also growing our own herbs and vegetables (and some fruit); we make most of our own sauces and dressings; and he’s keeping me out of those tempting “middle aisles” at the grocery store (and that one awesome end aisle just past the frozen that holds a box of all the world’s awesome: BUTTERSCOTCH KRIMPETS).
This has spurred an almost-obsession with label reading of any packaged foods. Because as we’ve learned, I’m not the World’s Best Chef, and sometimes, I have to curb my voracious appetite IMMEDIATELY.
That’s called HANGRY, by the way.
Sadly, some of the foods that I crave or buy impulsively are terrible. Have you ever turned around a bottle of salad dressing and read the label?! Also: I’ll go out on a limb and guess that you’re probably eating one of those pie-flavored, fat free yogurts… IT’S CRAP! But that’s not the worst of what’s out there. Or sadly, what I enjoy. I have an extra tooth (seriously, true story) that craves cereal-and-only-cereal. I thought I was doing OK with honey nut Cheerios, but it is FACT that it’s one of the worst — or shall I say most misleading — cereals on the shelves. Here, I thought I was doing well giving up the multiple food dyes included in every bowl of Fruity Pebbles. Nope: CRAP.
I switched to a “healthy” brand (read: Kashi), but I can seriously polish off one of those small boxes in one sitting. Delicious? Yes. Good for my cereal budget? No. Eating disorder? Possibly.
CRAP? A resounding YES! I told you: essentially, EVERYTHING IN A BOX IS CRAP. Yes, even your Kashi. I’m actually pretty pissed that they duped me too.
So, I have some work to do on curbing my snacking addiction (yes, cereal eating is just snacking. I’ll have two bowls of cereal after having a full dinner… just because). But there were other predators in my pantry: peanut butter, jelly beans (OK, not a regular indulgence, but Easter just recently passed. also, a temporary stand-in for other sugary CRAP), frosting… a box of baking mix for carrot cake Whoopie pies (sounds delicious, right? IT’S NOT!).
Why so evil? CHEMICAL ADDITIVES. ARTIFICIAL INGREDIENTS… it’s all JUNK.
Here’s the Scary Seven, according to Naturally Savvy:
And this is where Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer (and their love of junk food) come in. In writing “Unjunk Your Junk Food” they taste-tested a variety of salty-or-sweet snacky goodness — and were upfront and honest about the poor eating habits to which most of us can admit. Because WE ALL SNACK. We ALL have cravings. So, they’re not taking away your candy or potato chips or *gasp* ice cream — they’re helping you make better decisions in regards to your health.
The book is loaded with information, and if you have ADD like me, you’ll probably have a brain spasm over how much good and helpful info is included (a lot of fun history and company tidbits too).
Biggest take-away: there are no shortcuts to healthy eating. Yeah, that peanut butter discovery still shocks me a little bit. Thanks, JIF, but you can keep your corn syrup and strange protein “solids.” And no, natural peanut butter does NOT taste the same, but I know that it’s JUST PEANUTS. And I found how delicious it can be with a little dash of cinnamon. I dare you to go through your cupboard, freezer or pantry and read the labels of your favorite snacks (there’s an awesome tear-out checklist in the book on page 25 that identifies the “worst ingredients.” Pick up a copy at Barnes & Nobles or online at Amazon {Naturally Savvy’s affiliate link}.
Tell me in the comments the worst food products you have in your house (or crave, and purposely do NOT keep in the house).
Join the edible Revolution. Read Naturally Savvy’s four-step manifesto for alternative, healthy snacking options. Also, ‘Like’ Naturally Savvy on Facebook and ‘fan’ them on Twitter for your chance to win great prizes.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Naturally Savvy for review.
This blog is about pursuit: a transplanted Clevelander (me) in a new city (that's you, Pittsburgh!), pursuing the role of a self-employed copywriter, becoming a roller derby badass and somehow merging all my to-do items into one ever-growing Bucket List.
And of MY boyfriend. His blue balls started this mess.
